Galibi, Matapica and Braamspunt are known for sea-turtle spotting. Lots of choice: all three tours are great, but also different.
What are the differences between Galibi, Matapica and Braamspunt?
Our advice: do you have the time? Then do the Galibi and French Guiana tour with an overnight stay. This tour offers so much more and real value for money: sleeping in an indigenous village, the history of Moiwana, a visit to French Guiana (Europe), the prison of master escapologist Papillon, and sailing out at night in search of the sea turtles.
If you only have a day and want to go purely for the sea turtles, we really recommend Braamspunt. Although it's quite a tiring tour, it only takes an afternoon, an evening and part of the night.
If you really want nature and back-to-basics, we recommend the 2-day Matapica tour. This tour is also very special, especially the beautiful swamp on the way to Matapica beach.
More general information about the sea turtles below:
The sea turtles have a season, which runs from February to August. Sometimes you may still see them in September, but no longer in large groups.
The turtles come from Brazil and Canada to the beaches of Galibi, Braamspunt and Matapica.
The turtles that come ashore are:
- Aitkanti, or leatherback
- Krape, or green turtle
- Warana (olive ridley)
- Karet (hawksbill)
Natural threats to the turtles often include:
- jaguars
- crabs
- vultures
- raccoons
They also suffer from human threats such as:
- poaching
- pollution
- stray dogs
- fishing
- sand mining
- coastal erosion
When visiting the turtles, guests must follow these rules:
- no white or brightly coloured clothing
- no flash when taking photos
- don't take any eggs
- keep your distance from the turtles
- use torches with red light
- make no noise at all
All of these can disturb the egg-laying process.
Breaking the rules has strict consequences, because we want to keep this special place where the turtles come ashore for many years to come, and keep showing it to visitors.
Galibi
Galibi is an indigenous village in the Marowijne district, not far from the border town of Saint-Laurent.
From Paramaribo it's a 3-hour drive to Albina, and from there another hour to an hour and a half by boat to Galibi.
You can book a tour to Galibi or go on your own. If you don't know the area, I'd recommend going on a tour, which you can also book on our website.
Galibi has around 800 inhabitants, Carib people known as the Kalina.
They live from fishing and tourism. During the turtle season Galibi is very busy, because everyone wants to see the beautiful sea turtles. During the season the villagers can also sell souvenirs to tourists and run workshops, including cassava-bread baking and pottery.
Matapica
Matapica is a coastal area in the Commewijne district where sea turtles also come ashore to lay their eggs. Besides the turtles you'll see many bird species, such as the scarlet ibis, eagles and little egrets.
It's a protected area for the turtles, and the Stinasu foundation and other tour operators run tours there.
Staying overnight here is a real adventure. The accommodation is very basic, in hammocks or tents. Food is cooked over a wood fire, and late in the evening you walk the beach in search of the turtles.
Tours: Matapica
Braamspunt
Braamspunt is a sandbank in the Commewijne district and another well-known turtle site.
Besides the turtles you'll also meet the brackish-water dolphins known as profosu. They're grey dolphins, sometimes with a white or more often pink stripe on their belly, living in the shallow parts of the sea or in the mouths of the big rivers. They're a protected species; you used to be able to spot them as far upriver as Domburg and Paranam, but sadly no longer because of water pollution and frequent collisions with boats. Besides the dolphins and turtles, many bird species come here to overwinter.
Tours: Braamspunt night tour
