20-day round trip through Suriname

Over 20 days we travel around Suriname, covering every point of the compass and visiting its beautiful and special places.
On this tour we also go deeper into nature, giving you as many chances as possible to see different animals, including several monkey species, river dolphins, many kinds of birds, giant otters, agoutis and no doubt a lot more!
You also get the chance to meet Suriname's different population groups and learn about their culture and history.

We visit:

• Paramaribo, on a city tour of its many monumental buildings and sights.
• Brownsberg Nature Park and Ston Island (Brokopondo Reservoir)
• Isadou, an island resort in the Upper Suriname area, where you get to know Maroon culture and way of life: a village walk in one of the nearby villages, a forest walk where you learn much more about Suriname's flora and fauna, and a lovely dip in one of the rapids.
• Nickerie, the rice district, with an overnight stay on Bigi Pan.
  Bigi Pan is ideal for bird lovers:
  you'll see herons, birds of prey, waders and the beautiful scarlet ibis,
  and in season also flamingos stopping over.
• Apoera, once envisaged as Suriname's second city, the indigenous people of Washabo, and the Kaboeri creek (giant otter spotting).
• Blanche Marie, the famous resort with the Blanche Marie Falls, deep in the rainforest of western Suriname on the Nickerie River.
• Raleigh Falls and the Voltzberg, on the upper reaches of the Coppename River, a magnificent nature reserve.
  Here you climb the Voltzberg and visit the Anjoemara Falls and the Moedervallen.
• Galibi sea turtles and French Guiana: a visit to the indigenous village of Galibi and turtle spotting in the evening.
• Commewijne plantation tour: you visit Fort Nieuw Amsterdam and several historic plantations in the Commewijne area.

You can find each of these tours separately on our site, with detailed information, photos and videos.

Accommodation:

At Raleigh Falls, Blanche Marie, Apoera, Ston Island, Isadou, Bigi Pan and Galibi you stay in simple accommodation with beds:
basic lodges, often with shared bathroom and toilet.

In Nickerie you stay in a hotel.
In Paramaribo you stay at Eco Resort,
centrally located 15 minutes from the centre and 5 minutes from nightlife, restaurants and cafés.

The accommodation at Raleigh Falls is managed by Stinasu, a conservation organisation that looks after Raleigh Falls and Brownsberg.
These lodges are built in the middle of nature reserves, which makes the overnight stays very special, though they are not 5-star accommodation.

Note: people travelling alone or wanting their own room pay a single supplement of €250 p.p.
This applies to the overnight stays at Raleigh Falls, in Nickerie and at Blanche Marie.

If you don't mind sharing a room with someone else, please let us know.

Included in the tour:

• All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the tours
• Overnight stays along the way and in Paramaribo (Ston Island, Raleigh Falls Fungu Island, Blanche Marie, Apoera, Isadou, Nickerie and Bigi Pan)
• Transport by bus and boat
• Activities and entrance fees during the tour
• Dutch- and English-speaking local tour guides
• Breakfast at the accommodation in Paramaribo; meals outside the tour are at your own expense
• Brownsberg walk to the viewpoints and waterfalls
• Voltzberg climb
• Blanche Marie Falls, Anjoemara Falls and Moedervallen
• Boat trip on the Kaboeri creek (giant otter spotting)
• Visit to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (French Guiana)
• Night-time visit to the turtle nesting beach (by boat, season Feb–Aug)
• Boat trip from Apoera to Nieuw Nickerie (or vice versa)

Day 1: Arrival in Suriname

You are picked up from the airport and taken to your hotel, Eco Resort.

Day 2: City tour of Paramaribo

On this tour you visit various sights and museums in Paramaribo. You see houses preserved in their original state that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and hear fun stories about the sights.

Places visited:

• Independence Square
• Fort Zeelandia
• Palm Garden
• Waterkant
• Synagogue & mosque
• Cathedral

Days 3–6: Raleigh Falls & Voltzberg

You depart from the meeting point (time and location sent by e-mail) for Witagron, with a short stop for breakfast and coffee/tea. From Witagron you continue by boat to Raleigh Falls: after lunch the 3-hour boat trip begins. On arrival on Fungu Island you can settle in and enjoy dinner.

The next morning after breakfast you walk to the top of the Voltzberg, meeting various animals along the way, and enjoy the view over the jungle. After the walk we freshen up in the Anjoemara Falls.

On day 3 at Raleigh Falls we visit the Moedervallen, with a walk through the jungle where the guide explains the local flora and fauna.

Day 6: Departure for Blanche Marie

After breakfast we travel back to Witagron and continue to Blanche Marie, with a few stops along the way. On arrival you can relax before the activities begin the next day.

Days 7–9: Blanche Marie & Apoera

On day 7 you discover the impressive Blanche Marie Falls, which stretch over more than 120 metres. The next day we leave for the indigenous village of Apoera, where a village walk and a visit to the old railway station are on the programme.

Day 9: Departure for Nickerie

After the visit to Apoera you continue by boat along the Corantijn River to Nickerie, where you take a walk through Nieuw Nickerie, the capital, and visit the market and the sea dyke.

Days 10–11: Bigi Pan

After visiting Nieuw Nickerie you travel to Bigi Pan, an important site for birds. Here you spend the night in accommodation on stilts above the water, with local Javanese meals and unique experiences.

Day 11: Back to Paramaribo

After exploring Bigi Pan you return to Paramaribo via Coronie and Groningen.

Days 12–13: Brownsberg & Ston Island

On day 12 you leave for Brownsberg, where you discover the nature and walk to the Leo or Irene Falls. In the evening you travel on to Ston Island for a night by the reservoir.

Days 13–14: Isadou

After breakfast you leave for Atjoni and continue by boat to Isadou, where you can enjoy the surroundings. In the evening you take a night-time boat trip in search of caimans and enjoy the starry sky.

Day 15: Back to Paramaribo

After breakfast you have time to relax before we start the journey back to Paramaribo.

Day 16: Rest day

Spend this day as you wish: relax, take a walk or do other activities.

Days 17–18: Galibi & French Guiana

From Paramaribo you travel to Albina and cross by korjaal to Galibi, where you spend the night. The next morning you visit the village and the market in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (French Guiana).

Day 19: Commewijne plantation tour

This day is all about a bike tour through the Commewijne plantations, including Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, Peperpot and Frederiksdorp.

Day 20: Return to Zanderij

After your last day of exploring you are taken to Zanderij airport for your flight home.

Schedule

The itinerary may be adjusted and parts of the programme may be run in a different order. Special vegetarian menus can be arranged on request.

• Day 2: City tour
  • Departure (time and meeting point sent by e-mail)
  • 12:00 End of city tour
  • Lunch and dinner on your own
  • Overnight at Hotel Eco Resort
• Day 3: Raleigh Falls and Voltzberg
  • Departure (time and meeting point sent by e-mail)
  • 08:30 Stop for breakfast
  • 12:30 Arrival in Witagron and lunch
  • 13:30 Boat to Raleigh Falls
  • 16:30 Arrival at Raleigh Falls
  • 19:00 Dinner
• Day 4: Voltzberg
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 08:30 Departure for the Voltzberg
  • 12:00 Lunch on the way
  • 14:00 Arrival at the top of the Voltzberg
  • 16:30 Visit to the Anjoemara Falls
  • 18:00 Back on Fungu Island, freshen up and dinner
• Day 5: Moedervallen
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 10:00 Visit to the Moedervallen
  • 14:00 Lunch
  • 19:00 Dinner
• Day 6: From Raleigh Falls to Blanche Marie
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 09:00 Departure for Witagron
  • 12:00 Arrival and lunch in Witagron
  • 17:00 Arrival at Blanche Marie
  • 19:00 Dinner
• Day 7: Blanche Marie Falls
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 09:00 Visit to the Blanche Marie Falls
  • 12:00 Lunch
  • Swimming, forest walk, fishing (depending on the programme with the guide)
  • 19:00 Dinner
• Day 8: Departure for Apoera
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 10:00 Check-out at Blanche Marie
  • 10:30 Departure for Apoera
  • 13:00 Arrival and lunch in Apoera
  • 14:00 Walk and drive around Apoera (including Washabo and the railway station)
  • 19:00 Dinner
• Day 9: From Apoera to Nickerie
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 10:00 Boat trip to Nickerie
  • 13:00 Arrival in Nieuw Nickerie and hotel check-in
  • 14:30 Walk through Nieuw Nickerie, the sea dyke and the Hindu temple
  • 19:00 Dinner
• Day 10: Bigi Pan
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 09:00 Visit to Nieuw Nickerie and surroundings
  • 13:00 Lunch
  • 14:00 Departure for Bigi Pan
  • 18:30 Dinner at the Bigi Pan accommodation
• Day 11: Bigi Pan to Paramaribo
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 13:00 Lunch on Bigi Pan
  • 14:00 Return to Paramaribo via Coronie and Groningen
  • 18:00 Arrival in Paramaribo and check-in at Hotel Eco Resort
  • Dinner on your own
• Day 12: Brownsberg and Ston Island
  • Departure (time and meeting point sent by e-mail)
  • 09:30 Stop for a snack and coffee
  • 11:30 Arrival at Brownsberg
  • 12:00 Viewpoints, lunch and briefing
  • 13:00 Walk to the Leo and/or Irene Falls
  • 16:30 Back to the plateau
  • 18:00 Departure for Ston Island
  • 19:30 Dinner on Ston Island
• Day 13: Ston Island and departure for Isadou
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 10:00 Boat trip to Baboon Island
  • 11:00 Check-out
  • 12:00 Lunch
  • 13:00 Departure for Atjoni
  • 14:30 Arrival in Atjoni, boat to Isadou
  • 15:00 Arrival at Isadou and settling in
  • 19:00 Dinner
• Day 14: Village walk and forest walk
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 10:00 Village walk
  • 13:00 Lunch
  • 15:00 Forest walk
  • 19:00 Dinner
  • 21:00 Night-time boat trip in search of caimans
• Day 15: From Isadou to Paramaribo
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 11:00 Check-out
  • 12:00 Lunch
  • 14:00 Departure for Atjoni
  • 14:30 Departure from Atjoni to Paramaribo
  • 17:30 Arrival in Paramaribo
  • Dinner on your own
• Day 17: Galibi and French Guiana
  • Departure (time and meeting point sent by e-mail)
  • 09:30 Stop for coffee and a snack
  • 11:00 Stop at Moiwana
  • 11:30 Arrival in Albina
  • 12:00 Lunch
  • 12:30 Departure by korjaal to Galibi
  • 14:30 Arrival in Galibi and settling in
  • 19:00 Dinner
  • 20:30 Turtle spotting (seasonal)
• Day 18: French Guiana, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
  • 08:00 Breakfast
  • 10:00 Village walk in Christiaankondre, Galibi
  • 11:00 Departure for Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
  • 11:30 Arrival in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, walking tour and visit to the prison grounds
  • 13:00 Lunch
  • 14:00 Departure for Albina and back to Paramaribo
  • 18:00 Arrival in Paramaribo
  • Dinner on your own
• Day 19: Commewijne bike tour
  • 09:00 Departure from Fietsen in Suriname
  • 10:00 Arrival at Leonsberg and crossing to Fort Nieuw Amsterdam
  • 10:30 Visit to the fort
  • 12:30 Lunch
  • 13:30 Visit to the Johanna Margaretha plantation
  • 15:30 Visit to Frederiksdorp
  • 17:30 Back at Fietsen in Suriname
• Day 20: Return to Zanderij
  • Breakfast
  • Transport to Zanderij
  • Farewell

On request from 4 people.

You can find the scheduled departure dates in the tour overview.