9 days: Raleigh Falls & Voltzberg / Blanche Marie & Apoera / Nickerie & Bigi Pan

For 9 days we travel around the west of Suriname, visiting beautiful and special places. On this tour we head into nature and you'll see many animal species, including monkeys, sloths, birds and butterflies. You'll also meet Suriname's many population groups and cultures on this lovely round trip.

We visit:

• Nickerie, the rice district, and Bigi Pan. Bigi Pan is ideal for bird lovers: you'll see herons, birds of prey, waders and the beautiful scarlet ibis.
• Raleigh Falls and the Voltzberg, where you climb the Voltzberg and visit the Moedervallen.
• Blanche Marie and Apoera, where you visit the Blanche Marie Falls and go on to Apoera to get to know the indigenous peoples and their cultures.

Accommodation:

At Raleigh Falls & Voltzberg, Blanche Marie & Apoera and Bigi Pan you stay in simple accommodation with beds:
basic lodges with beds and shared bathroom and toilet.

In Nickerie you stay in a fairly basic hotel with air conditioning.
On Bigi Pan there is no running water and no air conditioning, but the rooms do have a fan.

The accommodation at Raleigh Falls is managed by Stinasu, a conservation organisation dedicated to protecting Raleigh Falls.
It is built in the middle of nature, which makes the overnight stays very special.

Note: solo travellers, or anyone who wants their own room, pay a single supplement of €250 p.p. This applies to the accommodation in Nickerie, at Raleigh Falls and at Blanche Marie.

If you don't mind sharing a room, you will be placed with someone of the same gender.

Included in the tour:

• All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the tours
• Overnight stays in atmospheric accommodation
• Transport by bus and boat
• Activities and entrance fees during the tour
• Dutch- or English-speaking local tour guides
• Walks at Raleigh Falls, Blanche Marie, Apoera and Nickerie
• Visits to the waterfalls
• Boat trip from Apoera to Nickerie or vice versa

Raleigh Falls & Voltzberg / Blanche Marie & Apoera / Nickerie & Bigi Pan

€1,200 p.p. (departure from 4 people)

Day 1, departure for Raleigh Falls: We depart from the meeting point (time and location sent by e-mail), stopping along the way for a small breakfast. Then we continue to Witagron. In Witagron we have lunch while the guide and the boatman get the boat ready for the trip to Fungu Island, where our accommodation is. After lunch we sail for about 3 hours to Raleigh Falls (please note: at low water this may take longer). At Raleigh Falls you settle into your accommodation, the guide explains the rules, and you can enjoy a swim. The activities start the next day.

Day 2, Voltzberg: After breakfast we start the walk to the Voltzberg. We walk through the jungle, spotting various animals, with the guide accompanying you along the way. At the top of the mountain you can enjoy the breathtaking view over the jungle. Then we head back, and just before we reach the boat we stop at the Anjoemara Falls to cool off.

Day 3, Moedervallen: After breakfast we take a forest walk and sail to the Moedervallen. After dinner we spend a sociable evening together to round off this part of the tour, with a campfire if possible.

Day 4, departure for Blanche Marie: After breakfast we travel back to Witagron and drive on to Blanche Marie. With a bit of luck you'll spot animals on the way. On arrival you can settle into your lodge and enjoy the surroundings or go for a swim.

Day 5, Blanche Marie Falls: After breakfast we walk to the Blanche Marie Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Suriname. Along the way the guide tells you more about the area. At the falls you can enjoy the magnificent view and stand right under the water.

Day 6, Apoera: After breakfast you travel by boat to Apoera, where you take a village walk and a walk to the old railway line and the old trains that still stand there. Here you also get to know two indigenous peoples and their cultures: the Trio and the Arawak.

Day 7, departure for Nickerie by boat: After breakfast we sail along the Corantijn River to Nickerie, where we check in to the hotel. Once everyone has settled in, we take a walk through Nieuw Nickerie, the capital of the district. In Nickerie you'll mainly meet the Hindustani and Javanese communities, whose cultures are the most visible here. Around Nickerie there are also many rice fields and banana plantations. After the walk we go to the sea dyke to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Day 8, Bigi Pan: After breakfast we go by boat to Bigi Pan and sail through the reserve, where you can spot lots of birds: white and scarlet ibises, herons and waders, birds of prey and, in the wintering season, flamingos. There is also a mud bath on the programme and delicious Javanese food. After the boat trip you return to the Bigi Pan lodge on the water, where you spend the night.

Day 9, return to Paramaribo: After breakfast we go by boat back to Nickerie, and from there by bus/car back to Paramaribo.

Schedule The itinerary depends on the weather; it and the times may be adjusted. Parts of the programme are flexible. A special menu is available for vegetarians, provided this is explicitly requested in advance.

On request from 4 people.

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