Palumeu

Tour description

After a long closure, this tour has restarted: a unique fly-in, fly-out trip where you get to know the indigenous community. Bookings are now being accepted.

Jungle lodge Palumeu, near the indigenous village of the same name, lies on the Upper Tapanahony River in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
This part of the tropical rainforest, where howler monkeys and birds announce the start of each new day, with its impressive rapids, unique flora and fauna and the present-day way of life of the Trio and Wayana peoples, is fascinating.
This tour is ideal for nature lovers who want to explore the tropical rainforest in depth with reasonable comfort,
as the indigenous people have done for centuries.

Highlights:

• Getting to know indigenous culture.
• Climbing a granite hill with a breathtaking view: Poti Hill.
• A visit to the impressive Mabuka Falls.
• Exhilarating dugout-canoe trips through the tropical rainforest.
• Jungle treks where you learn your way around the impressive flora and fauna.
• A flight over the tropical rainforest.

Good to know
Besides indigenous culture, would you also like to get to know the impressive and completely different culture of the descendants of the Maroons, who escaped slavery by moving into the interior?
Then choose the Palumeu & Awarradam combination tour: after the 4-day tour to Palumeu you fly directly on to Awarradam for the 5-day tour there. (Order subject to change.)

Palumeu
4 days / 3 nights (Friday–Monday)

Day 1:
We leave from the local Zorg en Hoop airport for the airstrip at the indigenous village of Palumeu, about 75 minutes' flight south of Paramaribo.
The resort is a stone's throw from the village of Palumeu, where Trio and Wayana people live.
You'll soon recognise the resort's eco principles:
the jungle lodges are built in traditional style with a modern touch, with comforts powered by solar energy.
Meals are cooked over a wood fire using mainly Surinamese ingredients,
and the staff are knowledgeable Trio and Wayana people.

After checking in to your lodge we head to beautiful Palawa Island for a picnic lunch,
where you can also enjoy a swim in the cool river water.
In the late afternoon we visit the indigenous village of Palumeu and meet the very oldest inhabitants of the Amazon forest, who have preserved centuries-old traditions in their way of life and crafts.
After dinner the guide tells you much more.

Day 2
Perhaps the call of howler monkeys will be your natural alarm clock.
Today we get to know the tropical rainforest.
Before sunrise we sail down the river and switch off the engine to experience nature waking up in complete silence.
We find a beautiful spot for breakfast and continue to the start of the forest trail to Poti Hill, a
granite hill you climb at the end of the forest walk.
During the trip on the Tapanahony River and the walk you'll certainly see various birds, such as macaws or parrots flying over and toucans, and perhaps monkeys or an otter.
At the top of Poti Hill you are rewarded with a wonderful view over the rainforest.

Lunch is served at Palumeu.
In the afternoon an experienced archer teaches you to shoot with bow and arrow.
It looks easy, but hitting a target turns out to be quite an art. Try your talent!
In the late afternoon at sunset we walk a forest trail near the lodge in search of birds and caimans.
After dinner the guide again tells you lots about the flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest, among other things.

Day 3
After breakfast we take the korjaal to the Mabuka Falls for a wonderfully relaxing day.
You can swim in the river, enjoy a natural massage in the waterfall or laze in a hammock.
For the more active, there is a jungle walk with information about the trees, plants and animals along the way.
The setting will make sure you don't soon forget the barbecue lunch.
In the late afternoon at sunset we sail back to the jungle lodge.
After dinner the guide takes you on a trip on the river to enjoy the night-time sounds of the rainforest.

Day 4
In the early morning, at dawn, we drift a stretch down the river by boat and enjoy all the morning sounds of the jungle.
After breakfast we take an extensive village walk,
where you can buy traditional handmade crafts along the way.
After lunch you leave for Paramaribo.

5 days / 4 nights (Monday–Friday)
Day 4: in the morning the guide takes you on a jungle trek,
where you learn more about the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest.
In the afternoon you can practise your paddling in a korjaal, swim, or enjoy the peace and sounds of the rainforest from a hammock.

Day 5
In the early morning, at dawn, we drift a stretch down the river by boat and enjoy all the morning sounds of the jungle.
After breakfast we take an extensive village walk,
where you can buy traditional handmade crafts along the way.
After lunch you head to the airstrip to fly back to Zorg en Hoop airport in Paramaribo.

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.

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