Paramaribo
SurinameAw
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
"Suriname kondre" | "Our country Suriname" (in Sranan Tongo)
Why visit
Paramaribo offers Caribbean-South American crossover unlike anywhere else, white-painted Dutch wooden houses next to the largest wooden church in the western hemisphere, the Neveh Shalom synagogue and Keizerstraat mosque sharing a wall, riverfront markets selling roti and pom and bami goreng. February to April and August to November are the drier windows. Use the city as a base for jungle lodges on the Upper Suriname River and trips to Galibi turtle reserve.
When to avoid
Petty crime is common. Avoid walking alone at night, especially around Palmentuin and the harbor. Mosquito-borne illness (dengue, chikungunya, malaria in interior trips) is a real risk, use repellent. Tap water is usually safe in Paramaribo but bottled is recommended for visitors. Many businesses close Sundays. The Surinamese dollar can be unstable. Carry US dollars as backup.