Suriname is known as the Republic of Suriname and is a country in the north section of South America. The nation is neighbored by French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west, along with the Atlantic coast to the north. Suriname is a region made up of rolling hills, costal plains, swamps, rainforests and—as you can guess—a multitude of plant life that prospers with the watery region. You can expect tropical weather here, as rain averages about 87 inches, which amounts to about two seasons of rain out of a year.
When traveling to Suriname you will find a very different personality and culture than you are accustomed to in other South American countries. The official language of the city is Dutch though English is also spoken in various parts. Other languages that you might encounter include Sranang Tongo, Sarnami and Javanese, and Mandarin. As you can see, Suriname has a heavy Asian influence in its peoples and culture. Though Dutch is the official language the most widely used language is Sranan. In fact, this is the language most often used in Suriname, and the language that is recommended ahead of Dutch and English in order to communicate with the most people.
There is a great diversity among peoples in Suriname and this is demonstrated in the wide variety of Suriname cuisine. Indian food is readily available as are Chinese delicacies and Javanese (or Indonesian) specialties. Though Javanese is often thought of as Indonesian food, the truth of the matter is that Javanese has a taste and style that is all its own. There is also a great selection of drinks to sample in Suriname, and judging from the fact that Suriname is somewhat of a tropical paradise, you can expect lots of fruit drinks. If you think the best part about fruit juice is the sugar, then you have to sample Suriname’s sweetest!
One note of caution is that you should be extra careful when taking photographs. People of Suriname are very respectful of their land, their environment and their heritage. Therefore, remember to ask permission when in doubt of whether or not it would permissible to take a photograph. This may apply to any place, person or thing. It’s only reasonable to ask for permission before receiving a favor—and snapping a picture of beautiful Suriname is indeed a favor you won’t soon forget.
Things To Do In Suriname
Paramaribo: The capital city and a great place for shelling out money, whether you’re looking for Chinese jewelry, authentic Chinese food or drinks at a happening nightclub.
Central Suriname Nature Reserve: This lets you into over one million hectares of remote wilderness and tropical forest. The total size of the reserve compares the size of a U.S. state and has numerous varieties of floral and fauna life. Also included within this wilderness are parts of the Eilerts de Hann Gebergte mountain range as well as savanna ecosystems.
Is Suriname Safe?
Most South American countries are safe for tourism, even if the entire land cannot be called a problem-free paradise. Suriname is like other countries in this respect. Police protection is somewhat limited and most effective around large tourist-friendly cities. For the most enjoyable vacation stay in major areas like downtown and avoid darker secluded areas like Palm Garden or Binnenland if you’re traveling alone. Using common sense is the best way to keep on guard no matter where in the world you’re visiting. You should also know that though Suriname requires no special vaccination, surrounding areas that you might be traveling to later on (or on the way back) may require vaccinations against yellow fever. Suriname is a safe vacation provided you take precautions. Come see the rich cultural heritage this very diverse and exciting country has.
Suriname Trivia: Suriname’s Independence is celebrated May 15.