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Suriname

Also known as sr, Surrinam, Surinam, Republic of Suriname, Republic of Surinam, Dutch Guiana

Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. Situated slightly north of the equator, over 90% of its territory is covered by rainforest, the highest proportion of forest cover in the world. Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west. It is the smallest country in South America by both population and territory, with around inhabitants in 2021 in an area of approximately . The capital and largest city is Param

AI overview

Suriname is the smallest country in South America, located on the continent's northern coast and covered by more rainforest than any other country in the world. It matters as a significant environmental region and is uniquely positioned at the intersection of South America and the Caribbean.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

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Country

Capital: Paramaribo
Population: 616,500
Region

Travel guide

Get in

thumb|375px|Countries marked in green enjoy visa free travel, while those marked in red get a visa on arrival

Get around

Since not many tourists visit Suriname yet and the inner-land is not within easy reach, the expenses of travel are higher than you might expect. Tourist attractions can be more expensive than in Europe or the United States. It is expected that this will change in the near future since there is an annual increase visible in foreign tourists, creating the necessity of working on better roads as well as other ways of cheaper transportation.

See

thumb|Wooden houses in one of the jungle villages along the Marowine river thumb|Lake Brokopondo With almost a third of the country being declared national reserves, Suriname's main tourist attraction are its vast natural lands and the diversity of flora and fauna in them. Head to the beaches of Galibi and Albina to witness the impressive breeding process of large Leatherback sea turtles, or book a helicopter ride to one of the more remote beaches to see the same, with fewer people around. Spot river dolphins on the way and see the typical mangrove forests between the ocean and the rain forests. The Amazon rain forests cover most of the Surinam surface and is home to thousands of birds, reptiles, monkeys and even a handful of jaguars. As tourism develops, guided tours and resorts in the heart of the jungle are popping up and make a comfortable option if you want to spend a few days spotting wildlife or plants, including the rubber tree, spike-footed palms, plenty of orchids and cacti. Day trips are an option too. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is the most popular of the reserves and is home to the Raleigh waterfalls and mount Voltzberg. Brownsberg Nature Park is home to one of the largest man-made lakes in the world: the Brokopondo Reservoir. Visit Tonka Island to see the ecotourism project that Saramaccaner Maroons have set up there.

Maroon and Amerindian villages are found deep in the forests, but many of them also lie on the riverbanks. A boat trip down the Marowijne…

Do

thumb|Waterfall in Brownsberg Although most if not all visitors will probably visit Paramaribo it is well worth getting out to explore other regions that are all in great contrast with the capital.

Most people travel beyond the capital as part of package tours, including many tailored to Dutch backpacker budgets, which as of 2025 means around 100-200 euro per day, cheaper than Guyana and comparable to many other South American countries, though not among the world's cheapest. These can get you to spectacularly remote places in the Surinamese interior, though unlike in Guyana, they tend not to be geared heavily towards wildlife watching (with Bigi Pan and the Paramaribo dolphinwatching being the exceptions). Be aware that tour operators in Suriname often have a bit of a fast-and-loose approach, for example selling you a package tour without truly knowing the itinerary or which activities will be provided. In some cases you might be able to get around this by getting directly in contact with the lodges where the participants are accommodated during the tours, who usually are the ones providing the guides. But a more typical approach is just to set your expectations a little low and go with the flow.

~40 min read

Article

42 sections

Contents

Etymology
History
Pre-colonial
Colonial period
Abolition of slavery
Decolonization
Independence
1980 military coup
Civil war, elections, and constitution
21st century
Geography
Borders
Climate
Biodiversity and conservation
Government and politics
Foreign relations
Military
Administrative divisions
Economy
Tourism
Landmarks
Transportation
Road
Air
Demographics
Largest cities
Ethnicity
Emigration
Languages
Religion
Health
Education
Culture
National holidays
New Year's Eve
Media
Sports
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
External links

Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. Situated slightly north of the equator, over 90% of its territory is covered by rainforest, the second-highest proportion of forest cover in the world. Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west. It is the smallest country in South America by both population and territory, with around 612,985 inhabitants in 2021 in an area of approximately 165,940 square kilometers (64,070 square miles). The capital and largest city is Paramaribo, which is home to roughly half the population.

Suriname was inhabited as early as the fourth millennium BC by various Indigenous peoples, including the Lokono, Kalina, and Wayana. Europeans arrived and contested the area in the 16th century, with the Dutch controlling much of the country's current territory by the late 17th century. Under Dutch rule, Suriname was a lucrative plantation colony focused mostly on sugar; its economy was driven by African slave labour until the abolition of slavery in 1863. Approximately 300,000 enslaved Africans were taken to Suriname during the transatlantic slave trade, from the mid-1600s to the early 1800s. After 1863, indentured servants were recruited mostly from British India and the Dutch East Indies. In 1954, Suriname became a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On 25 November 1975, it became independent following negotiations with the Dutch government. Suriname continues to maintain close diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with the Netherlands.