The country's history is typical for this region. These lands were primarily inhabited by the Carib Indian tribes, with their own culture and complex social hierarchy. However, the arrival of Europeans forced them to retreat from these marshy plains deep in the jungle, and in 1616 several Dutch settlements were created.
Morning Glory Pool, YellowStone National Park


With the country’s gaining independence in the 1970-s, it went through a period of instability, military conflicts and democratic reforms. As a result, Suriname became a quiet country with strong connections with its foreign partners. It cannot boast having many outstanding historical monuments, but it is widely known among tourists as an unusual cultural enclave with an extraordinary ethnic diversity, large tracts of virgin forests and excellent conditions for outdoor activities.

The noisy and somewhat chaotic capital of the country, called Paramaribo, lies on the west bank of the Suriname River. It is quite an interesting 'hybrid' of the European civilization and Tropical America, where brick colonial buildings are interspersed with grassy squares and wooden buildings, squares, narrow streets, lined with tall palm trees and mangroves. The historic core of the city is so picturesque that it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique example of the confusion of Dutch, British, Creole and Asian traditions.

But the capital region – the city of Nieuw-Amsterdam – is known for its extensive old fort which now houses a museum under the open sky. The centre of Paramaribo is Independence Square, behind the walls of the Presidential Palace. Immediately behind the palace, one can find the Palm Garden, an attractive city park with tall palms inhabited by numerous tropical birds. To the east one can see the carefully restored Zealand fort, the coastal fortified citadel of the 17th century, used for the detention and torture of political prisoners in the dark days of military coups. Today, it houses the Suriname Museum with an extensive collection of cultural and historical character. The city is also known for cultural festivals with performances of the best music and dance groups representing different nationalities of the country. Enquire your Suriname tour operator to arrange an excursion that would cover all must-see sights in the capital.

Also in the vicinity of the fort one can visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul built entirely of wood, the Reformists’ Church, and two synagogues. The main market of the city lies on the Waterkranz Boulevard proceeding from the coastal strip to the walls of the Presidential Palace and to the other side of the Suriname River. At a short distance from the city, there is a beautiful park. In addition to the panorama of almost all of the capital, one can see the most characteristic landscapes of the country, the dam Brokopondo, which provides more than 90% of the country's electricity, the Braunsberg National Park, a small plateau with its eponymous Mazaroni mountain resort, waterfalls, eco resorts, old gold mining towns, ​​as well as the picturesque city Braunsweg.

Para district has got its name from the capital, and it is located almost around it - on both sides of the Suriname River. This is a very nice place with lots of creeks and small rivers, as well as the largest in the country old plantations, many of which are quite well preserved and are a popular vacation destination. These days you can see the ruins of the synagogue Berasha-ve-Shalom, which is the first synagogue in the western hemisphere, the old cemetery and curative mineral springs, as well as the nearby picturesque villages and resort towns.

Other places on the Suriname River are also replete with old mansions and plantations. Many of them are still inhabited and are considered popular eco-tourist places and the starting point for visiting the forest areas.

Contact one of Suriname travel agents to prepare a nice itinerary around the country, make flight reservations, book hotels, and hire tour guides.