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Suriname FAQ
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Why would I go to Suriname?
Why would I not go to Suriname?
Is Suriname a safe country?
How do I stay healthy in Suriname?
What language is spoken in Suriname?
Are Surinamese Latino?
What should I bring to Suriname?
Can I do my internship in Suriname?
Are flights to Suriname expensive?
Is Suriname an expensive country?
Is Suriname a backpacker’s paradise?
Is it better to join a package tour?
Is it necessary to rent a car in Suriname?
Why would I go to Suriname?
Nature is overwhelming in Suriname. The Surinamese rainforest belongs to the most beautiful in the world. It's a tropical country and no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there. Suriname is sparsely populated and its and its inhabitants form an interesting mix of friendly people with a different ethnic background. There’s no terrorism in Suriname. In fact, it’s one of the most relaxed countries on earth. You can enjoy some very nice food and drink a Jogo
(one litre of Parbo beer) alfresco.
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Why would I not go to Suriname?
If your holiday is not complete without visiting dozens of pyramids, museums and archaeological sites, then Surinam will not be your first choice. If you like to spend your holiday on long sandy beaches, it might be better to choose an other country. There are plenty of opportunities for a swim in resorts, rivers, waterfalls and rapids, but there are no beaches near the sea which are easily accessible. It is possible though to combine a trip to Suriname with a Caribbean island
like Trinidad, Curacao or Aruba.
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Is Suriname a safe country?
Suriname is a pretty safe country, but it might be wise to take the usual precautions like you would do in numerous other poor countries. Armed and violent robberies are quite common in Suriname, but it’s unusual that tourists become victim of this. There are drugs related crimes too, but you will probably not see any of that.
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How do I stay healthy in Suriname?
Suriname is one of the few non-western countries where the tap water is drinkable. The food served in restaurants and warungs is usually safe to eat. It is a tropical country though and you need some vaccinations. There is no malaria in the northern part of the country, but if you plan to join a jungle tour, Malaria prophylaxis is recommended. Make sureyou consult a doctor several weeks before departure.
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What language is spoken in Suriname?
What language? A better question would be: how many languages! The answer is: about 19 on a population of 500.000 inhabitants. The official language is Dutch, which is also the national school language. Surinamese Dutch is slightly different from standard Dutch, which is spoken in The Netherlands and is also pronounced differently. The second language is Sranantongo. This is an English based Creole language with many Dutch, but also some Spanish, Portuguese, Jewish and African influences. This is also the lingua franca between different ethnic groups in Suriname. Today many Sranantongo speakers live in the Netherlands and many Sranantongo words are used in the street language among teenagers in the cities of Holland. Sranantongo has crossed the ocean! Other languages spoken in Suriname are Sarnami Hindustani, Surinamese Javanese and Chinese. There are several tribes of Maroons (descendants of escaped African slaves) who have there own tribal languages, like Aukan, Saramakan and Paramaccan. Furthermore there are several Amerindian tribes whose members speak languages like Carib and Arawak. Today there are also small populations of Brazilians who speak Portuguese and Colombians who speak Spanish. Don’t worry when you visit Suriname as a tourist: you will soon notice that many people speak English too!
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Are Surinamese Latino?
Suriname is a melting pot of cultures and religions. About 27% of the people are Hindustani. These are the descendants of East Indians. 18% are Creole (black and white). There are Javanese, Chinese and Boeroes (descendants of Dutch farmers). There are also small populations of Lebanese, Colombians, Brazilians and Dutch. Suriname has several tribes of Amerindians, and tribes of Maroons (descendants of escaped African slaves). Today there are also many Surinamese of mixed origin (Moksi).
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What should I bring to Suriname?
The weather in Suriname is always hot and wet. There are frequent but usual brief tropical rain showers, but there will always be sunshine after. Therefore, you should bring thin cotton clothes and plenty of t-shirts. You won’t need a coat or sweater in Suriname. An umbrella and rain coat can be very useful. When you join a jungle
tour, bring good shoes, sandals, swimming clothes a torch and pocket knife. It’s not necessary to bring a mosquito net. In the jungle camps good quality mosquito nets will be provided.
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Can I do my internship in Suriname?
Yes, there are permanently foreign students in Suriname for a practical period. Many of them come from The Netherlands or Belgium. Doing an internship in Suriname will be an experience you will never forget. There are internships possible on all levels and in al branches like journalism, tourism, healthcare, nature protection and business. There are several traineeship offices which can provide help by finding an internship and housing.
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Are flights to Suriname expensive?
Prices of airline tickets to Suriname have always been high, due to the KLM/Suriname Airways monopoly on this route. The last couple of years prices have dropped a bit, but due to high petrol prices, you won't find tickets of € 400,-- or € 600,-- any longer . With a bit of luck you might find a ticket for a reasonable price, but this depends of the season. During school holidays and around Christmas prices are often much higher. Sometimes discount tickets are sold, but you have to react fast to obtain one. Prices of
airline tickets fluctuate daily today. There are only 2 airline companies who offer regular flights from Amsterdam to Paramaribo: KLM and Surinam Airways (SLM). You can compare prices and book online on the website of the World Ticket Center. World Ticket Center has an office in the center of Amsterdam and is a well known and reliable company.
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Is Suriname an expensive country?
Suriname is moderately expensive. Many products are imported from abroad and are obviously quite expensive. This is for example the case for products you buy in supermarkets, electronics, hardware and other consumer goods. Local products you buy on markets are often much cheaper. Eating and drinking in restaurants or take away food from Chinese eateries and from Javanese warungs is usually not expensive. In Suriname, a rented house is very cheap (about € 150,- a week). A 4 day tour by plane to a remote rainforest resort will cost about € 486, -. That’s not that expensive when you realise, those trips are well organized and almost everything is included in the price.
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Is Suriname a backpacker’s paradise?
Suriname is a great country for adventurous travellers, but is not a typical “Lonely Planet destination”. Paramaribo is the only real town of the country and even Paramaribo offers you the opportunity to enjoy a village like atmosphere. During your trip you will spend quite some time in Paramaribo and from there you can make trips to
other parts of the country. The number of tourist is rising recently, but most tourist still come from The Netherlands. When you rent a holiday home or if you stay in hotels, you can travel with suitcases. If you are on a round trip, 2 large bags or a large backpack might come in handy. When you join a multiple day tour into the jungle, you might travel with a bag or medium sized rucksack and a small daypack.
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Is it better to join a package tour?
Package tours are offered by travel agencies in The Netherlands. In Germany and Suisse organized tours are offered by a few rare agencies. A package tour will offer you an efficient way to see much of the country for a reasonable price. It’s also possible to travel to Suriname and to make arrangements with local travel agencies. It’s not possible to go into the jungle by yourself. You will need an experienced guide who knows the territory and the tribal leaders in the remote areas. For your stay in Suriname you can rent a house (which is very popular among tourists) or you can go to
a guesthouse or hotel in Paramaribo. It might be a good idea to call before departure or to make reservations. The staff in hotels and guesthouses often speak English.
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Is it necessary to rent a car in Suriname?
Not necessarily. Chances are that there is a bus stop close to your rented house or hotel. There are also many taxi companies in Suriname. Make sure you deal wit a reliable company. It’s quite common in Suriname that private car owners work as a taxi driver besides their regular jobs. Ask your neighbours if they know someone who can bring you! Students and volunteers often hire bicycles in Paramaribo or buy a cheap used one. If you are planning to make multiple day trips or want to visit family, then a rented car can be very useful. You can make International online reservations at: Holiday Cars Autoverhuur, Sunny Cars and World Ticket Center.
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