suriname tourism foundation

1 9 9 9 - The Year of Tourism !

Suriname is known for its topographical diversity from its serene flat Northern Coast and its outstretched savanna's to the vast density of the Amazone jungle. Suriname also has a diversity of ethnic groups, cultures, languages, and customs, and is known for its culinary diversity. But most of all we are known for our hospitality.
And so with great pride we introduce you to the beating heart of the Amazone, in which the culinary pleasures, the hospitality of our people and our exceptional natural beauty awaits you.

LOCATION

Suriname is located on the northeast coast of South America and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guyana to the East, Brazil to the south and Guyana to the west. Its land area is 163,265 km² or 63,064 square miles. The capital is Paramaribo, which lies on the west bank of the Suriname River and has around 210,000 inhabitants. The second largest city is Nieuw Nickerie, with approximately 45,000 inhabitants, located on the east bank of the Corantijn River, Suriname's western border.

CLIMATE

Suriname has a tropical humid climate, with dry and rainy seasons. The temperature varies between 21° and 34° C. The rainy seasons last from November to January and from May to July. The most pleasant times to visit Suriname are the dry seasons, i.e. the short dry season from February to April and the long dry season from August to October. Suriname lies outside the hurricane zone, and the most extreme weather condition is the 'sibibusi' (which means forest broom), a heavy rainshower.

FLORA & FAUNA

click on thumbnails and links to view the full size photo's Nearly 80% of our country is covered with tropical rainforests, and these are among the most unspoiled in the world. Suriname's nature is protected by a system of 19 nature reserves and other protected areas, in which one can find countless species of plants, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Four kinds of sea turtles (the krape, the warana, the karet and the aitkanti) lay their eggs on some spots along Suriname's coast between February and July. Behind the coastal plain, there are the so-called swamp forests, where parwa and mangrove grow. Behind these swampforests we find so-called lagoons or 'pannen,' which are filled with fish fit for consumption. In the swampforests, many birds, such as the red ibis and the flamingo, build nests and search for food. Behind the coastal plains and swamps, we find the small savanna belt, famous for the many creeks with brown water, which are in vogue as a recreational area.

Then we have the tropical rainforest, which is part of the enormous Amazon area. This forest covers around 80% of Suriname's territory. Three hundred species of trees have been counted, of which 50 are commercially viable. Suriname's rainforest knows many species of animals and plants. Here we find cat-like creatures such as the jaguar, the puma and the ocelot. Among the many bird species, we find the cock-of-the-rock, the flamingo, and the harpy eagle, parrots, aras, macaws, hummingbirds and toucans. The many kinds of songbirds, which are found in the savanna and at the edge of the forest, also deserve mention. Some species are bred for competitions! The armadillo, the anteater, the capybara (the world's largest rodent), the sloth, several species of deer, wild boars and monkeys , such as the howler monkey, are also part of Suriname's fauna. You can also find several caiman species, otters, manatees, turtles, and tropical fish, such as the piranha, in the rivers and swamps. Snakes, frogs and reptiles are there in all kinds and sizes, both poisonous and non-poisonous. However, the harmless kinds are in the majority. A striking inhabitant of Suriname's rainforests is the protected blue poison frog. The black and blue morpho butterflies are also very beautiful. Suriname also has many scorpion species, and these are not always deadly. The most famous flower of Suriname is the 'fajalobi' (passionate love) or ixora, which is mainly grown in the coastal plains in gardens. Suriname's rainforests are home to several orchid species. As they mostly grow high in trees, their beauty can seldom be seen, however. However, other flowers, such as the heliconia and the passionflower, can be seen when they bloom.

PEOPLE & HISTORY

Paleolithic hunters first undertook the journey to the Americas some 15,000 years ago. Based on archaeological finds in the Sipaliwini area, it is supposed that these indigenous travelers reached Suriname some 10,000 years ago. However, Arrawaks were the first to settle in Suriname's coastal area around 500 AD. Around 1100 AD, Caribs also settled in Suriname. Suriname was first seen by whites at the end of the 15th century, namely by the Spaniards, who were not interested in colonizing the area, however. Alonso de Ojeda, who accompanied Columbus, is generally considered Suriname's 'discoverer,' but it is not certain whether he set foot on land. Domingo de Vera took possession of the area for the Spanish crown only in 1593. Suriname became a colony that changed hands between the Spanish, English and Dutch. Plantations were set up during the next centuries as the main economical activity. The labor force on the plantations consisted of African slaves, many of whom escaped to the interior and fought against the white colonists. These escaped slaves and their descendants have developed a unique culture with many African influences. Slavery was abolished in 1863, and contract laborers from China, India and Indonesia replaced the former slaves. However, the plantations had no future, and Suriname's economy soon acquired another base. Bauxite was discovered in the Marowijne area at the beginning of this century, and soon bauxite mining became the most important economic activity, particularly during World War II. Suriname became an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954. Full independence was only granted in 1975. Now, Suriname is a constitutional democracy seeking its own place in the world.

LANGUAGE

As you might gather, we thus speak many languages. The official language is Dutch, while Sranan Tongo functions as contact language between the different ethnic groups. English is spoken widely along the coast. The various ethnic groups also speak their own languages. .

. Index

Introduction
Location
Climate
Flora & fauna

People & history
Language
Visa & customs
Economy

Cooking
Paramaribo
News
Hotels
Surifesta

Touroperators
Calendar of events
What to bring
What to see, what to do

Important addresses The Suriname Tourism Foundation