Suriname - Suriname

Suriname, the former colony Dutch Guyana, is the smallest independent country on the south american continent. Bordering countries are Guyana, Brazil and French Guiana. In the north the country has a coastline to Atlantic, where the majority of the relatively manageable population lives.

Regions

Suriname is administratively divided into ten districts. The district of Sipaliwini in the south is larger than all the other districts combined and is directly separated from the capital Paramaribo managed out. The population density there is only 0.3 inhabitants per km². With the exception of Para and Brokopondo (around the artificially created Blommesteinsee), the remaining districts are concentrated on the coast.

The following division of the country should be relevant for tourism:

• coast - includes from west to east the districts of Nickerie, Coronie, Saramacca, Wanica, Paramaribo (capital district), Commewijne and Marowijne. The two districts of Wanica and Paramaribo are not only the smallest, but also the most populous and therefore the most densely populated districts in the country.
• east - these include the districts of Para, Brokopondo and the extreme east of the district of Sipaliwini.
• Wilhelminagebirge - covers the southwest. The Julianatop there is the highest point in the country at 1,280 meters.

Cities / places

• Albina - From here you can take a boat down the Marowijne to Galibi. Boat tours upriver are also possible. Ferry connection to the eastern neighbor Guyane Française.
• Groningen - This is the capital of the Saramacca district with almost 3,000 inhabitants.
• Lelydorp - The main town of the district Wanica is with 19,000 inhabitants, the second largest town in the country. The population consists predominantly of Surinamians of Javanese and Indian origin.
• Moengo - It used to be one of the centers for bauxite mining. For several years, attempts have been made to establish the location as a center for contemporary art.
• Nieuw Nickerie - The car ferry to Guyana can be reached from here. Boat trips up the border river Corantijn are possible.

• Paramaribo - Capital with 200,000 inhabitants and numerous attractions: e.g. Waterkant, synagogue and mosque right next to each other (!!!), Fort Zeelandia, cathedral (one of the largest wooden buildings in South America), Independence Square with the presidential palace and the entire city center as a world cultural heritage.
• Paranam - An industrial site with a disused aluminum smelter without tourist attractions.
• Totness - Central location of the so-called Coronie coconut district. Good stopover on the journey from Paramaribo to Nieuw Nickerie.
• Wageningen - The rice-growing center in the Nickerie district. Without tourist attractions.

Other goals

• Galibi - Nature reserve where sea turtles can be seen. Accessible from Albina by boat. Overnight accommodation in Langamankondre and Christiaankondre.
• Brownsberg - Nature reserve with a great view of the Brokopondo reservoir. Unfortunately, gold mining has already caused severe damage to nature.

background

In 1975 Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands. Five years later, the government was replaced by a military regime that proclaimed the Socialist Republic. International pressure resulted in a democratic election in 1987. Although the military took power again in 1989, a civilian government was re-elected in 1991.

getting there

Entry requirements

All immigrants need a passport that is valid for at least six months. It is compulsory to have an onward or return flight ticket.

Germans, Austrians, Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens no longer require a visa for stays of up to 30 days (extendable to 90 days). For the Entry by plane A single entry tourist card is available for a fee upon arrival at the airport (2019: US $ 54, cash only). If you change trains at Amsterdam Airport, you can go to the consulate counter there (Departures, Hall 2, Entrance B or C. Usually open 2 hours before check-in of flights to Suriname; € 35) purchase a tourist card.
On the Land route Entrants must purchase their “tourist card” in advance from the relevant consulate in the neighboring countries. In Georgetown this is at junction 54 New Garden / Anirastreet, Queenstown. There was in French Guiana no Surinamese representation for a long time. You can now get your entry permit at the consulate in Cayenne (3 Avenue Léopold Hédér, near the intersection with Rue F. Arago; Mon-Fri 9 am-2pm) or St. Laurent du Maroni (6 Rue Victor Schoelcher). In Brazilian Belém is the consulate at Avenida Governador José Malcher 108, Bairro Nazaré.

All too Not-tourist purposes travelers need a visa, which can be obtained from the consulate in Amsterdam (De Cuserstraat 11, 1081 CK Amsterdam, ☎ 31 20 6426137, details). If necessary, you can also contact the embassy in Brussels (Franklin Rooseveltlaan 200, 1050 Brussels). Please note that the form must be filled out online (note: Enter “/” as a separator for the date, otherwise an error message). EU citizens can get a visa in Amsterdam in one day, other nationalities wait at least two weeks.

For stays of more than a month, you must register with Department for Alien Registration, Ministry of Justice and Police; Mr. J. Lachmonstraat 166-168 (on the ground floor of the Ministry of Public Works). Passport and onward flight must be presented.

E-Tourist Card and eVisa

Suriname has a pre-application for April 15, 2019 E-Tourist Card introduced which costs US $ 40 14 fee. This procedure has so far existed in parallel with the more convenient for air travelers visa on arrival.

Duty Free Allowances

200 cigarettes or 20 cigars or 500 g tobacco. 1 liter of schnapps or 4 liters of wine or 8 liters of beer. 50 ml of perfume. The import and export of the national currency is limited to 150 SRD.

By plane

Of Amsterdam From there are several times a week (relatively expensive) flights with KLM or Suriname Airways.

Suriname Airways flies in the region via Cayenne to Belem and over Port of Spain to Curacao. Miami one served with stopovers either in Aruba or Georgetown. With Caribbean Airlines one also arrives after Caracas.

Airplanes land at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, formerly called Zanderij International Airport. It is located 45 km south of Paramaribo. From there you can get into the city by taxis or buses. The big hotels usually organize a free shuttle service.

By train

Unfortunately there are no long-distance trains in Suriname; only two disused routes, some of which have already been reclaimed by nature.

By bus

In the street

It is possible to rent cars. But be careful: left-hand traffic! Foreigners must be in possession of one international driving license or can purchase a local one for SRD 150 (payable at the main post office in Paramaribo, Kerkplein 1). Available from the Driver's Licenses Department, at the police station Bureau Nieuwe Haven in Paramaribo.

By boat

Anyone who does not enter on a sailing yacht has little chance of getting to Suriname by ship. Every now and then cruise ships dock in Paramaribo.

mobility

Left-hand traffic applies in Suriname.

language

The official language is Dutch. Next to it is the Creole language Sranan Tongo that contains elements of Dutch, Portuguese, and African, but most of the time English is easy to use.

to buy

Exchange rate (December 2020): 1 = 14.15 SRD. US dollars are preferred when exchanging cash.

nightlife

There are restaurants, bars, night clubs and a surprising number of casinos in Paramaribo. Some casinos are also likely used for drug money laundering.

Work

Taking up work, including any short-term volunteering, requires a work visa.

public holidays

meeting	Surname	importance
January 1st	Nieuwjaarsdag / Nyunyari	New Year
2nd March 2018 March 21, 2019	Holi	Hindu spring festival on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna (February / March).
April 2, 2021, March 30, 2018	Goede Vrijdag / Bun freida	Good Friday, before the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring
April 5, 2021, April 2, 2018	Phases	Easter Monday
1st of May	Wrocodei	Labor Day
July 1	Keti Koti Dei	Remembrance Day for the Abolition of Slavery
May 12, 2021, June 15, 2018	Ied Ul-Fitre	End of ramadan, The time varies from the calendar Ramadan by a few days.
25. November	Srefidensi	Independence day
25 December	Kerstdag / Kresneti	1st Christmas Day
December 26th	Kerstdag / Kresneti	2nd Christmas Day

security

Both when leaving Suriname and when entering Amsterdam there are sometimes very strict drug controls. You should plan enough time for this and under no circumstances take packages, parcels or gifts with you whose contents you do not know. As in many regions of the world, the same applies here: Valuables should not be carried openly and you should not carry more cash with you than is absolutely necessary. The number of robberies has increased in recent years. Drinks are also occasionally mixed with narcotics. The threat of punishment for drug offenses is rigorous.

The police presence outside Paramaribo is very low.

health

The usual precautions for tropical countries should be observed. Dengue fever, malaria and yellow fever occur - especially inland. Insect repellent for skin and clothing is advisable. Since Paramaribo is almost at sea level, the city is criss-crossed by canals, so mosquitoes must also be expected there. In any case, one should inquire about malaria prophylaxis before traveling. For the journey to / from French Guyana there is one Yellow fever vaccination required. This disease also occurs in the country itself and in Venezuela. Furthermore, a vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended and the vaccination against polio and tetanus should be refreshed if necessary.

You should refrain from unprotected sexual contact because of possible AIDS or hepatitis infections.

climate

The climate of Suriname is tropical-equatorial. A distinction is made on the coast between the small rainy season from December to February, which is followed by the small dry season in March and April, and the large rainy season from May to July, which is followed by the large dry season from August to December. The best travel time is between February and April. The downpours begin in May and are accompanied by strong thunderstorms. Countless flocks of mosquitoes swarm the air, and the vegetation develops with the greatest speed and abundance, but the noxious fumes rising from the ground make this time of the year the most unhealthy. In June the rain begins to subside and in August the pure, clear sky appears. The easterly winds rise, and at times the great dry season in particular brings a damaging drought. The heat is moderate from 10 a.m. onwards by sea breezes, which increase towards evening and decrease again during the night. At daybreak it is often very cool.

respect

Due to its colonial past, Suriname is multicultural. It is important to respect Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Christians alike.

Practical advice

Emergency calls

Police: ☎ 112 or 115 Ambulance: ☎ 113

literature

There are a number of so-called travel guides in Dutch.

Web links

• Reports on border crossing: Corriverton (Guiana) / Nieuw Nickerie and from French Guiana St. Laurent du Maroni / Albina (Eng .; 2014)