Suriname Info
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 Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:09 am Post subject: SURINAME TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN SURINAME |
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SURINAME TOURISM GUIDE
Paramaribo
The 17th-century capital is graced with attractive British, Dutch, French and Spanish colonial architecture. The nearby restored Fort Zeelandia houses the Surinam Museum. Other attractions include the 19th-century Roman Catholic cathedral (made entirely of wood – as is the 17th-century synagogue, which lies in stark contrast to the biggest mosque in the Caribbean), Independence Square, the Presidential Palace (with an attractive palm garden) and the lively waterfront and market districts. Palmentuin is a pleasant park, as is the Cultuurtuin, but the latter is a fair distance from the town.
Central Market
Here you can find tropical fruit and vegetables galore. You will run into a cross-section of Suriname's inhabitants here.
Palm Gardens
These gardens are behind the Presidential Palace, and are famous for their stately palmtrees.
Waterfront / Independence Square
The centre of activity during national holidays. There are also several foodstands along the Waterfront.
Fort Zeelandia / Suriname Museum
The historic Fort Zeelandia has been turned into a museum, which highlights Suriname's history and arts.
Religious buildings
All major religions are represented. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, the two Jewish synagogues and the Reformed Church are major historic buildings.
Elsewhere
The countryside is sparsely populated, and the scenery and the tropical vegetation and wildlife provide the main attractions: mangrove swamps, rivers and rapids of all sizes, Amazonian rainforest and mountains, and jaguars, tapirs, snakes, tropical birds and giant sea turtles from the Matapica and Galibi beach reserves, as well as highly endangered species such as the c*** of the rock, the harpy eagle, the giant otter and the manatee.
Commewijne
The Commewijne area is well known for its old plantations, such as Meerzorg, Peperpot, Frederiksdorp, Alliance and Marianburg, and fishing villages such as Pomona, Johanna Margaretha ('Margrita'), Rust en Werk and Bakki or Reynsdorp. These plantations, which are situated on both the right and left banks of the Commewijne river, are still populated, and played an important part in Suriname's economy during their heyday.
The Matapica area along the coast is used each year by sea turtles to lay eggs. Further west we find Braamspunt, where an old fort (Batterij Byam's Point, later Batterij Braamspunt) has been washed away by the sea, and where many people go to for a 'day on the beach.'
The capital of the Commewijne district, Nieuw Amsterdam, is well known for the old fort, which was built between 1743 and 1758, and now is part of an open-air museum, which contains many interesting exhibits.
Para
The Para district is particularly attractive for daytrips. It is very pleasant swimming in the many creeks with brown water in that area. Famous are Colakreek, Bersaba and Carolinakreek. Further down in the Para area we find Jodensavanne, which was established in the 17th century by Portuguese Jews. After a period of prosperity and growth, the place was abandoned after a fire in 1832.
During World War II, it was an internment camp for people suspected of pro-Nazi sympathies. Now the ruins of the synagogue "Beracha Ve Shalom" (Blessings and Peace) can still be seen. In Jodensavanne, there are also an old cemetery and a medicinal spring, which is already mentioned in old Jewish writings. The Indigenous village of Cassipora and the recreational resort Blakawatra, which was established in the '60s as a vacation home for former Prime Minister J.A. Pengel, are also part of the area. Para is very important for the country's economy, as this area is the main centre of bauxite mining and processing.
The tourist, who wants to know Suriname's interior, but does not like long trips, can make a daytrip to Santigron at the Saramacca River, 30 kilometers south of Paramaribo. This village was founded after the abolition of slavery in 1863 near an old lumber plantation and sawmill, and several Marron tribes, such as Aucans, Saramaccans and Matawai live there. Santigron can be easily reached via the Jawaweg near Lelydorp.
Brokopondo
Deeper in the interior, the Stinasu foundation manages the Brownsberg nature reserve in the Brokopondo area. On the top of the mountain you will find the Mazaroni plateau, on which sleeping quarters and some bungalows have been built. From the plateau, there are walking routes to the lower falls such as the Irene falls and the Leo falls. After a long walk in the forest, you can take a refreshing bath in the Wittikreek. This nature area is famous for the different species of animals which can be seen and heard, such as the howler monkey and birds such as the bell bird, toucans, parrots, aras, hummingbirds and woodpeckers. At the foot of the Brownsberg lies the transmigration village of Brownsweg. The village and the mountain have been named after John Brown, an American who has a gold concession at the end of the 19th century.
A hydroelectric dam was built in the Suriname river near Afobakka between 1961 and 1964. The Brokopondo Lake came into being as a result of this. Recently, the Brokopondo area has become known for gold mining in the Gross Rosebel area near the transmigration village of Nieuw Koffiekamp.
Nickerie
There are rice fields along the road to Nickerie. Nieuw Nickerie is Suriname's second city, given the population and economic activities. From Nieuw Nickerie, a ferry can take you to Springlands in Guyana. Upper Nickerie river The Blanche Marie Falls are in the Upper Nickerie river. After an adventurous cartrip, you can fish in the river or take walk through the forest.
Sipaliwini
In the south of Suriname, near the border with Brazil, we find Indigenous tribes such as the Trio, Wajana and Akurio, which have only recently come into contact with the outside world. The largest villages in this area are Palumeu, Pelelutepu and Kwamalasamutu.
If you want to make an adventurous trip in Suriname, you can take a trip with a four-wheel car by road and continue by dugout canoe over the river. These river trips are very exciting, and often take you to rapids (called 'sulas' in Suriname). The Marron boatsman knows the river like the back of his hand.
Saramacca area
The Raleigh Falls/Voltzberg nature reserve , managed by Stinasu, is situated at the Upper Coppename river. This area can be reached through the road to Witagron, and from there the journey is continued by boat. The trip can also be made by plane. The Voltzberg is 240 meters high and it is really a rock sticking out above the forest. This area is loved by bird lovers, who go there to admire the many beautiful bird species such as aras, toucans, parrots and cocks-of-the-rock.
Upper Marowijne and Tapanahony
The different villages along the Marowijne and its tributaries, the Lawa and Tapanahony, can be reached via Albina and Langatabbetje. Langatabbetje (or Langatabiki, means 'long river island') is part of the territory of the Paramaccans, a Marron tribe that was formed in the 18th century by runaway slaves from plantations along the Commewijne and Cottica rivers. It is also the residence of their chief or 'granman.'
After a series of spectacular falls, you will reach Stoelmanseiland at the point where the Lawa and Tapanahony merge into the Marowijne river. There is a small airfield there. From the island, you can make daytrips to French and Surinamese villages along the Lawa and Tapanahony. the village of Drietabbetje, residence of the 'granman' of the Aucans, is along the Tapanahony. there are a medical post and an airfield here. Benzdorp along the Lawa river is currently a gold mining centre. Diamond and platinum deposits are also suspected in the area. |
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