SURINAME TRAVEL REPORT.

                                                                    FIRST PART

I therefore arrive at 12.45 (Suriname is one hour ahead of Guyana), at the South Drain border. Make sure you are one of the first to get off the ferry to avoid a long wait at border control.

To enter Suriname for tourism purposes and for a period of up to 60 days, it is necessary to obtain a visa by applying for it to: Embassy of the Republic of Suriname # 200 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt - 1050 Brussels - Belgium, by sending the following documents by courier:

 

1. Original Passport;

2. One copy of the Passport;

3. A complete filled out visa application form;

4. Copy of plane ticket;

5. Copy of Hotel reservation in Suriname;

6. Two photo;

7. Travel Itinerary;

8. Copy bank transfer of Euro € 54.20 (multiple entry two (2) months € 47.20 + applying through mail fee (secured mail EXTRA € 7, within Europe)):

Account: Embassy of the Republic of Suriname

Account number: 210 0625013 94

IBAN code: BE87 2100 6250 1394

BIC code: GEBABEBB

Keep in mind that if there are no problems, the visa is issued in a single day and the passport, paying an extra 7 Euro, is retransmitted by courier to the address you specified;

At the South Drain river border, you have to fill in 2 forms and then they stamp your passport and finally they check your baggage.

Keep in mind that in Suriname, being a former Dutch colony, everyone speaks Dutch and many also English and that almost all tourists or students are Dutch.

Keep in mind that in Suriname, many taxi drivers, hotels and travel agencies accept the euro, although in my opinion it is better to always pay Surinamese Florins (SRG), as the exchange rate applied by them is often disadvantageous.

Keep in mind that at the South Drain river border, it is not possible to change money, but that there are several exchange counters, open until late in the evening in the center of Parammaribo.

Outside the ferry and Customs terminal, various means of transport, shared taxis and minibuses await you to Nieuw Nickerie and Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname.

The best solution is to take the minibus to Paramaribo which for the price of 70 SRG, in about 3 hours and 30 ', takes all passengers, first to change money in Paramaribo (for those who need it) and then in front of the Hotel or address you desired. It starts when full.

In Paramaribo I slept at Guesthouse Un Pied-à-Terre located 1 km north of the historic center in Costerstraat 59, Telephone: +597470488, for the price of 18 Euros, for a single room, including wifi and free computer use.

In the center of Paramaribo, whose historic center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, you can easily walk alone until 10 in the evening. Beyond this time it is better to move on foot.

To go to French Guiana you must first reach the border town Albina and to do so you can take Bus (9 SRG) and minibus (30 SRG) or collective taxis (70 SRG) departing from Paramaribo, but keep in mind that on Sunday morning to For example, or in other circumstances there are only collective taxis that depart from a pitch on the outskirts of the capital, reachable by taxi at the price of 8 SRG (5 minutes).

Collective taxis usually depart from Paramaribo when they are full and arrive at the Albina Customs Office after about 2 hours. The fare is 70 SRG.

Get the Suriname exit stamp and board a small motor boat that crosses the Marowijne River in 10 minutes. The same part very frequently, only in daylight, even with only one passenger for the price of 50 SRG. The fare is fixed and does not change according to the number of passengers.

SECOND PART

I therefore return to Albina, in Suriname where, after completing the appropriate entry form, I have the entry stamp placed in the country.

To go to Paramaribo you can take Bus (9 SRG) and minibus (30 SRG) or collective taxi (70 SRG) departing from the Albina river border post, but keep in mind that on Sunday morning for example or in other circumstances only collective taxis are in operation.

Shared taxis usually leave Albina when they are full (mine left with only 3 people on board) and arrive in Paramaribo after about 2 hours if there is not too much traffic in the capital. The fare is 70 SRG. You pay when you get off. If you are as lucky as I was, the same door in front of your hotel or at the address you want without any additional cost.

In Paramaribo I slept the first night at Guesthouse De Kleine Historie (booked through booking), located in Mr. Dr. J.C. De Mirandastraat 8, in the historic center - Phone: +597 521 007, for the price of 79 SRG (they also accept Euros), for a bed in a dormitory, including wifi and free breakfast.

In Paramaribo I slept the second and third night at Zus & Zo Hotel, located in Grote Combèweg, in front of Palmentuin, at a price of 17 Euros (they also accept SRG) per night, for a double room, including free wifi. Bikes for hire are also available here.

If from Paramaribo you want to make a day excursion to Brownsberg Nature Reserve independently, keep in mind that a very difficult task: you have to go early in the morning to Saramacastraat, west of the Central Market, where minibuses and collective taxis leave for Djumu when they are full which also stop on request in Brownsberg. (50 SRG, 1 hour and a half).

The minibus, at your express request, will leave you at the crossroads for Brownsberg Nature Reserve. From here there are still 15 km to go in the middle of the forest, a dirt road with gigantic holes that becomes impassable after heavy rains. So it is necessary to ask for a paid ride to someone from the Village or, as I did, to stock a ride to someone going to the park.

Entrance to Brownsberg Nature Reserve costs 20 SRG. From the park it is possible to enjoy a wide view of Lake Brokopondo and make excursions of 50 minutes or an hour and a quarter to two beautiful waterfalls.

From Brownsberg Nature Reserve, to return to Paramaribo, you have to follow the reverse procedures to those above, bearing in mind that the Park Guards are available to take you to Brownsberg for 100 SRG, where you can take a minibus coming from Djumu and heading to Paramaribo (50 SRG, 1 hour and a half).

Keep in mind that if you want to take an excursion to Brownsberg Nature Reserve, without worrying about solving the above problems, several Travel Agencies offer a day trip to the Park in question, at the price of 65 Euros, including lunch, transport entrance.

The same agencies also organize half-day excursions on the Commewijne River, to see the Pink Belly Dolphins, departing on Wednesday at 16.00 from Leonsberg and returning at 19.30. The cost is 27.5 Euros and includes in addition to the boat transport, a guide who speaks English and Dutch, a snack on the boat, a snack and a short walk in a typical village of the area.

The taxi ride from Paramaribo to Leonsberg, 10 km northwest of the city, where the excursion to see the Dolphins begins, costs 30 SRG, but by bargaining strongly you can also reach 20 SRG.

To reach the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM), located in the Town of Zanderij, 45 km south of Paramaribo, during the day you can take a minibus from Heiligenweg, near the central market, for the price of 6 SRG. If, on the other hand, your flight is at night or early in the morning, you must book an Airport Shuttle through the hotel where you are staying, which will pick you up at the hotel about 4 and a half hours before the flight, at a price of 15 Euros or 75 SRG. A private taxi instead will cost 40 Euros. The journey takes approximately 1 hour.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2016/08/viaggio-in-colombia-aruba-curacao.html