Suriname is a hidden gem in South America, offering pristine rainforests, diverse wildlife, and a unique multicultural heritage blending Dutch colonial architecture with Caribbean, Javanese, Hindustani, and indigenous cultures. From the UNESCO-listed capital Paramaribo to untouched jungle adventures, this small nation delivers authentic experiences far from mass tourism.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Commewijne Plantations & Dolphin Tour
Commewijne district sits across the Suriname River from Paramaribo and holds the remains of the colonial plantation economy alongside a stretch of river where Guyana dolphins surface regularly. A half-day out here mixes a boat crossing, walks through overgrown former sugar and cacao estates, and time on the water watching dolphins feed near the river mouth.
Highlights: Spot Guiana dolphins at the Suriname-Commewijne river confluence · Visit Fort Nieuw Amsterdam open-air military museum · Explore Peperpot and Frederiksdorp colonial plantation ruins · Watch spectacular sunset from the river
Brownsberg Nature Park
Brownsberg is a plateau reserve rising above the Brokopondo reservoir, reached by a long drive south from Paramaribo. It is Suriname's most accessible rainforest park with a network of marked trails to waterfalls and viewpoints, and the closest place from the capital to actually walk through primary rainforest rather than just look at it from a road.
Highlights: Panoramic views over Brokopondo Reservoir from 500m plateau elevation · Swim in natural pools below Irene and Witi Witi waterfalls · Spot monkeys, toucans, and poison dart frogs on jungle trails · Sunrise viewpoint high above the rainforest canopy
Jodensavanne Historical Site
Jodensavanne, the 'Jewish Savannah,' was a Portuguese-Jewish agricultural settlement founded in the 17th century and holds the ruins of Beracha VeShalom, among the oldest synagogue remains in the Americas. It's a quiet, overgrown archaeological site reached partly by river, more a place to reflect on an unusual chapter of colonial history than a typical sightseeing stop.
Highlights: Ruins of 17th-century Beracha ve Shalom synagogue deep in the jungle · Historic Jewish cemetery from the colonial era · Scenic Para River crossing by dugout canoe · Learn about Suriname's remarkable Sephardic Jewish colonial heritage
Galibi Sea Turtle Reserve
Galibi sits at the mouth of the Marowijne River on the border with French Guiana, and is one of the few places in Suriname where leatherback, green and olive ridley turtles come ashore to nest. It combines a visit to Galibi's Kali'na (Carib) villages with a night on the beach watching turtles, and is the most remote and logistically involved day trip from Paramaribo, often stretched into an overnight.
Highlights: Watch giant leatherback sea turtles nest on the beach (February to August) · Visit Carib indigenous village and learn traditional customs · Spot caiman and tropical birds in the river estuary · Pristine Atlantic coast beaches virtually free of other tourists
Nieuw Nickerie & Bigi Pan Wetlands
Nieuw Nickerie is Suriname's second city, set among the rice-growing polders of the far west, and Bigi Pan is the brackish wetland just beyond it that draws birdwatchers for its scarlet ibis and wading bird populations. The day is really two parts: a look at a rice-farming town very different in character from Paramaribo, and a boat trip into the wetland itself.
Highlights: Boat tour through Bigi Pan mangroves at sunset for spectacular scarlet ibis roosts · Watch thousands of roseate spoonbills and herons gather at dusk · Border town atmosphere with views across the Corantijn River to Guyana · Flat rice paddies and traditional fishing villages of western Suriname
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Paramaribo operators $40-80 per person for Commewijne and Brownsberg; arrange through METS, Stinasu, or hotel tour desk
- Private
- Private car hire with driver from $80-120/day — essential for Brownsberg and Jodensavanne which require navigation knowledge
- Public
- Minibuses serve Brownsweg (for Brownsberg) and Nieuw Nickerie from Paramaribo bus terminals; local knowledge needed to connect to final destinations
- Rental
- Car rental from $40-70/day for standard vehicles; 4WD/SUV from $70-120/day — strongly recommended for Brownsberg and any interior roads
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Leave Paramaribo by 6-7 AM for nature park day trips — morning is best for wildlife activity and avoids the intense midday heat
Book the Commewijne dolphin tour for the afternoon departure (around 14:00) to catch both active dolphins and the spectacular sunset
Carry bottled water and snacks for all day trips — facilities outside Paramaribo are minimal to nonexistent
Brownsberg requires 4WD particularly after rain — standard cars struggle on the unpaved plateau roads