Suriname travel Tips

The ‘beating heart of Amazon’: this is how Surinamese people define their country. The definition is largely true, because the small South American state of Suriname has a unique combination of converging rivers and tropical rainforests. However, the most interesting thing about Suriname is its population: Surinamese people are a unique mix of Chinese, Javanese and Indian workers, indigenous Amerindians and Dutch, Lebanese and Jewish settlers.

Suriname once was a Dutch colony. This past can easily remembered while walking on the streets of Paramaribo, its capital: this is a place where the architectural rigor of Amsterdam meets the laissez faire of Wild West. The grassy squares are lined by white and block colonial buildings, and the spicy flavors coming from Indian roti shops are mixing with the of car exhaust. Maroon artists selling colorful paintings stand near somber Dutch forts, there is a mosques and synagogues standing on the same block, and every Surinamese citizen is proud of its multi ethnic background. On the Unesco World Heritage site the historical city of Paramaribo can be found since 2002.

There is a gripping contrast in Suriname: while Paramaribo seems to be more like a modern city, not far away begins the untamed jungle where the western amenities of civilization are nowhere to be found. Transportation is convenient on the coastal areas: the road system is good, therefore tourists can go everywhere using buses or cars.

However, the rest of the country can be visited only by light aircraft. There are about 50 small airstrips in the jungle, served by local air charter companies, but reaching the destination very often means some traveling with a local dug-out canoe. Aircraft and canoes are the only means of transportation in the Surinamese jungle.

Suriname was once part of a large Dutch colony in South America that included large parts of Brazil and most of the Guianas. The Netherlands got into conflict with Britain and France, and lost everything, except Dutch Guiana and a few Caribbean islands.

Many Hindustanis, Indonesians and Indians came to Suriname to work on plantations in the 19th century. 195 was the year when Suriname became a self-governing state and became independent in 1975. Political situation was quite unsettled in the ’80-s and ’90-s, with military coups and elections held ahead of schedule.

Today, one of the main incomes of Suriname comes from eco tourism, and authorities make a conscious effort to develop this kind of business. Visitors can go trekking into the jungle with a local guide, who explains describes the local trees and plants and how they are used. Bird watching is also very popular, as Suriname has about 700 species of indigenous birds. The diversity of habitats is assured by great mudflats and mangrove swamps on the coast, as well as savannah and rainforests.

There are also opportunities for tourists to stay for a few days in a traditional Amerindian or Maroon village. Besides the specific activities, travelers can choose from a wide range of outdoor activities, from mountain biking to fishing, diving, rafting or canoeing, horse riding and turtle watching.

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Article Citation
MLA Style Citation:
McKellen, Edward “Unique Ethnic Diversity In Suriname.” Unique Ethnic Diversity In Suriname. 23 Jan. 2010. uberarticles.com. 23 Jul 2010 .