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Suriname for Visitors

From , former About.com Guide

Rain forest waterfall

Rain forest waterfall

Robert Caputo / Getty Images
If you're headed for Suriname the smallest country in South America get out your dictionary! You'll need it for Surinamese speak eleven different languages and none of them is Spanish. Landing at Johan Adolf Pengel Airport, Suriname's only international airport located about 50km south of Paramaribo where you'll hear Dutch English and Hindi the dialect called Surinaams among Amerindian and other languages.

This strong international influence adds to the diversity and cultural wealth of the country as each wave of immigrants adds to the mix. Suriname's present owes much to the East-Indians and Hindus who migrated to Suriname.

Browse through some of these Old pictures from Suriname (and recent ones) dating from about 1905 to the present for a brief glimpse of the changing country.

Suriname's population is mostly centered on the coast. A thin band of savannah separares the coastal area from Before you head into the Tropical Rainforest. Before you head inland take A walk through Paramaribo and enjoy the historical tour of the capital city. Also called Parbo the city is an intriguing blend of tropics and Northern European cultures. You might enjoy one of the river boat tours to see the inland and learn about the culture the history and the tropical rainforest of Suriname. A visit to Moengo the bauxite mining center will give you an understanding of one of Suriname's economic platforms as will a tour of Nieuw Nickerie , Suriname's second largest city and center of the agricultural area.

Hiking Mount Kasikasima is just one of the attractions that draw visitors to Suriname. It takes twelve days and eleven nights hiking and camping through the rainforest past sacred waterfalls to the twelve peaks of Mt. Kasikasima so this is not an adventure for the faint of heart. However there are fresh water Fishing tours and the Tour Operators in Suriname are sure to have plenty of options to choose from. You might want to see the Birding hot spots in Suriname as the Birds in Suriname are a wonderful colorful delight. Schedule time to see the Marine turtles at the Galibi Nature Reserve. This reserve is unique and very important to marine turtles and their conservation.

The best time to visit Suriname is in the dry season which is February through late April and again form August to to early December.

Enjoy Suriname!

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