Things to see and do Coastal Plain

One of a kind, the building is made entirely of wood! In fact, this yellow-and-blue Catholic cathedral is the largest wooden religious building in South America, with towers reaching 44 meters in height. Built at the end of the ^19th century on the ruins of a former theater, it has undergone numerous restorations, both inside and out, its wooden structure making it extremely fragile and particularly prone to termite attack.

STINASU is a public structure in charge of the management of some natural reserves and the Brownsberg National Park. It provides a shuttle service to the park and also offers day or 2 to 4 day excursions from Paramaribo. It is also one of the first nature conservation organizations to have introduced the concepts of ecotourism in Suriname. The foundation also offers bird watching and turtle watching.

Who is that pudgy man standing proudly in Independence Square? The statue you'll see represents politician Johan Adolf Pengel (1916-1970), a very popular Surinamese Prime Minister in the 1960s. Indeed, under his government, Suriname's infrastructure underwent major development: roads were built and existing infrastructure greatly improved, two new hospitals were built..

This agency offers "standard" excursions lasting from 1 to 4 days. Accompanied by native or black-brown guides who know the area inside out, you can explore the Galibi reserve or the Commewijne plantation on foot, by boat or by bike. Adventure tours are aptly named. Generally lasting from 4 to 8 days, you'll discover the Tapanahony and Palumeu rivers or the Kasikasima mountain for an immersion in deep Suriname.

Peperpot is an old plantation, and a little history is necessary to understand the site. When Suriname was taken from the English by the Dutch in 1667, the plantation system already existed. The majority of plantations were located up the Suriname River, not far from the river mouth, where sugar and tobacco were the main crops. In 1683, a new administration was put in place which introduced the Zeeland polder system, leading to the successful development of plantations downriver, closer to the capital Paramaribo.

The ancient coffee and cocoa plantation of Peperpot was acquired in 1692 by Simon van Halewijn, a wealthy and influential man. Cocoa was introduced in 1702 after an unsuccessful trial with tobacco, followed by coffee in 1720. After van Halewijn's death, the plantation passed through a succession of owners. It enjoyed a few prosperous years, but neglected maintenance combined with competition in the markets soon led to the plantation's closure.

Today, the site has become a private nature reserve, world-famous among ornithologists for the diversity of its birds. Every year, the site welcomes numerous school classes and an average of 500 visitors a month! An education and awareness center is currently under construction at the entrance to the park. A 3.2 km walking and cycling trail guides you through the plantation, revealing the old navigation channels used to transport coffee from the plantations to the factory in small boats. Small wooden bridges allow you to cross the plantations, and observe the surrounding fauna: toucans, monkeys, sloths, falcons... You can also relax in the shade of a tree in the rest and picnic areas set aside for the purpose. A little further along the trail, the old village or "kampong" of the Javanese workers is well worth a visit: you'll find the very old cocoa and coffee factory (not yet open to the public) and the magnificent houses of the director and manager. At the entrance to the Kampong, you'll find houses rented out for the night and old dwellings in this small village, which seems a little deserted: the workers' children and their families still live here. Beyond the village, a beautiful nursery with all kinds of flowers and orchids.

There's a small store at the entrance to the site where you can buy water, postcards, a book on trees and bird identification cards.

The garden is located in the village of Boxel, not far from Domburg, still in the Wanica district, 22 kilometers from the capital Paramaribo. The botanical garden covers some 5,000 m² and features tropical trees, medicinal plants and ornamental plants such as orchids and other exotic flowers. Three ponds have been dug, all connected by ditches and flowing into the Suriname River via a stream. Thousands of liters of water are thus supplied and discharged every day by tidal action.

This tropical "water garden", with its 3 ponds, is regularly visited by school classes and universities, so that future generations can learn more about the importance of Suriname's floristic diversity. Volunteers can also help maintain the site, in exchange for board and lodging.
The garden boasts a variety of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. The emphasis is obviously on flora, but when it comes to fauna, we're not outdone either: the vast majority of species you'll encounter will be birds and reptiles, with the many species of frogs and toads that come in the rainy season. And don't forget the iguanas and the famous " sapakara ", the large lizard that varies in length from 50 to 70 cm.

A wonderful discovery and a walk that can be extended by staying overnight at Erik Kuiper's Little Paradise guesthouse, to enjoy the peace and quiet of the area.

Frederiksdorp is a former coffee plantation dating back to 1700, where police stations were set up at the abolition of slavery to punish crimes and misdemeanors committed by both workers and employers. Today, the military posts built in 1863 have been restored and converted into small residences for up to 4 people. The resort also boasts a swimming pool and a beautiful garden, with many birds and orchids. Finally, the bar-restaurant is atypical: it's a former prison!

The town of Marienburg boasts a special tourist attraction: the Katwijk plantation, which has been open to the public since 2013. This coffee and citrus plantation is the only one still in operation in Suriname. Founded around 1746 during Suriname's colonial era, its main purpose was to produce coffee. Located on the Commewijne River between the Welgelegen and Wederzorg plantations, it is managed by NV Katwijk (1954), which produces its own coffee under its own brand: KW. Production amounts to around 10 to 15 tonnes a year: the coffee is sold only in Paramaribo, not for export - a rare find for coffee lovers! The owner is Hindustani and knows the plantation like the back of his hand, having worked there all his life. He'll be delighted to explain all the details of the plantation to you on a guided tour lasting around 2 hours.

At Katwijk Plantation, you'll find plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling or simply enjoying the great outdoors. Many other activities are offered around the coffee plantation. Of course, there's also the possibility of spending a quiet night here. This vacation home on the banks of the Commewijne River is the perfect place for your family, children, friends or simply anyone in need of relaxation and rest. Coffee from the plantation is also on sale at the ReadyTex boutique in Paramaribo.

Founded in 1966 and inaugurated in 1972, this small zoo is not of the highest quality (especially given the size of the cages and the upkeep). Nevertheless, it makes an interesting outing for discovering the local fauna: monkeys, caimans, jaguars, snakes, sloths, harpy, giant otter... If you come at mealtimes, the animals will be more active. And as a new feature, a small water park has also just opened for children to play and bathe in.

Parabello is the ideal place for a swim and for buying local handicrafts: the native pottery is well worth a visit. There's also a carbet by the river, for protection from the rain or a quiet picnic. It's also possible to go ziplining in the forest, by booking through an agency for example. Not far from Parabello, you can also take a guided tour of the Paraflor exotic garden. This botanical garden and nursery is famous for its rare and beautiful tropical flowers.

Erected in 1994 as a tribute to Suriname's Indian community, this statue of BABA in MAI (father and mother) means "where the earth brings salvation and work, there is my home". Despite this somewhat watered-down motto, the story isn't all rosy.

On June 5, 1873, a 61-meter-long sailing ship named Lalla Rookh docked in Suriname after a 99-day crossing. After 11 deaths at sea, she took on board 399 people: 279 men, 70 women, 32 boys and 18 girls. They were the first migrants from India to land in Suriname.

Indeed, following the abolition of slavery, the Dutch government opened its borders and called on foreign labor to work on the plantations, offering a contract in which the Indian immigrant committed to staying at least 5 years in the territory, in exchange for a salary and medical assistance.

Unfortunately, not everything changed overnight, and the living and working conditions of the first Indians were not so far removed from those of their unfortunate African predecessors. The history of the Surinamese plantations is marked by numerous revolts by Indian workers. But they had signed a contract and were not considered slaves. Between 1873 and 1916, a total of 34,000 migrants arrived from India. Today, they account for around 27% of Suriname's population.