Things to see and do Suriname

Around 20 km from Redi Doti, the village of Cassipora is very old, dating back to 1625. It was certainly one of the first contacts between the Arawak natives and the Jewish colony. In Arawak, "cassipoeri" means "creek full of fish", and here we are in the middle of the forest, but very close to a river, and therefore to what is known here as a creek.

The village currently has fewer than 100 inhabitants, but its cemetery boasts 216 gravestones, and according to the records, there were far more burials than known graves at the time (at least 400). This is the oldest Jewish cemetery and the least accessible, since it is hidden in the forest. The oldest tomb dates from 1666, the most recent from 1873.

Towards the end of the ^17th century, the communities of Cassipora and Jodensavanne lived separately, and it was at the end of the ^18th century that the inhabitants of Cassipora moved into the prosperous village of Jodensavanne. True funerary art, the motifs on the tombstones all have religious meanings and deserve close attention, to admire such details as a tree felled by the angel of death, or the hand of God. These tombstones reveal numerous historical features and serve as a veritable open-air archive, so much so that the Jodensavanne site has been listed by Unesco... A place full of history!

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.