The most beautiful natural sites to discover Suriname

Accessible by a dirt road from the village of Brownsberg, Ston-Eiland Resort is a wonderful place to recharge your batteries for the day by taking a dip in Lake Van Blommenstein, or to explore the strange landscape formed by the trunks of dead trees by renting kayaks and canoeing. It's also a beautiful resort where you can sleep and enjoy the colors of the sunset. A restaurant is also available on site, but reservations must be made the day before.

Managed by the Stinatsu organization, Brownsberg Nature Park offers eight hiking trails that will enable you to appreciate the nature reserve. They are the only signposted trails in Suriname. With varying degrees of difficulty, they enable you to appreciate the local flora and fauna, and take a refreshing dip in the waterfalls. Beware, however, that in the rainy season, the rocks can be particularly slippery, and access to the site, especially by vehicle, can be very complicated! Check the road conditions before you go.

This peninsula is a pleasant resort. You can rent a boat (SRD 20 hour) to travel as you like the lake of Brokopondo, go to discover this strange landscape formed by trunks of dead trees (60 SRD for a group of 6 people) or simply take advantage of the waters of the lake for a refreshing swim.

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.

Matu Island is located in the Blommensteinmeer reservoir, in the Brokopondo district. You can reach it by road, on the Afobakaweg, about 2 hours from Paramaribo. On the degrad Tiemba, the boatswain from Matu Island will pick you up and take you to the site, more than an hour away by pirogue. The main building has 16 rooms, all with king-size beds or king-size bunk beds, washbasin and fan. Toilets and showers are located in the corridor. For more privacy, or if you're in a group, you can also opt for the bungalows: there's a three-bedroom cabin and a four-bedroom cabin. In terms of activities, you won't be outdone on this magnificent site: kayak excursions, Tukunari and Piranha fishing, boat trips along Bakaaboto, observation of local wildlife or simply relaxing in one of the two hammock camps, with a splendid view over the lake. It's also at night that the site delivers on its promise of wonder: in the darkness of night, a sky glittering with a thousand stars awaits you, to round off your stay on this island paradise.

Even if it's a little less luxurious than Paradise Island, it's just as worth the detour! And although there's no swimming pool in the middle of the island, you'll find that there are plenty of options for swimming... We'll leave you to discover all this for yourself!

Benastrand beach is very popular with the locals: families and couples alike come here to relax and enjoy the little picnic cabins by the water. A playground is available and a large, if somewhat imposing, net placed not far from the shore prevents you from being swept away by the current. You can eat or drink, but you can also spend the night in a hammock for a small extra charge: toilets and showers are also available. If nature means simplicity to you, we recommend a visit.

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.