Backpacking Paramaribo, the capital of former Dutch Colony of Suriname.
After a long day travelling from Georgetown, I arrived in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname.
I stayed at the Twenty4 Hostel, the only hostel in Suriname.
Initially I shared the room with a guy from Guyana.
For the first three days, I was the only backpacker at the only backpacker hostel in Suriname.
If you want the Road Less Travelled, then this is the place to come to, especially in the rainy season.
But be warned. It rains all year round. It just depends if it rains just a little or a lot.
The insane humidity and the mosquitoes will be your constant companion.
You’ll be wise to bring your own mosquito net and some DEET.
Be prepared to wade through the flooded streets.
If you need to escape the heat, there is a McDonald’s in town that has AC but not coffee. Imagine eh. Of course this deserved a blog post (coming next).
Suriname was a former Dutch colony.
They gained independance on 25 November 1975.
The official language is Dutch and there are eight indigenous languages too.
Everyone that I had contact with spoke English.
Dank u wel and alstublieft are two words worth knowing!!
The historic centre of Paramaribo, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its outstanding collection of Dutch colonial architecture and these wooden buildings are totally worth admiring.
I stayed a week in Paramaribo (yeah I know, quite a long time).
There are a number of day trips and multi day trips that you can do from Paramaribo.
They all need a minimum number of people so you might be hard pressed to find others who are going. It is also not much fun in the wet season, hiking in torrential rain.
So, if excursions into the jungle are what you want, try to come in the drier seasons which run from February to April and August to December.
May and June are the wettest months when you can expect around 300 mm a month, exactly when I was there.
Compare that to the average in the UK which is just 50 mm a month. So all the Brits who just love to think it’s always raining in the UK, you ain’t seen nothing.
Here is my list of things to see and do in the city of Paramaribo, Suriname:
Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace is located on Independence Square and was constructed in 1730 during the period of Dutch colonial rule.
It was extended in 1780 and later in 1911.
The design combines classical European influences with a modifications to help cope with the tropical climate found in this part of the world.
The spacious verandas, high ceilings, large windows and open terraces were all intended to improve ventilation and provide some degree of comfort in the region’s hot and humid environment.
Today, the palace is used primarily for ceremonial events, diplomatic meetings and official receptions.
Onafhankelijkheidsplein – Independence Square in Paramaribo, Suriname:
Paramaribo Military Prison
The former Military Prison is part of the Fort Zeelandia complex and even though the actual Fort that I didn’t enter underwent a massive restoration, the old prison just remains, alone, derelict and eerie.
I love Suriname sign
If a city or town has one of these slightly tacky signs, surely it’s a must to take a selfie?
National Assembly of Suriname
The National Assembly, in its current form, dates from 1987. In that year, democracy was reestablished after the coup and a new constitution was adopted and is located in the present building after the original building was destroyed by fire in 1996. It is also located on Independence Square.
The restored former National Assembly in Paramaribo:
Waterkant
Waterkant or Waterfront is a good place for a morning of late afternoon stroll.
Korean War Memorial
The Korean War Memorial is dedicated to the 102 Suriname veterans who fought for democracy in the Koream War on 1950-1953.
Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul
The Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul, also called Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, is a wooden Roman Catholic cathedral.
It was consecrated in 1885, but the towers were not finished until 1901. It underwent major restoration between 2007 and 2010 when the cathedral was re-opened.
Suriname Mosque and Synagogue
This is kinda funny. This is the only location in the world where a Mosque and Synagogue stand next to each other.
The Neveh Shalom Synagogue was built in 1843, and represents one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Americas.
The Suriname Mosque belongs to the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement featuring four minarets and was completed in 1984, built on the site of a former wooden mosque.
Riverside’s Kitchen
Having seen the sights, my favourite activity was to come to the Riverside and disconnect.
Watching the river and the rain is very therapeutic. They have small cans of Radler, a 0% shandy which went down a treat in the afternoon.
A good place to kill a few hours just doing nothing.
They have some good tunes playing and sometimes people just come in for a dance.
It is open 24 hours and am pretty sure it can get lively at night.
Paramaribo Central Market
For a central market it was pretty low-key but worth a visit.
Where to eat in Paramaribo
The Souposo and the Zus & Zo Restaurants were my go to places to eat.
They are under the same ownership as the Twenty4 Hostel.
They have some decent food on the menu.
Kip Creole was my favourite at the Zus & Zo.
The Humus Burger and sandwiches at the Souposo were my favourites.
You can pay for the hostel at both of these restaurants by card but with a 5% mark up and only with Mastercard.
If you need cash, the DSB ATM has free withdrawals (Mastercard only).
If you only have Visa, then get cash at the Republic Bank (apparently is the only place that accepts Visa).
