Suriname, the self-proclaimed "beating heart of the Amazon", is just that: a warm and dense convergence of rivers in contrast to the lively pace of ethnic diversity.
From Paramaribo, the effervescent capital of the Dutch colony to the unfathomable jungles inside the country, the descendants of the escaped African slaves, the Dutch and British colonialists, the Indian, Indonesian and Chinese workers and the smiling Amerindians offer a sincere welcome to visitors.
On your trip to Suriname you will get the best of both worlds: a city full of restaurants, shops and nightlife, facing a wild jungle far from human things.
It is not easy to travel this country full of rivers and dense forests at once. Here multiple languages mix, so it can be difficult to communicate, sometimes even for Dutch speakers. Remember that the food there is as spicy and succulent as the country itself. Surinam, the former colony of Dutch Guiana, is a country in northern South America. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the north of the country, is surrounded by French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana. It is the smallest independent country on the South American continent. The relatively small population (about half a million) lives mainly along the coast.
The southern part consists of tropical forests and sparsely populated savannahs at the border with Brazil, covering about 80% of the surface. The territory of the country is composed mainly of hills, rising to nearly 1000 meters of altitude in the south, and a narrow plain of mangroves in the north. The forest hides a great diversity of highly preserved fauna and flora, but which are increasingly threatened due to modern urban development. Suriname's climate is tropical, but moderate by the trade winds. There are two dry seasons (February to March, and between August and November) and two rainy seasons (December to January and April to August). In general, November is the hottest month. It is a multilingual country: the languages spoken in Suriname include Dutch (the official language), English, Sranang Tongo, Sarnami (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese, Chinese and Portuguese. Often neglected by tourists, Suriname is nevertheless rich in magnificent tropical nature, rare biodiversity and fascinating culture. The 17th century capital, Paramaribo with its attractive colonial architecture, is a good starting point for any visitor. Go swimming in unusual but popular places like Colakreek, a recreational area 50 km south of Paramaribo. Get on a boat and visit native villages or picturesque old colonial plantations. One of the most popular excursions is a five-day river trip to Kumalu and the Awarra Dam area. Keep your eyes wide open to admire this exceptional wildlife in the rainforest, you may notice wild cats, tarantulas, howler monkeys, rare flowers and giant termite mounds.
Art and culture in Suriname
Thanks to the country's multicultural heritage, Suriname celebrates many distinct ethnic and religious festivals. There are several Hindu and Muslim festivals like Divali (Deepavali), Phagwa, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. There are also several holidays that are unique to Suriname. These include the days of the Indians (Hindoestaanse), Javanese and Chinese who celebrate the arrival of the first ships with their immigrants. Surinam's traditional songs are called "pokoes" in sranang tongo. The variety of music here is enormous, it's up to you to discover the many nooks and crannies.

What to visit in Suriname
Amsterdam meets the Wild West in Paramaribo and during your stay in Suriname, you must visit this most vibrant and striking capital of Guyana. Black and white Dutch-style colonial houses surround the town squares, artists sell colourful paintings outside the dark buildings. Locally known as "Parbo", its inhabitants are proud of their multi-ethnicity and this is particularly noticeable because they live in a city where mosques and synagogues are happy neighbours. In 2002, the historic city centre was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gourmet specialities in Suriname
Thanks to the ethnic mix of the population, Suriname offers a good variety of dishes, including American, Chinese, Creole, European, Indian and Indonesian. There are some restaurants in Niew-Nickerie and Paramaribo, but they are rather rare outside the capital.