Suriname - Useful information for your trip

Suriname is a country in South America with Paramaribo as a capital city, corresponding to the former Dutch colony known as Dutch Guiana. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north and its official language is Dutch. Its main mountain ranges are Wilhelmina Mountains and Mitaraka Massif, while the main rivers include Coppename, Courantyne, Kabalebo, Lawa, Litani and Lucie. The main lake is Brokopondo.

The climate in Suriname is mainly tropical, with abundant precipitation especially in the interior and along the coasts. 11.5% of the land is protected and vegetation is mostly characterized by equatorial forest. A typical animal species of Suriname is the Andean cock-of-the-rock, a bird with bright orange plumage (the female is grey) which builds its nests near granitic masses.

The economy is dominated by bauxite industry, covering around 70% of the exports. Other exported products are rice and bananas, while only recently has Suriname started to exploit its oil and gold reserves. A quarter of the population is employed in the agricultural sector. The country strongly depends on other states, in particular on the Netherlands, the Caribbean countries and the United States.

During a trip to Suriname, besides the natural beauties, unmissable attractions include the capital city of Paramaribo, listed as Unesco World Heritage Site, stopping at the enchanting presidential palace and the cathedral. Another interesting attraction is "Palmentuin", an enormous natural park with splendid vegetation. Unmissable is also beautiful Brownsberg Nature Park, a real biodiversity paradise,

Other highlights include the Hindu temples, the mosques and synagogues which show how multiethnic the country is. A visit to Tukunari island, with its stunning views, is also recommended.