tourism at the forefront of a diversifying economy
SURINAME'S EXTRAORDINARY CULTURAL AND NATURAL VARIETY HAVE CONVERTED THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY INTO A FAVORITE DESTINATION FOR TRAVELERS LOOKING FOR 'THE NEXT BIG THING' IN TOURISM

With unspoiled tropical rainforests covering more than 80% of its territory, it is easy to understand why Suriname is commonly referred to as ‘the beating heart the Amazon’. Nestled between Guyana and French Guyana to the west and east and Brazil to the south, Suriname also boasts a beautiful Atlantic coastline to the north, a large central savannah and a culture as diverse as its topography.
But it is the vastness of its rainforest and the hospitality of its people that have become the foundation of a maturing tourism industry that the Dutch, the country’s former colonial rulers, have enjoyed for years and the rest of the world is only just beginning to discover.

Half of Suriname’s 440,000 inhabitants live in the northern capital Paramaribo, leaving the rest of the 64,000-square-mile country sparsely populated and a nature-lovers dream. While seasoned eco-tourists will be eager to venture into the country’s more than 13 nature reserves on their own, it is a good idea to take advantage of the many organized guided trips to jungle resorts in the rainforest and coastal wildlife parks so as to fully enjoy the experience.
The Awarradam jungle resort, for example, was set up by a group of villagers on a small island hidden in the Amazon rainforest along a stretch of rapids bearing the same name. It is a short boat ride from the southern-most village of the Saramaccans, who are part of the Maroon indigenous group that escaped slavery and maintained its West African culture for centuries in the heart of Suriname’s rainforest.

Another resort at the Amerindian village of Palumeu, conveniently named the Palumeu Resort, lies at the upper Tapanahony River deep in the Amazon rainforest. A favorite excursion for visiting eco-tourists, after a daybreak wakeup call from a chorus of tropical birds and howler monkeys, is a hike up Poti Hill for a birds-eye view of the river and of mountain peaks arising from beyond a spectacular ocean of treetops.
Although the upland Amerindian tribes of the Trio and Wajana live a reserved life, they will often open up to visitors on an extended stay who make an attempt to break through the language barrier.
For the more adventurous tourists, a combination boating and hiking trip can be arranged down the roaring Palumeu River. After a day’s water thrills, hammocks are set up at a base camp for a good night’s rest before tackling a seven-hour trek through the jungle up one of the peaks of the granite Mount Kasikasima.

While a growing number of overseas visitors are attracted to Suriname’s natural beauty, there is still a great potential to develop eco-tourism in the country, although most players in the industry are keen to avoid the type of mass tourism that has marked and, in many cases, spoiled much of the rest of the Caribbean region.
One of the leading groups in the country’s wildlife development business is the Movement for Eco-Tourism in Suriname, or METS. The group, which organizes many of Suriname’s best expedition tours, has been successful in not only providing visitors with what they want, but also in helping indigenous peoples in the interior acquire what they need.
According to METS officials, participation in any of the group’s many organized adventure tours guarantees a memorable trip for the guests and also contributes to the protection of the country’s indigenous population and the environment.