Travel Essentials

Suriname: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and F (European two-pin), 127 V (some 220 V). Emergency: One number for everything 115. Tipping: Tip about 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added; small tips for guides and boat crews are appreciated. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water outside the capital..

Open The Suriname Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and F (European two-pin), 127 V (some 220 V)

Emergency Numbers

One number for everything

115

Tipping

Tip about 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added; small tips for guides and boat crews are appreciated.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water outside the capital.
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever; rabies and hepatitis B for some travelers.
Malaria: Risk in interior and rural areas; none in Paramaribo; ask about preventive tablets.

Apps To Download Before You Go

Ryde: A local ride-hailing app in Paramaribo; otherwise taxis are booked by phone or WhatsApp with fixed prices agreed in advance.
WhatsApp: Everything from taxi bookings to jungle-lodge reservations is arranged by WhatsApp.
Uni5Pay: The most-used Surinamese mobile wallet, accepted via QR in supermarkets, restaurants and taxis.
Mopé: A popular local payments app from Hakrinbank, useful because foreign cards are not accepted everywhere.
Fernandes Concessions / local delivery: Food delivery in Paramaribo runs through restaurants' own WhatsApp lines and a few local apps rather than global platforms.
Facebook: Local businesses, tour operators and event listings are mostly found on Facebook pages.
Telesur / Digicel Suriname: Apps of the two mobile operators for prepaid top-ups and data bundles.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Suriname's multicultural society (Creole, Hindustani, Javanese, Maroon, Indigenous, Chinese) means diverse customs; a friendly handshake and polite greeting work universally.

Respect public order. Avoid public disturbances or confrontations; Surinamese value calm, respectful interactions.

Modesty outside resorts. Dress modestly away from beach and pool areas, particularly when visiting religious or rural sites.

Safety And Scams

Suriname is generally safe by regional standards, with theft and lawlessness more of a concern in Albina, Moengo, Brokopondo, and along the East-West and Afobaka highways than in central Paramaribo.

Bag snatching and pickpocketing. Common in Paramaribo's Centrale Markt and crowded thoroughfares; keep valuables like cameras and phones out of sight.

Overcharging and dodgy taxis. Some taxi drivers or informal tour operators overcharge tourists; agree on prices beforehand or use recommended operators.

Women travelers. Women travelers generally report feeling safe in Suriname; standard precautions apply in markets and at night in less-touristed districts.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Mostly Safe

Same-sex sexual activity is legal, though marriage, civil unions, and anti-discrimination protections are not recognized; gay couples can generally travel safely but should keep public displays of affection minimal, as is prudent throughout the region.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	SRD 60	$1.60
Local bus or metro ride	SRD 15	$0.40
Mid-range restaurant meal	SRD 900	$24
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	SRD 1,000	$27
Mid-range hotel (night)	SRD 2,300	$61
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	SRD 3,900	$102

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

Late August to mid-November (the long dry season) is best for the driest, sunniest weather; temperatures stay warm year-round near the equator, with a shorter, less reliable dry spell in February-March.

Phrases

Basic Dutch phrases