For more info. on Suriname visit: www.visitsurinameonline.com [Broken Link]

Update 17 April 2018 from Mieke Koenraadt of mv Southern Cross

My latest info. on Suriname in 2016 was not positive.

This was due to the situation in Suriname at the time. New elections by then led to the same Government and made the situation go downhill.

Now 2 years later it’s all getting back to normal. Many people are still coping, because of the situation in the government, but found themselves back to normal again.

The city is very clean, the streets are improved, more restaurants opened, and tourism is growing again. Ecotourism is a speciality in Suriname, many trips to the interior are spectacular.

See my former report  March 2015, which can work as for now again – 2018. All that was written than is now back to this stage.Plus the improvements made lately.

For tourist information, you can obtain the very best info. in the centre of town: Torarica Hotel, in their lobby halfway down at a wooden stand.

In the morning there is a lady at your service, otherwise, pick any folder you like. Many websites provide their options, this one is good for tours – www.allsurinametours.com.

Marina Resort Waterland 

Nothing has changed and visiting yachts get the very same welcome and service as usual from the owner Noel.

Much can be arranged with their assistance.

Domburg

The waterwall in front of Domburg is completed now, and several small bridges have been built over the wall and passing from boat to shore is very good now and well thought of.

The Domburg yacht club has adjusted to the new height by building a higher restaurant and so the touch with the river is not lost.

A private dinghy bridge is installed again, and entering is just no problem.

Domburg village has a market at the back, with fresh vegetables daily.

Skip the 2016 update,  as all is back to normal.

Paramaribo:

In the capital city the roads are improved and many walkways much better, the city is very clean and cared for. The infrastructure is getting better than before. And as for the Surinamese, you are with the best friendly population in the world!

When you visit Suriname, take the time to see this beautiful country, as the upper Caribbean Islands are now recovering from the 2017 hurricanes and you might regret to have gone so fast! Be assured you will have a good time.

Mieke Koenraadt

mv Southern Cross

Blackie says:

Oct 05, 2017 10:00 PM

The sail across from Ascension Island to the Suriname River mouth took us 25 days – about 2652nm. Crossing in the path of the Amazon River, we were affected by cross-currents even 260nm out. Coming in closer to Suriname, there were a lot of fishing boats with nets extended all over the place and it was very difficult to pick your way through it all, especially at night, so take great care on the approaches or come around at higher latitudes and then turn South heading straight for the entry markers.

We anchored just off the river mouth to wait for a full days light. MAS (Maritime Authority Suriname) would not allow us to anchor closer in, we had to either proceed up to Domburg or wait outside, and so we waited. The current was hectic at 2am so you have to very careful as where to anchor and keep watch.

We arranged a docking at Marina Resort Waterland which is about 27nm up the river. GPS – 05deg39’.503N and 055deg03’.833W (see their website www.waterlandsuriname.com and they have a facebook page). Fees were €27 + 8% tax per day with water and electricity. Very nice, relaxing place to recuperate after the long sail.

The owner, Noel, arranged a taxi for us to go into Paramaribo to check in. This took about 6 hours as we needed a visa from Immigration. Visa fee was $45 each and had to be paid at the Central Bank which was a short walk away. Everyone was friendly.

We stayed on dock for 2 weeks then moved 6.7nm back towards Domburg and went on a mooring ball at Harbour Resort Domburg GPS – 05deg42’.222N and 055deg04’.899W. Also very nice with a restaurant (River Breeze Restaurant & Bar), swimming pool, showers and a small laundry machine. Fees were €8.75 for the mooring ball. Although while we were there, there was construction working in progress along the bank retaining wall so there was no floating dingy dock and difficult access to land. There was no “water supply” to your boat as part of the facilities/services and the “cooking gas service” entails hiring a car or taxi and going to town yourself.

The Tourism Foundation has a fairly comprehensive tourist destination guide and there is also the Suriname Travel magazine and a variety of smaller brochures/booklets that will assist any visitor to Suriname. These are available at the immigration visa office and Marina Resort Waterland.

Update on Suriname: March 2016

(See a response by Marina Resort Waterland (in Domburg) to the below report in the comments section at the bottom of the page).

As much as I was happy to inform noonsite about Suriname over the past few years, I am now sad with the lack of good news.

Suriname has gone quickly downhill over the last 1-2 years, too sad to be true. The change of Government did not replace the old, but instead, there has been a continuation of the management and corruption of this beautiful country.

What was once a wonderful stop for cruising yachts, has now become a shortstop and go.

The inner city of good touristic views, the old plantation heritage, is given little to no attention anymore!

The former government had promised to reshape Domburg to become more of a tourist resort, but nothing was done, and the Domburg population were left very sad. A 10 mtr dam was installed, and the newly installed Government has not shown interest in Domburg anymore.

Still, it’s a good place to rest a while when moving upwards to the blue Caribbean waters, but be informed that much is run down in the town. The inland trips are still ok as they are run by private businesses!

I much prefer that yachts leave happy when visiting. Therefore I feel it is wrong to inform you otherwise. Please take note to the new situation in Suriname.

So far all is still safe to visit and the population is as ever the nicest in the whole of the  Caribbean. Provisioning is still ok but there is less choice than before.

Checking in has now become shorter by visiting MAS (Marine Authorithy Suriname), than getting a tourist card and a follow up at the military police.

I certainly hope that all changes for the better some time again in the future, as Suriname has proven in the past to have a wonderfully strong population who can press the re-set button!.

Mieke Koenraadt (author of the report below)

Report on Suriname: March 2015

Suriname is a great and safe country to visit, by yacht or otherwise. Suriname is part of the Caricom (Caribbean group of countries), and one of the three Guyana’s in the Northern part of South America.

Coming from Europe, Africa or Brazil, Suriname is a good choice to stop before going further to other parts of the Caribbean. It is also a perfect alternative during the hurricane season in the Caribbean being  5.20 N and 55 W.

The people of Suriname are very friendly and make you feel at home instantly. With some 10 nationalities living together, it is a special country to visit. They were multicultural before the term got invented. The population consists of Amerindians (the only original inhabitants), Maroons, Indians, Creoles, Indonesians,

Dutch, Libanese, a Jewish community, and Chinese (google or wikipedia up, how this came together!). Dutch and Sranang-Tongo, (a mixed language of all) is mostly spoken next to  their own respective native languages. English is well understood everywhere. Every child grows up speaking 3-4 languages! Dutch, Sranang-Tongo, own native language and English.

Their cuisine is an outstanding unique one. Local produce is very good with lots of fruit and vegetables and exellent butcher shops. Do purchase a good Surinamese cookbook in a bookshop, to understand the variety of dishes which can be made with the supply of local produce.

In Paramaribo the capital city you find : several large supermarkets with very good supply. Choi and Tulip for instance. And a Central Market tops it up to see and buy all the local produce of the country.

Not being spoilt by mass tourism and embracing eco tourism makes Suriname so special to visit. One is safe and free to go anywhere. Paramaribo’s centre of town and the old plantation houses are considered a jewel of architecture. And were placed on the Unesco World Heritage list in 2002, and much is renovated since then. The unspoiled nature in the interior is spectacular and overwhelming in diversity and in a balanced eco system. Trips can be made to visit up country for several days, with organised tours, to meet the Maroons and Amerindians in their respective villages. A exellent experience. Do go with certified tour operators. (see: www.visitsurinameonline.com)[Broken Link]. It might look cheaper to go non-certified operators, but lack of service and quality will not make your trip complete.

A few of the rivers are deep enough to visit the interior by yacht. Birds in many varieties are seen and heard everywhere. Dolphins greet you at the river mouth. And there is plenty of fish, to eat as well.

* Enter Suriname through the Suriname river preferably by day when the tide comes in, as at night several colours of light might confuse you. You can anchor OUT of the shipping lane at 5 mtr. of water and wait for the tide to come in. NEVER come in sailing as other ships entering need their way too. All is well buoyed according to the best depth of the river. Approx. 8 miles in you pass Paramaribo.

* Call MAS (Maritime Authority Suriname) on ch. 12 or 16 to let know of your arrival. If nothing heard, just proceed, pass the bridge over the river, and 8 miles further to Domburg moorings, or a few miles further to Waterland Resort Marina.

* Governmental rule makes it impossible to anchor next to Torarica Hotel or near town anymore as anchoring there has proven not to hold! All yachts are now to proceed to Domburg or Waterland. You are most welcome to stay at both (see noonsite’s Domburg / Waterland profile for clearing in and tourist pass info.). Settle in first, you can take 3 days before clearing in!

* Domburg and Waterland,  both former coffee/citrus plantations, are surrounded by nature. Despite the promise by the Suriname Government to upraise the Domburg village and its surroundings, nothing has been done so far in 2015. A river wall was to be built to a large extend along the village and restoration and upraise of the village square was to follow. Many meetings and explanations were held to make great expectations by the villagers in 2014, but to all their sadness nothing started, and with new elections coming up in May 2015 all is at a long waiting list now.

* A yacht entrance, Domburg resort marina, has been built beside Domburg village in 2013. See their website for more info.

* 14 moorings are placed and available along the riverfront. (EU 9.50/p/day). Before signing the mooring contract, be sure to check the rope, shackle and cable are in good condition, as you would anywhere.

* Fresh Water cannot be delivered to your boat. The water used in the resort is treated water which gets pumped up from the river.

* Brochures on Domburg are no more available.

* Waterland does provide fresh water to your boat when tied up at their marina.

A wonderful friendly marina annex /restaurant, set up in a beautiful surrounding. EU 1.50 per/mtr

See their website for more info.

* Available in Domburg itself is:  a bus to Paramaribo (20-30 min.), taxi, car hire, police station, medical clinic,  barber, petrol station, internet/postoffice for all your printing jobs and good help with internet problems. Further an ATM bank machine, 3 grocery stores, at the back of Domburg 3 vegetable/fruit stalls with daily fresh supply, several little restaurants.

* Please read further info about clearing in at the noonsite clearance page on entering Suriname, as that is now a simple procedure. Remember do NOT get send to  Militairy police by mistake, but to Foreign Police.

A tourist pass is to be obtained, and a stamp in your passport. NO  need to obtain a visa  before arrival.

If Waterland or Domburg becomes your choice of destination by yacht in Suriname sooner or later, be assured you will have a good time.

Mieke Koenraadt

MV Southern Cross

Any questions? Contact me at mcakoenraadt@planet.nl

Related content

Domburg

Paramaribo