Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VISAS
Visas are required for all visitors except
nationals from CARICOM countries, and
a few Asian and South American countries.
Visitors may instead apply for a Tourist
Card, valid for thirty days, single entry
only (US$25). Tourist Cards may be
obtained at Paramaribo airport (Johan
Adolf Pengel International Airport) on
arrival, whereas overland travellers need to
secure theirs in advance at the consulates in
Guyana (see p.645) and French Guiana
(see p.676); same day processing. For stays
of longer than thirty days or multiple entry,
visas must be obtained (from US$45
upwards); unlike Tourist Cards, these may
not be processed on the same day for
travellers of certain nationalities. For
updated information on visa requirements,
check W surinameembassy.org.
2004 Surinamese dollar introduced as currency.
2007 UN maritime border tribunal awards both Guyana and
Suriname a share of the potentially oil-rich offshore basin
under dispute.
2008 Trial begins of Bouterse and others accused of
involvement in executions of opponents of military regime
in 1982.
2010 Bouterse elected president.
2012 Fire in Paramaribo destroys a number of historical
wooden buildings.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport
(also known as Zanderij), an hour south
of Paramaribo, receives direct flights
from Aruba, Amsterdam, Belém and
Boa Vista (Brazil), Cayenne (French
Guiana), Curaçao, Georgetown, Miami
and Port of Spain (Trinidad). Zorg en
Hoop , a smaller airport about fifteen
minutes from the capital, receives small
domestic aircraft, as well as six flights a
week from Guyana.
7
GETTING AROUND
While commuting around the capital and
outlying areas is reasonably easy, there are
no major highways in Suriname except
for the Oost-Westverbinding (East-West
Highway) that runs between Albina and
Nieuw Nickerie; large stretches of this
road (between Paramaribo and Albina)
are still under repair following the
civil war in the mid-1980s, though work
looks set to be completed in late 2013.
Scheduled state-run buses and private
minibuses run to most destinations,
though for many remote interior
destinations you'll need to travel by
4WD, small plane or motorized dugout
canoe (or a combo of all three); it's
cheaper and easier to go as part of a tour.
OVERLAND FROM GUYANA
From Georgetown it's a three-hour bus
ride to the ferry port at Molson Creek,
with two crossings per day, then a
three-hour bus ride from South Drain to
Paramaribo (see box below).
OVERLAND FROM FRENCH GUIANA
Travellers from French Guiana must
cross the Marowijne Maroni River from
St Laurent du Maroni to Albina by ferry
or motorized dugout canoe , before
continuing the three- to four-hour
drive by minibus or taxi to Paramaribo
(see box, p.684).
CROSSING BETWEEN SURINAME AND GUYANA
Getting to Guyana involves crossing the Corantijn (Corentyne) River on the ferry, with daily
departures at 11am (SRD10 single) from South Drain , an hour west of Nickerie. Numerous
minibuses run to the ferry from Paramaribo (3-4hr; SRD70); some minibus companies work in
partnership with Guyanese tour companies (see p.652 & p.665). You will need time to clear
customs and a valid passport. Once you arrive at Molson Creek, Guyana , you must clear
customs again and get your passport stamped before taking one of the waiting minibuses
for the three-hour journey to Georgetown (G$2500-3000). There is no currency exchange or
ATM at South Drain or Molson Creek, but euros or US$ (preferably the latter) can be easily
exchanged at either location with uno cial moneychangers for Suriname/Guyanese dollars,
respectively. If going from Guyana to Suriname, most minibus companies pick up passengers
at around 4-4.30am in order to make the 9.30am ferry to Suriname.
 
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