The Guianas - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 661

and cost US$20; book in advance. The cheap but infrequent
state bus ( staatsbus ) will drop you off at the Heiligenweg
bus station in Knuffelsgracht (3 daily services except Sun;
1hr 30min; SRD2.50; W nvbnvsuriname.com), or you can
catch the more frequent private minibuses, which will
drop you in Maagdenstraat (Line POZ, less than SRD10).
From Zorg en Hoop, minibus lines #8 and #9 pass near
the airport and drop you at Steenbakkerijstraat (less
than SRD10). Unmetered taxis from JAPI to the city centre
(45min) cost around SRD120-140. Taxis from Zorg en
Hoop cost around SRD20-25 and take about 15min.
Destinations Scheduled domestic flights operated by
Gum Air ( W gumair.com) and Blue Wing ( W bluewing
airlines.com; note that this airline has a poor safety record)
depart to Kajana (2 weekly on Mon & Fri; 50min) and
Palumeu (2 weekly on Mon & Fri; 1hr 5min). Trans Guyana
Airways ( W transguyana.net) and Blue Wing both fly from
Zorg en Hoop to Guyana (daily except Sun; 1hr 20min).
By minibus From South Drain (Guyana river crossing)
and Nieuw Nickerie (car park next to market), private
minibuses (2-3hr; SRD60) will o oad you at Dr. Sophie
Redmondstraat, opposite Hotel Ambassador (some may
drop you off at your lodgings). The state-run bus (2 daily
except Sun; 3hr; SRD15) drops you at the Heilgenweg bus
station in Knuffelsgracht. From Albina (French Guiana
border) several daily minibuses and two daily state-run
NVB minibuses (one service on Sat and Sun; 3-4hr;
SRD8.50) drop you at Waterkant and the Heiligenweg bus
station in Knuffelsgracht.
For NVB buses, arrive at least an hour in advance to get
a number from the ticket o ce; you then present the
number to the minibus driver and pay for your seat
when you board. Private minibuses such as Lada & Son
have a reciprocal arrangement with minibus companies in
Guyana, so you can buy a ticket all the way to Georgetown
if you use their services to get to South Drain.

Destinations Albina (NVB state bus from Heiligenweg,
minibus #PA from Central Market; 3-4hr); Nieuw Nickerie
and South Drain (NVB state bus from Heiligenweg or
minibus #PN from Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat; several
daily; 2hr-3hr 30min).
By taxi To and from South Drain unmetered taxis cost
SRD70-200 depending on passenger numbers (2-3hr).
Taxis to Albina (for the French Guiana border crossing) cost
SRD70-200 depending on passenger numbers (3hr); ask
your guesthouse to book a reputable one.
Tourist information The Toeristen Informatie Centrum
is at Fort Zeelandia Complex, Waterkant 1 (see p.661).

GETTING AROUND
By bicycle You can rent bikes from €3.50/day from
Fietsen, at Grote Combeweg 13a ( W fietseninsuriname
.com), or from €2.50/day from Cardy Adventures at
Cornelis Jongbawstraat 31 ( W cardyadventures.com).
By bus The larger, cheaper but less frequent scheduled state
buses ( staatsbus ) leave from the bus station at Heiligenweg
in Knuffelsgracht. Fares in and around Paramaribo cost
about SRD1.50.
By taxi Taxis wait for passengers in front of Central Market
(Waterkant). Registered, unmetered taxis use fixed rates.
Trips within the city should cost SRD7.50-15; always agree
a fare with your driver in advance. Recommended taxi firms
include Djo's Taxi ( T 471 048) and Sheriff Taxi ( T 410 241).

7

ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation options below have a/c and wi-fi,
unless stated otherwise.
Albergo Alberga Mr F.H.R. Lim A Postraat 13 T 520 050,
W guesthousealbergoalberga.com. Lovely nineteenth-
century wooden house in the city centre with a button-
sized swimming pool. l. Ro oms (some with a/c) are bright
but could be cleaner. €24

SURINAME TOURS
In the off-season, the tour operators work together and share customers in order to make up
minimum group numbers. Price-wise, there isn't much difference between operators. Unless
you have a lot of time to spare, you'll need a tour operator for excursions into the interior.
TOUR OPERATORS
Fietsen Grote Combeweg 13A T 520 781, W fietsen
insuriname.com. From day-long cycling tours of the
plantations to multi-day cycling challenges.
METS Dr. J F Nassylaan 2, Parbo T 477 088, W suriname
vacations.com. One of longest-running, reputable
operators; specializes in visits to the interior and
manages jungle lodges in Awarradam, Kasikasima and
Palumeu, but also does day-trips around Parbo.
Myrysji Tours Griegstraat 41 T 456 611, W myrysji
tours-suriname.com. The only Amerindian tour operator

in Suriname, based in Christiankondre; specializes in trips
to Galibi.
Orange Van Sommelsdijkstraat 1 T 421 984, W orange
suriname.com. Professional, English-speaking staff, and
a plethora of tours - from day-trips to Brownsberg and
the Commewijne River to multi-day adventures in Galibi,
Central Suriname Nature Reserve and much more.
STINASU Cornelis Jongbawstraat 14, Parbo T 476 597,
W stinasu.com. This government agency is in charge
of Suriname's protected areas, but the independent
operators above have a better reputation.