The Guianas - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 664

NIEUW NICKERIE AND BIGIPAN
Though easily bypassed if you're taking a direct minibus between the border and Paramaribo,
the orderly grid of Nieuw Nickerie's streets with its palm tree-lined boulevard is worth an
overnight stay, if only to visit Bigipan, a coastal area overgrown with mangroves, known for its
abundance of birds, particularly the scarlet ibis. If you have your own wheels, you can try
asking the local fishermen in the area to take you birdwatching. METS (see p.665) offer
two-day tours of the Bigipan area and the coast west of Paramaribo (US$260). Nickerie is
reachable by NVB state buses and private minibuses from Paramaribo (2hr-3hr 30min) and by
minibus from South Drain (1hr).

Residence Inn R. B. Bharostraat 84 T 210 950,
W resinn.com. This centrally located hotel is a good

place to stay. There is a decent fusion restaurant and th e
helpful staff can arrange a day-trip to Bigipan. US $60

Little remains of the village, but ruins of
the graveyard and the synagogue - the
oldest remaining in the Americas - really
come alive if you visit the place with a
knowledgeable guide. By infrequent state
bus it's possible to get as far as the village
of Carolina (1hr 30min) 5km away,
where you can pay a boatman to take you
across the river and then walk the rest of
the way, but you get much more out of
the trip if you join forces with Marina La
Costa (Algerstraat 28, Paramaribo; €95;
T

jungle; it lies in the Gran Rio River near
a rapid of the same name. There is a
wonderful ecolodge located on an island
in the river, consisting of a number of
self-contained huts with mosquito nets
owned by METS (see p.665) and run by
members of a local Saramaccan village.
From here a knowledgeable guide can
take you wildlife-spotting along the river,
swimming in the nearby rapids and to
the four Saramaccan villages nearby -
a slice of Africa in the depths of the
Surinamese jungle. The women still
carry large loads on their heads, and the
Saramaccan tongue spoken is based on
the dialects spoken in Ghana over
300 years ago; most of the villages still
follow traditional religions and practise
traditional dance (which you may be
able to see - and participate in). While
modernity is creeping in (many men now
work in Paramaribo or in the gold mines
and many villages now have mobile
phone reception), it's still a unique
culture and tours of the villages are very
sensitively conducted.
PA LU M E U is a village located at the
beginning of the Tapanahony River, deep
within the Amazon rainforest, populated
by Trio and Wajana Amerindians. Visitors
stay in the METS-owned traditional
lodge by the airstrip and activities offered
include a boat trip along the Tapanahony
River to Poti Hill, hikes in the rainforest
and a two-day trip by dugout canoe to
Mount Kasikasima.
ARRIVAL AND TOURS
By plane There are flights to both Awarradam and
Palumeu on Mon and Fri from Zorg en Hoop airport.

7

498 407, E [e-mail]), an
expert in Jewish history in Suriname who
can provide you with the background and
regale you with stories of key figures.

Colakreek
Just 5km from the international airport
lies COLAKREEK (SRD12.50-15),
a recreation park centred around a river
the colour of Coca-Cola. The well-
managed site is great for swimming
and there are also water bikes for rent,
a good cafeteria and overnight facilities
including five-person cabins (SRD295)
and camping sites (SRD20/person). To
get here , take one of the state buses (or
a taxi) to the airport, from where you can
either walk or take another taxi.

AWARRADAM AND PALUMEU
One of Suriname's greatest highlights is
a visit to the Saramaccan and Amerindian
villages in the country's interior.
AWARRADAM is a community made up of
eight villages populated by Saramaccan
Maroons, descendants of runaway
plantation slaves who fled deep into the