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Suriname Recreation-Resorts (day recreation)
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Rent a car online Suriname
There are no beaches in Suriname which are easy assessable and useful for traditional beach tourism. However, despite people sometimes think, it's very well possible to swim sunbath and relax in Suriname.
First, there are several lodges and resorts located near one of the mighty rivers in the middle of Suriname's unspoiled tropical rain forest. Here you can swim in fresh and clear water play in refreshing rapids and enjoy the stunning surrounding and the mighty sounds of the jungle. You might even find sandy beaches. The typical rain forest lodges are located far from the capital Paramaribo and are not suitable for day recreation. There are many local tour operators in Paramaribo offering multiple day tours into the interior. It's usually not possible to visit the interior on your own. To reach a lodge you have to fly by plane or travel many hours by motorized dug out canoe, passing rapids along the way. A good experienced guide, who knows the area and the tribes living in it, is usually necessary.
However closer to Paramaribo there are several so called 'recreation-resorts'. These resorts are excellent for day trips, but it's often possible to stay overnight too. You can visit those resorts on your own, but you can also join organized day trips, offered by travel agencies in Paramaribo. Once there, you can swim, sun bath or just relax. And according to good Surinamese habits, it's usually possible to eat delicious spicy food in open-air restaurants or enjoy a cold “Jogo” (1 litre of Parbo Beer) while swinging slowly in your hammock.
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White Beach
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White Beach is a recreation-resort located at the the Suriname River on a 45 minutes drive from Paramaribo. It features a nice artificial sandy beach overlooking the river and the rain forest on the other site. White Beach was founded in 2004 and has already become one of Suriname’s most popular resorts. The water at White Beach is clean and a large net has been built in the water to fence off a save swimming area. There's an SRD 10 entrance fee, which you pay at the ticket boot at entrance of the compound at the main road. Taking your car onto the premises costs SRD 5. You can rent a “Pina Hut”, which gives you protection against the burning sun or rain showers. A hammock can be rent from one of the
employees on the compound. There are two al fresco restaurants serving the usual Surinamese food, as well as fresh fish dishes. Other facilities are a jetty/pier, showers, toilets and a small play ground for kids. Sometimes parties or pop concerts are organized on White Beach. Despite the fact that many people visit White Beach on a yearly basis, it's still a relatively quite spot, especially on weekdays.
Getting there
By Car
White Beach is located at the west bank of the Suriname River, south of Paramaribo and south of Domburg. Drive to the roundabout near the huge Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge. Go straight ahead (half around, don't cross the bridge) and follow the Martin Luther King Road (usually called “Highway”). After 30 minutes or so, you exit the Highway and drive west
to Domburg/White Beach. A nicer route is via the Sir Winston Churchill Road, which begins at the left site of the main road just after you've passed the round about and the small bridge across the canal. You follow the road along the river and pass the small villages of Boxtel and Domburg until you arrive at White Beach.
Autoverhuur Paramaribo luchthaven
Rental car Paramaribo airport
Public Transport
Private PDP-busses (Paramaribo-Domburg-Paramaribo) leave from the parcel next to the fire station at the Heiligenweg (near Telesur) in Paramaribo, heading for Domburg and White Beach as final destination. The ISUZU busses leave once it's they're filled up, which might take a while. Once the bus has left, it’s a pleasant trip for only SRD 2.50 (€ 0,67). The last bus from White Beach heading back to Paramaribo leaves at 16:00 p.m. When you want to stay beyond that, or when you miss the last bus, you can take the large “staatsbus” (public “state bus”) back to town at around 18.00 p.m. To make sure you won’t miss the last bus it’s recommended to be at the bus stop behind the ticket boot from 17:30 p.m. You can sit on the large tractor tires behind the boot.
Organized Tours
Some tour operators in Paramaribo, like Access Suriname Travel and Wiwirie tours offer organized day trips to White Beach, for about € 35,--.
* Last visited by us: 2009
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Overbridge River Resort
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Overbridge River resort is located on a beautiful quite unspoiled spot at the Suriname River, on a 1,5 hour drive from the capital Paramaribo. It's located south of Paranam and the bauxite factory of Suralco. It's quite similar to White Beach, but there are some differences too. The resort is situated much further from residential areas. It's therefore a nice and quite spot and the complex attracts less youngsters and less people on a day trip. Loud music is not allowed inside the resort. The terrain is large and comfortable cabana's can be rent, which makes Overbridge also an excellent place to spend one or more nights. Obviously there's a bar and restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, diner and snacks. The Cabanas are wonderful and equipped with large beds, hot and cold water, air-conditioning, a private bathroom, a large balcony overlooking the river. There’s also a small kitchen equipped with a microwave, water cooker and refrigerator. The road to Overbridge is in bad shape, but at the time of writing the road is being asphalted by Chinese labourers. A short stay in Overbridge is not expensive either, so we can recommend that when you're looking for a true place to relax. An all-inclusive tour for 2 persons costs about € 82,50 per person, transportation by a luxurious air-conditioned van from Paramaribo included.
Getting there
By Car
Overbridge is located south of Paramaribo at the west bank of the Suriname River, south of Paranam and the bauxite factory of Suralco. Drive to the roundabout near the huge Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge. Go straight ahead (half around, don't cross the bridge) and follow your route over the Martin Luther King Road (usually called “Highway”). Drive on to Paranam. After passing Suralco, you drive on via the Afobaka Road, which is being asphalted at the time of writing. At power line 20/21 you turn left to Overbridge.
Public Transport
There is no public transport to Overbridge River Resort, yet it’s possible to make arrangements with taxi companies or drivers in Paramaribo.
Organized Tours
Several tour operators offer organized tours to Overbridge River Resorts. Day trips are offered as well as short stay trips and tours combining a trip to Overbridge with Jodensavanne or Brownsberg. Tour operators offering trips to Overbridge include: Access Suriname Travel, Hendrison's Bungalows and Wanna Tours.
You can also book directly at the office of Overbridge River resort at Oude Charlesburg Road 47, Paramaribo. This is a side street of Gravenstraat. Phone: (+597) 422565 / 422566.
* Last visited by us: 2009
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Colakreek
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Fifty kilometres from Paramaribo, in the district of Para, near Zanderij Airport, there’s a classic recreation-resort, called Colakreek. It’s situated in a wooded area partly covered by white savannah sand and can be reached by car within 1 ½ hours. This shady natural pool resort is very popular with Surinamese as well as with tourists and becomes quite crowded on weekends. The name Colakreek was given to the resort because the dark brown/red water looks like Coca-Cola. Despite the fact that the water is dark brown, the water is fresh and clean. The brown color is caused by falling leaves, which keeps the pH-value constant, causing the water to be safe for swimming. Colakreek was a popular spot among soldiers from the United States during the Second World War, boosting the development of the area. In 1995 the exploitation rights of Colakreek was given to METS ((Movement for Eco Tourism in Surinam) and the resort was renovated.
Colakreek is open for day-recreation between 09.00 a.m. and 18.00 p.m. There’s a restaurant within the compound and there are several other facilities. Prices: adults SRD 10, children from 2 to 12 years SRD 5, children below the age of 2: free. Cars SRD 5, Vans SRD 7.50. For a small fee it’s possible to spend the night in basic cabins, hammocks or
Pina Huts. Reservations can be made with METS Travel & Tours, Nassylaan 2, Paramaribo, right in the city centre. Phone (+597) 477088.
Getting there
By Car
Indira Gandhiweg, Zanderij Airport (you pass the monument for the plane disaster from 1989), Colakreek.
Organized Tours
Organized tours are offered by a couple of tour operators, among them Moonlight Jungle Tours and NatureTreks.
* Last visited by us: 2003
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Blaka Watra
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Blaka Watra (translated: “Black Water”) is a very small recreation-spot near Jodensavanne and the Indian Village Redi Doti (translated: “Red Earth”). The famous Surinamese prime minister Jopie Pengel set up the area as his personal holiday resort. After he passed away in 1970, the area was opened to the public. The foundations of Pengel’s bungalow are still visible. Pengel built a concrete plateau into the Casiporacreek, creating an artificial rapid. The bubble bath into the water is still the main attraction of Blaka Watra. The water is refreshing, full off minerals and has a dark brown/red Cola like color caused by falling leaves. When you watch your legs under water, they look red. During the dry season the water is low making it impossible to swim, but you can still lie down into the water to cool off and relax. There are some very basic facilities in Blaka Watra, like wooden tables and benches and some dirty dressing rooms. Blaka Watra is not a spectacular recreation-spot, but it’s pleasant and quite and some nice hikes can be made in the area. Some paths have been created leading you true beautiful forest and savannah and to the Indian village of Redi Doti. Bird watchers also become enthusiastic in this area.
Getting there
By Car
Again, you drive via the Martin Luther King Road (usually called “Highway”) to Paranam. After passing Suralco, you drive on via the Afobaka Road and take an exit to Powakka. The bridge crossing the Suriname River has been damaged by a ship many years ago and is no longer in use. You now have to take a small ferry to cross the river at Carolina. Once on the other site, you pass Pierre Kondre and Redi Doti and drive on to Blaka Watra. There is a small entrance fee of only SRD
5 for adults.
Organized Tours
Organized tours, combining Jodensavanne and Blaka Watra are offered by several tour operators like Arinze Tours, Oetsi Tours and Sun & Forest Tours for about €70,-- p.p.
* Last visited by us: 2002
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