Suriname is a small country in northern South America, bordered by Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a diverse culture, with the majority ethnic group being East Indian. The country gained independence in 1975, but experienced a period of dictatorship before returning to democracy. Suriname offers adventurous travel opportunities, with wild jungles and beautiful architecture. Flights arrive regularly in the capital, Paramaribo, from major cities in the West and neighboring South American countries.
Suriname is a small country in northern South America. It covers 63,200 square miles (163,800 square km), making it barely larger than the US state of Georgia. It borders Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean.
Suriname was first settled around 3000 BC, by a number of different Native American tribes, most notably the Caribs and Arawaks. The first contact of Europeans with these tribes was made by the Dutch towards the end of the 16th century. They traded with local tribes, but only intermittently. The British attempted to colonize the region in the early 17th century, eventually obtaining a semi-permanent settlement based on sugar crops. The Dutch invaded it in the latter part of the 17th century and eventually received the land by treaty with the English; maintaining control until independence, with a brief period of British rule in the Napoleonic era.
In the mid-1950s Suriname gained relative autonomy from the Dutch. Different political factions continued to work towards independence, which was finally achieved in 1975. For the first few years, the country was democratically run, until a series of military coups in 1980, which installed a dictatorial government. When the new government killed a number of people who belonged to the political opposition, both the Dutch and the Americans reacted by blocking all foreign aid. Finally, in 1985, the government started to democratize again, lifting the ban on all opposition parties. Since then the government has continued to operate according to democratic principles and foreign aid has resumed.
The culture of Suriname remains very diverse, especially considering that it is the smallest independent nation in South America. The majority ethnic group in Suriname, which surprises many visitors, is East Indian. This is the legacy of a massive amount of East Indian workers who were imported during the 19th century as a source of cheap labor after the abolition of slavery. Descendants of West African slaves make up the second largest group in Suriname. The Javanese – also a legacy of cheap labor imported by the Dutch from their province in Indonesia – make up the third largest group. The Maroons, a group made up of the descendants of escaped slaves from West Africa who made their way to the interior of the country, make up the fourth largest group. The remnants of the native Arawak Carib, Wayana and Trio peoples make up a scant 19%-1% of the population.
Suriname is every traveler’s dream come true, offering some of the best adventures in all of South America. The interior of the country remains quite wild; the legacy of the Maroons who fought colonialists and post-colonials until 1992. The exotic flora and majestic waterfalls make hiking in the jungles of Suriname incredible, and traveling along the river is one of the most popular ways for tourists to get around this undeveloped interior. In major cities, evidence of the Dutch colonial past is still evident in the beautiful architecture.
Flights arrive regularly in Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo, from a number of major cities in the West. The most frequent flights from Europe are from Amsterdam, while the main gateway from America is Miami. Suriname is also within easy reach of neighboring South American countries, as well as most Caribbean nations.
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