Exploring Suriname: A Journey Through Culture, History, and Adventure

I’ve always wanted to travel, but life and my budget didn’t always align. However, when I got the chance to travel to Suriname for work, I had no idea I would not only fulfill a travel dream but also fall in love with the country.

Let me be honest: the travel part wasn’t my favorite. As a plus-sized girl with long legs, let’s just say the plane ride was… tight. While Suriname is another Caribbean country, the flight was unexpectedly long. But once I landed and rested off the exhaustion at the Courtyard Marriott, I was ready to explore. And I must say, the hotel was great—polite staff, friendly service, and very helpful. Customer service is a big deal to me, and they truly delivered.

Now, let’s talk about Suriname. In many ways, it reminded me of home. The landscape was breathtaking—lush hills and vibrant greenery. It felt very much like the Caribbean. What stood out, however, was the architecture. Suriname has preserved its history through its buildings. The wooden and brick structures are not modern but beautiful in their own right. I loved that they hadn’t completely replaced their historic buildings with sleek, minimalistic cement ones. The architecture felt like a reflection of the people—a melting pot of cultures, from Indians to various Asian and African descents.

Attractions in the City

One of the highlights was visiting Fort Zeelandia. A security guard told us the fort was built in the 1600s as a defense against the Dutch. The stunning brickwork didn’t immediately convey the heavy history of war and struggle, but you could feel the layers of history woven into its walls. It was both beautiful and thought-provoking.

My colleagues, Colleen and Naomi, and I also wandered through the town and stumbled upon a cozy art studio. We met local artist Rinaldo Klas, who shared his works along with other talented artists from the country. The studio was across from the oldest Protestant church in Suriname, built in 1778.

Now, I have to admit, I wouldn’t have made it to Suriname if I hadn’t taken a dramatic spill right in the middle of town—flat on the pavement. Deep sigh. Thankfully, I bounced back quickly, and I’m still waiting to see if a picture of my embarrassing but totally normal clumsy moment surfaces!

One thing that caught my attention was how disciplined people were on the roads. I didn’t see anyone speeding or pedestrians darting across the street just steps away from a crosswalk. People seemed to follow traffic rules, which was a refreshing sight. But I was only in Paramaribo for work, so I can’t speak for the entire country.

On my last night, Colleen and I visited the International Mall of Suriname. It was buzzing with activity, even at night. Children were enjoying ice cream from a cart, people were shopping in and out of stores—it felt alive. By that point, I didn’t even feel like a tourist anymore.

XOXO Suriname

All in all, I had a fantastic experience in Suriname. Would I go back? Absolutely. There’s still so much I didn’t get to experience, especially their cuisine. But I’ll save that for next time! XOXO!

Highlights!