Suriname Travel Guide

Suriname is located in northern South America. Its name comes from the local aborigines. Suriname is a colonial relic of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South America. In 1954, it became an overseas autonomous province of the Netherlands and became independent in 1975. It is also the only South American country to adopt Chinese as its national language (Hakka). It is the smallest country in South America in terms of area and population, and is also the only region in the Western Hemisphere that uses Dutch. Its capital, Paramaribo, is a commercial port at the mouth of the Suriname River.

Suriname is a country that is extremely divided in ethnicity, language and religion. The Muslim population accounts for 20% of Suriname, the highest proportion among all American countries. Since the natural environment has not yet been "developed" by humans on a large scale, the scenery is extremely beautiful, and the sky, rainforest, and cities coexist harmoniously. Suriname's forest area reaches more than 80%, most of which are virgin forests. It is a rare national-level natural oxygen bar.

Best time to travel is tropical grassland climate in the north and tropical rainforest climate in the south. The average annual temperature is 23- 27℃, and the annual precipitation is more than 2000 mm. The year is divided into four seasons: February to April is the light dry season, April to August is the heavy rainy season, August to November is the heavy dry season, and November to February of the following year is the light rainy season. Suriname is located outside the hurricane zone and has no major natural disasters. Spring, autumn and winter are suitable for traveling.

Transportation Notice There are no direct routes to Suriname in China for the time being. You can fly from the domestic airport to neighboring countries in Suriname, and then transfer to Paramaribo International Airport, the capital of Suriname. For example, starting from Shanghai Pudong Airport, take a KLM Boeing 757 aircraft to Amsterdam International Airport, the Netherlands, and then transfer to Paramaribo International Airport, the capital of Suriname

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Visa Notice [From March 1, 2016] The Suriname government has begun to implement a travel card entry policy for China tourists. China tourists will no longer need to apply for visas in advance when visiting this South American country in the future. China citizens traveling to Suriname can apply for travel cards at all ports including Suriname Capital Airport and the land border ports between Sudan and Guyana and Guyane française with ordinary passports and return air tickets valid for more than half a year, without having to apply for a visa in advance. The travel card costs US$100 and is valid for one entry. The stay is 90 days and cannot be extended. China citizens who visit Suriname for purposes other than tourism still need to apply for relevant visas in advance in accordance with the original regulations.

Tourist visa application: This type of visa is applicable to travel for the purpose of tourism, vacation, visiting relatives and friends, and the stay time does not exceed 3 months. Please apply for a short-term residence visa (MKV) for stays longer than 3 months. The visa office may reclassify your visa application based on your actual travel purpose and the information submitted.

Entry Instructions You must fill in an entry card at the port of entry to Suriname, your residence address in Suriname and other information, otherwise you will be refused entry. At the port of entry, immigration officers will check the documents held by the person, valid visas and completed entry cards. Transit visa is required to transit Suriname. After arriving in Suriname, if you hold a family visit, business or work visa that expires and needs to continue to stay, you can apply for visa extension procedures at the local immigration department.

Suriname prohibits the entry of meat and fruits into the country. If you bring animals and plants into the country, you must provide a permit certificate from the relevant authorities of Suriname. Personal items such as cameras, mobile phones, and computers are not subject to tax, and large quantities of electrical appliances need to be declared to customs. Each passenger can carry 1.5 liters of wine or liquor and a carton of cigarettes (200 cigarettes) duty-free; if each person carries more than US$10,000 in cash, he must declare it to Suriname Customs, otherwise he will be fined or confiscated.

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Currency Notice Surinam is the common currency of Suriname. It was launched on January 1, 2004. It is used to replace the original currency "Suriname guilder", with 1 yuan equal to 1000 guilders. The current currency of the Suriname dollar in circulation on the market includes paper notes and coins. The denominations of banknotes are 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Suriname dollars. Coins have face values of 1, 5, 10, 25, 100 and 250 cents. Among them, the exchange rate of the currency is 1 Suriname dollar =100 cents.

Tourists are advised to convert RMB into U.S. dollars in China first, and then into Suriname dollars after arriving in Suriname. Official money exchange offices are a good place to exchange money, because counterfeit banknotes are often found at street exchange offices that provide better exchange rates. ATMs in Suriname are also easy to find. Bank business hours: 8:00-12:00 on weekdays, and 8:00 - 11:00 on Saturdays.

Telephone/Internet Suriname's international area code is 00597. Calls from the country to Suriname should be dialed 00597+ fixed telephone number or dialed 00597+ mobile phone number. Suriname has a high penetration rate of mobile phones, but it is incompatible with China mobile phones, except with global roaming functions. When using GSM roaming services, you can get preferential prices by choosing DIGICEL and TELESUR operators. It is also recommended to purchase and use a phone card in Suriname, which is more convenient and quick. The hotel also has international long-distance calls, but the charges are relatively expensive. At the same time, it is also recommended to use software such as Skype in areas with WIFI coverage to reduce communication charges, etc.

Suriname's mobile communications are mainly operated by the National Telecommunications Company and have network communications covering the whole country. Network communications are very popular, its quality has improved in recent years, and network costs are high. Internet is available in large cities and hotels. Internet cafes in Suriname can also be seen everywhere in major towns, and the charges are relatively cheap and convenient. Usually, some large shopping malls, hotels and airports have WIFI coverage, and most hotels also have Internet ports.

Dietary Information Suriname is a small country in northern South America. However, it integrates the cultures, customs and habits of various countries around the world. In terms of food, it also integrates the essence and unique tastes of various countries, ranging from the catering culture of the Netherlands, India, South Africa, to Jewish areas. In Suriname restaurants, the rich menu can provide dozens of countries and cuisines, making it an excellent choice for friends who like to try fresh and taste exotic cuisine.

The main foods of local residents in Suriname are rice, pork, poultry, fish and shrimp, seafood and various vegetables and fruits. The main drinks are beer and fruit wine. International popular meals in Suriname are mainly served in large hotels and often have the flavor of Dutch food. The main local specialties are chicken stuffed snacks, chicken or steak rice, green beans, potatoes, shredded chicken soup and mashed plantain and peanut soup.

Since Suriname is an agricultural country with the world's largest automated farm and a variety of vegetables and fruits, as well as many fish and shrimp, it is very rich in dietary raw materials. Visitors can try the 64-course banquet-style Indonesian buffet. If you want Chinese food, you can go to 1wan restaurant with four seasons flavors. Soft drinks in Suriname include Luowangchao tamarind syrup, orgear extracted from almonds, and cold medicine root beer (gembetbier).​

Shopping instructions The store is open from 7:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday, and from 7:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00 on Saturday. Items that can be purchased in Suriname include cloth, wood carvings, hammocks, plates, etc. Major department stores in the capital, Paramaribo, include Kersten's and Kirpalani's in Maagdenstraat. Goods in department stores are usually not bargained for, but they can be bargained in the market.

In Suriname, some large shopping malls and better hotels use credit cards, but only credit cards with the logo of China UnionPay are currently not available in Suriname. Billboards at the entrance of general stores will indicate which credit cards can be used. Pay attention to the safety of swiping cards. Moreover, there are not many POS machines in Suriname.

Medical Tips The city of Paramaribo, Suriname, has everything from large formal hospitals to small private clinics, but the medical conditions are poor. Although regular hospitals have relatively modern medical facilities, the overall medical level is backward and can treat common diseases. Many critically ill patients have to be transferred to the Netherlands or the United States for treatment. The management of Suriname's medical system is relatively standardized. Hospitals and pharmacies are separated. Doctors prescribe medicines for medical treatment, and patients use their prescriptions to buy medicines at pharmacies. Drugs are imported and are relatively expensive. Suriname has medical insurance business, and some qualified insurance companies carry out medical insurance business. Those who purchase medical insurance can basically cover medical expenses in Suriname. There is no mandatory requirement for foreigners to purchase medical insurance in Suriname.

Tips for

* Time difference: GMT-3, 11 hours later than Beijing time; * The stay time for a Suriname visa shall not exceed 90 days. Currently, the visa types that can be applied for include three short-term visa types: business visa, tourist visa, and transit visa. In addition to transit visas, the other two types require an invitation letter or proof of sponsorship. If you apply for a Suriname tourist visa, you need a copy of the Suriname sponsor's passport and written certificate, financial solicitation and proof of the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor. If you apply for a Suriname business visa, you need the original official invitation letter (English or Dutch) issued by a Suriname company or government department; * Suriname Customs stipulates that immigrants are not allowed to carry prohibited items in their carry-on and checked baggage. Meat food and fruits. If you need to bring animals and plants into the country, you must provide permission documents from the relevant authorities of Suriname. If immigrants bring large quantities of electrical appliances and other items into the country, they also need to declare to the customs. Regarding alcohol and tobacco, Suriname Customs stipulates that each person can carry 1.5 liters of alcohol and one carton of cigarettes. Customs conducts spot checks on immigrants. In addition, Suriname is a foreign exchange control country, and people who exit the country cannot carry more than US$10,000 in US dollars in cash; if they need to carry more than US$10,000 in cash through Suriname, they need to declare it to Suriname Customs upon entry. Otherwise, they may be fined or confiscated; * Suriname's public security situation in recent years has been poor and has a deteriorating trend. Armed robberies and kidnappings in broad daylight have occurred frequently, and even criminal cases against diplomatic missions have occurred. China currently in Suriname have become the third largest target of attack. In view of the low crime detection rate of the Suriname police, China people in Suriname mainly adopt self-prevention measures, be vigilant in daily life, and strengthen anti-theft measures;

* Suriname's manufacturing industry is underdeveloped, and daily necessities and food are mainly imported; local Chinese mainly operate supermarkets and restaurants, and can easily buy China clothing, food, daily necessities, etc. the purchasing power of 1 su yuan is basically equal to that of 1 yuan;

* Suriname's traffic system is left-hand, which is different from that in the country, and due to the backward infrastructure construction in Suriname, the road condition is poor, and there are few special bicycle or pedestrian passages, so it is necessary to be extra careful when walking on the road; * When traveling in Suriname, if you want to go to the inland areas of Suriname, you should pay attention to preventing diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever;* The voltage in Suriname is 127 volts, and 60 Hz is completely different from that in our country. I suggest you bring a conversion socket in advance;

* Restrooms are difficult to find on the street, and even if they are found, they will not meet hygiene standards. The girls 'room is called Dames, and the men's room is called Heren; * Tap water in Suriname cannot be drunk directly. You can ask for it from a hotel or restaurant waiter for what you need, or bring your own bottled water. When eating, you should also pay attention to whether the food is cooked, etc., to prevent disease;

* Tipping is generally 10% of the meal cost for fast food, buffet, or if it is included in the bill, no tipping is required)(No tipping is generally required for other matters); * When you need to change clothes during travel, better hotels will provide a self-service washing machine, but generally small clothes can be washed and dried by hand in the room.