Suriname
| Frequently Asked Questions
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
FAQs
What is the population?
The population of Suriname was estimated at 500,303 in 2005.
How big is the country/island?
Suriname has a total area of about 63,000 sq miles.
Can I drink the tap water?
Although the water is considered safe in Paramaribo, you may wish to stick with bottled water. In the interior, only drink bottled water.
What are the best things to buy here?
For souvenirs with local flavour you'll find woodcarvings and wooden items, painted gourds, wicker items, oriental silks and batiks, ceramics, handcrafted gold and silver jewellery, spices and tropical fruits and vegetables.
What are the main industries?
The main industries are bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum production, crude oil, lumbering, food processing and fishing.
What native dishes should I try?
Local cuisine is a mixture of indigenous, African, Asian and Western cooking. Try bami goreng (Indonesian fried noodles), nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice), peanut soup with tomtom (plantain noodles), petjil (cooked vegetables in a peanut sauce), manioc (cassava), pom (ground local tayer roots, chicken and orange juice), pastei (chicken pie with various vegetables), her'heri (boiled plantains, cassava and sweet potatoes with smoked or salted fish in a hot pepper sauce), roti (curried vegetables and chicken wrapped in a pancake) and phulawri (fried chick peas), moksi meti (various meats served on rice) and Chinese chow-mein and chop suey.
Fresh exotic fruits, such as carambolas, mangos, passion fruit, papayas, soursop, West Indian cherries, jackfruit, maripa, awarra and rambutans are readily available.
For local drinks try Black Cat rum and Parbo beer.
Can I use my calling card from here? AT&T: Service is available from pay phones and/or select hotels for calls to the US only using AT&T Calling Cards, AT&T Corporate Cards, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. Dial 156 + area code + local number and follow the voice prompts.
BT: no service available
Canada Direct: no service available
MCI MinutePass: no service available
Sprint: no service available
For more information see the section in General Info: Telecommunications.
How should I dress to go out?
Dress in Suriname is casual. Still, it is unacceptable to wear bathing suits, short shorts and short tank tops in public. Men should wear shirts in public. You may want to bring a light sweater/jacket for evenings. For trips to the interior, wear pants and bring a good pair of waterproof walking shoes and rain gear.
Can I use my hair dryer and electric shaver?
Electricity is 110 volts, 60 cycles, which is the same as in North America. Many hotels also have 220-volt, 50-cycle outlets, which is the European standard.
How much should I tip?
Tip about 15%. Some hotels and restaurants automatically add your tip to the bill so check first as it is not necessary to leave more, unless you feel the service was above average.
Disclaimer:
Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All information should be verified prior to travel.
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