Paramaribo Activities for Families

Families visiting Paramaribo can fit several child-friendly outings into one day, as long as the heat is managed. This page lays out a sample day, adds a few alternatives, and finishes with a checklist for health and safety. Prices come from listings and should be checked before you go.

A sample family day

Morning at Peperpot. Cross the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge to Peperpot Nature Park in Meerzorg, about 10 km from the centre. Arrive soon after it opens at 08:00, while it is still cool. The 3.2 km trail is flat and shaded, and children can ride bikes hired at reception for about EUR 5 for two hours. Look out for squirrel monkeys, sloths and brown capuchins. This was once a coffee and cocoa estate where enslaved people worked, and the old coffee factory helps older children understand that history.

Afternoon at the zoo. Head back toward town for the zoo in the Cultuurtuin, about 3 km north of the centre. Suriname’s only zoo opened in 1972 and shows jaguars, pumas, ocelots, spider monkeys, tapirs, anacondas and caimans. Shade, picnic tables and a children’s snack bar are on site. Adult tickets have been listed at about SRD 75 and children’s at SRD 50, with the zoo open from 09:00 to 18:00.

Late afternoon on the river. Dolphin boats leave Leonsberg in the late afternoon and return after about three hours. Calm water makes the trip comfortable for most children. Sightings of Guiana dolphins are never guaranteed. Prices from about EUR 30 to USD 41 per person are typical, so ask whether children pay less. Insist on life jackets for every child, and keep the boat well back from the animals.

Alternatives

  • Colakreek. A blackwater creek near Zanderij, about 50 km away, with slides, piers and hammocks. It has no lifeguard, so swimming is at your own risk and children must stay within reach of an adult. It is not an easy choice for toddlers.
  • Commewijne boat day. A full day on the water stops at Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam, which has cannons and a lightship, and at plantation estates. It is long for small children.
  • Waterkant dinner. Stalls open from about 17:00. Roti rolls and nasi with chicken are gentle on young stomachs, and Paramaribo tap water is treated and safe to drink.

Health and safety checklist

  1. Use repellent with DEET morning and evening, as dengue is present across the country.
  2. Check the yellow fever rules for your route, which are summarised on the UK government entry page .
  3. Keep hats on and sun cream topped up in 26 to 32 degree heat.
  4. Never let children swim in the Suriname River at Paramaribo.
  5. Hold hands near roads, because many streets have open drains.
  6. Carry water and a snack on every outing.

Read more: Sightseeing in Paramaribo and the three day Suriname itinerary .

Where to compare tours

Child friendly boat trips can be searched on Viator .