Free Para District Travel Guide & Mobile App

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Para District
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Explore Para District in Suriname for rainforest rivers, savannah landscapes, Jewish heritage, Colakreek and the bauxite history of Paranam.

Para District occupies a broad belt of northern and central Suriname, stretching from the savannah country around Zanderij towards forested river landscapes and the historic settlements along the Suriname River. It is one of the country’s most accessible gateways to the interior: Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport lies at Zanderij, while the main road from Paramaribo passes through the district before continuing south-east. Para is therefore both a destination in its own right and an important transition zone between Suriname’s urban coast and its rainforest interior.
Read more about Para District
The district’s landscapes are varied. Around Zanderij and the village of Republiek, pale sandy soils support open savannahs, wooded savannah and recreational lakes, contrasting with the denser tropical forest farther inland. The Suriname River and Para River shape much of the district’s character, providing routes for boating, fishing and visits to riverside communities. Colakreek, near the airport, is known for its dark, tea-coloured water and forest setting, and is a popular local swimming and picnic destination. Rural roads and river excursions reveal a quieter side of Suriname, although conditions and access can vary considerably during the wet season.
Para also contains some of Suriname’s most important historical places. Jodensavanne, on the Suriname River, preserves the remains of a Jewish settlement established in the seventeenth century, including the foundations and cemetery associated with the former community. Nearby Cassipora Cemetery is an earlier Jewish burial ground and an important reminder of the region’s colonial history. These sites stand in a landscape that also carries the long presence of Indigenous communities, whose knowledge of the rivers, forests and savannahs predates European settlement by many centuries.
Modern Para was profoundly shaped by bauxite. Mining and processing around Paranam became central to Suriname’s twentieth-century economy, bringing roads, industrial infrastructure and new settlements to the district. Although the large-scale industrial era has contracted, its legacy remains visible in Paranam and in the wider story of Suriname’s relationship with mineral extraction. The district’s population is socially diverse, with Indigenous communities, descendants of enslaved Africans, Hindustani, Javanese, Chinese and other Surinamese groups contributing to its cultural life.
Visitors generally experience Para through a combination of short excursions and longer journeys towards the interior. A trip may pair the historic sites of Jodensavanne with a river crossing, a forest-side day at Colakreek, or a stay near Zanderij before travelling onwards. Food is typically Surinamese in its broad mixture of influences, with rice dishes, roti, pom, grilled meats, cassava preparations and freshwater fish appearing alongside snacks sold in roadside settlements. Para rewards visitors who allow time for distances, changing road conditions and the slower pace of river travel.

When is the best time to visit Para District?

Best: February, August–September · 30°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January29200
February (best)30180
March30210
April30230
May30250
June29230
July30210
August (best)30190
September (best)30180
October30200
November30220
December29230

Getting to and around Para District

How to get there

Para is most commonly reached from Paramaribo by road along the southern route through Wanica and the district towards Zanderij. Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport is located at Zanderij in Para and is the country’s main international gateway, although many travellers first spend time in Paramaribo. Roads continue towards Paranam, Republiek and other parts of the district, while Jodensavanne is normally accessed through a planned river excursion rather than a simple independent road trip. International visitors should arrange onward transport before leaving the airport, particularly if staying outside Zanderij.

Transportation

Travel within Para is easiest by private car, hired vehicle or organised excursion, especially when combining dispersed sites such as Colakreek, Republiek, Paranam and river-accessed heritage locations. Minibuses and taxis connect settlements along the main road, but services are less predictable away from the principal corridor. River travel is essential for Jodensavanne and some interior experiences and should be arranged with a knowledgeable local operator. Roads may be uneven or muddy during heavy rain, and journey times can be longer than distances on a map suggest.

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Best attractions in Para District

Para’s attractions combine accessible nature, river heritage and the industrial history of modern Suriname. Colakreek, near Zanderij, is a popular recreation area where dark tannin-rich water, forest shade and sandy ground create a setting for swimming, picnicking and informal outdoor activities. The savannah landscape around Zanderij and Republiek offers a different environment, with open vegetation and low wooded growth contrasting with the surrounding rainforest. Along the Suriname River, Jodensavanne and Cassipora provide historically important excursions through cemeteries, ruins and a landscape shaped by colonial plantations, slavery and Jewish settlement. These sites are generally best visited with arrangements for boat transport and interpretation. Para also serves as a staging area for journeys farther into Suriname’s interior, although attractions beyond the district should not be confused with Para itself. Around Paranam, the remains and infrastructure associated with bauxite extraction illustrate the district’s twentieth-century economic transformation, but active industrial areas are not ordinary sightseeing venues. Birdwatching, fishing, canoeing and forest walks are possible through local operators and accommodation providers, with the experience depending on water levels, weather and access conditions.

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Best landmarks in Para District

Jodensavanne is Para’s most important historic landmark, with the remains of the former Jewish settlement and its cemetery set beside the Suriname River. The site represents seventeenth-century Jewish colonisation while also revealing the plantation economy and enslaved labour on which colonial prosperity depended. Cassipora Cemetery, associated with an earlier Jewish settlement, is a more secluded but equally significant marker of the region’s colonial history. The Suriname River itself is a geographical landmark, serving for centuries as a route of settlement, trade, plantation transport and contemporary heritage travel. Around Paranam, industrial structures and altered landscapes recall the period when bauxite extraction and alumina production stood at the centre of Suriname’s economy; access to working or restricted areas must not be assumed. The open savannahs near Zanderij and Republiek provide a contrasting natural landmark, shaped by sandy soils, seasonal conditions and fire-adapted vegetation. Colakreek is recognisable for its dark forest water and recreation landscape, offering a more intimate natural point of reference than the district’s broad rivers and industrial corridors.

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Best restaurants in Para District

Dining in Para is generally informal and closely connected to roadside settlements, recreational centres, guesthouses and family-run establishments rather than a concentrated restaurant district. Visitors will encounter the broad Surinamese culinary mixture found across the country, including rice dishes, roti, pom, noodles, grilled chicken, salted fish, cassava preparations and snacks influenced by Javanese, Hindustani, Creole, Chinese and Indigenous traditions. Freshwater fish and river-region ingredients may appear on local menus, while drinks and light meals are readily found along the road to Zanderij and around popular recreation sites. Food near Colakreek and other day-trip areas can be convenient but may be seasonal or limited, so carrying water and a small supply of snacks is sensible. Larger selections are available in Paramaribo, outside the district, before or after a Para excursion. Visitors staying in rural lodges should ask in advance about meal arrangements, dietary requirements and serving times, as supplies and menus can be less predictable away from the main corridor.

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Best bars in Para District

Para is not known for a large nightclub scene, and evening entertainment is more likely to centre on relaxed bars, food spots, social clubs and guesthouse terraces than on purpose-built nightlife venues. Zanderij, Paranam and settlements along the main road have local drinking places, while recreation resorts may provide an informal evening atmosphere when occupied by weekend visitors. Music and conversation are often more important than late-night venue-hopping, and opening arrangements can vary considerably. Travellers staying near the airport may choose to return to Paramaribo for a wider choice of bars, live music and clubs, although Paramaribo lies outside Para District. In rural areas, organise transport in advance, avoid walking unfamiliar roads after dark and do not assume that taxis or public transport will remain available late at night. Drinking is not necessary to appreciate the district’s evening culture, which is often defined by river settings, shared meals and quiet outdoor surroundings.

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Best nightclubs in Para District

Para is not known for a large nightclub scene, and evening entertainment is more likely to centre on relaxed bars, food spots, social clubs and guesthouse terraces than on purpose-built nightlife venues. Zanderij, Paranam and settlements along the main road have local drinking places, while recreation resorts may provide an informal evening atmosphere when occupied by weekend visitors. Music and conversation are often more important than late-night venue-hopping, and opening arrangements can vary considerably. Travellers staying near the airport may choose to return to Paramaribo for a wider choice of bars, live music and clubs, although Paramaribo lies outside Para District. In rural areas, organise transport in advance, avoid walking unfamiliar roads after dark and do not assume that taxis or public transport will remain available late at night. Drinking is not necessary to appreciate the district’s evening culture, which is often defined by river settings, shared meals and quiet outdoor surroundings.

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Best shops in Para District

Shopping in Para is practical and locally oriented rather than centred on major retail complexes. Small shops and roadside stalls around Zanderij, Paranam and settlements on the main road sell drinks, snacks, household goods and basic travel supplies. At recreation areas, visitors may find food, refreshments and simple locally made items, although selection and availability vary. Para is a useful place to look for Surinamese snacks and prepared foods reflecting the country’s diverse culinary traditions, but travellers should buy specialist crafts or a broad range of regional products in Paramaribo if they need more choice. Community-based excursions may offer handmade items or locally produced foods, and purchasing directly can support small producers when sales are clearly authorised. Visitors should not buy archaeological objects, wildlife products or items made from protected species. Keep cash available for small transactions, particularly outside the airport corridor, where card facilities may be limited.

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Para District essentials

Currency and Payment
Suriname uses the Surinamese dollar, or SRD, throughout Para. Cards and contactless payments are more likely to work at established hotels, larger shops and formal businesses near the airport or main settlements, while small vendors, roadside stalls, rural accommodation and river excursions may require cash. Carry modest amounts of local currency in good condition and avoid relying exclusively on foreign currency. Exchange and banking facilities are more limited in rural parts of the district than in Paramaribo.
Safety
Normal precautions for personal belongings are appropriate, particularly at transport points and crowded recreation areas. Outdoor visitors should take heat, sun, mosquitoes, slippery surfaces and sudden rain seriously, and should follow local advice near rivers and swimming areas. Do not swim or boat alone in unfamiliar water. Drivers should expect pedestrians, cyclists, livestock, potholes and limited lighting on some roads. Remote activities are best undertaken with local guidance, and visitors should tell someone their plans before travelling beyond the main settlements.
Emergency Situations
Suriname’s national emergency numbers are commonly listed as 110 for the fire service, 113 for ambulance assistance and 115 for police. Mobile coverage can be weak away from the main road, at river sites and in forested areas, so obtain local contact details before setting out. For a serious medical or security problem, contact the relevant service and ask accommodation staff, a guide or the nearest police post for help. River and remote-area emergencies may require additional coordination rather than an immediate conventional response.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly and behave quietly at cemeteries, religious sites and historic places, including Jodensavanne and Cassipora. Ask before photographing people, homes, ceremonies or community buildings, and follow instructions from local guides. Do not remove archaeological material, plants or stones from heritage sites. At recreation areas, take rubbish away when bins are unavailable and respect local rules about swimming, fires and alcohol. Dutch is the official language, while Sranan Tongo and other languages are widely heard; a polite greeting and patience are appreciated.
Local Tips
Combine one historical excursion with one nature-based outing rather than trying to cover the whole district in a single day. Colakreek is convenient from the airport corridor, while Jodensavanne requires more planning and a river journey. Ask locally about current access to Paranam’s industrial areas, as working sites are not automatically visitor attractions. The dry and rainy seasons affect roads, rivers and outdoor comfort differently, so confirm conditions shortly before departure. Local guides can add essential context to both Indigenous landscapes and colonial heritage.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHallo[Hah-loh]
GoodbyeVaarwel[Vahr-vel]
YesJa[Yah]
NoNee[Nay]
Please/You're welcomeAlsjeblieft[Ahl-sheh-bleeft]
Thank youDank je[Dahnk yuh]
Excuse me/SorrySorry[So-ree]
How are you?Hoe gaat het?[Hoo gaht het?]
Fine. And you?Goed. En jij?[Hood. En yay?]
Do you speak English?Spreek je Engels?[Sprehk yuh Eng-els?]
I don't understandIk begrijp het niet[Ik beh-graihp het neet]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIk wil graag de menukaart zien, alsjeblieft[Ik vil ghrahg de meh-nu-kaart zeen, Ahl-sheh-bleeft]
I don't eat meatIk eet geen vlees[Ik eet ghen vlays]
Cheers!Proost![Prohst!]
I would like to pay, pleaseIk wil graag betalen, alsjeblieft[Ik vil ghrahg beh-tah-len, Ahl-sheh-bleeft]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Ga weg![Gah vek!]
Call the Police!Bel de politie![Bel de po-lee-tsee!]
Call a doctor!Bel een dokter![Bel een dok-ter!]
I'm lostIk ben verdwaald[Ik ben fer-dwaald]
I'm illIk ben ziek[Ik ben zeek]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ik wil graag kopen...[Ik vil ghrahg koh-pen...]
I'm just lookingIk kijk alleen maar[Ik kike ah-lay mahr]
How much is it?Hoeveel kost het?[Hoo-vayl kost het?]
That's too expensiveDat is te duur[Dat is tuh dur]
Can you lower the price?Kun je de prijs verlagen?[Kun yuh de prays fer-lah-ghen?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Hoe laat is het?[Hoo laht is het?]
It's one o'clockHet is één uur[Het is eyn ohr]
Half past (10)Half elf[Half elf]
MorningOchtend[Okh-tend]
AfternoonNamiddag[Nah-mid-dahg]
EveningAvond[Ah-vond]
YesterdayGisteren[Ghis-teh-ren]
TodayVandaag[Vahn-dahg]
TomorrowMorgen[Mor-ghen]
11[Eyn]
22[Twee]
33[Drie]
44[Vier]
55[Vijf]
66[Zes]
77[Zeven]
88[Acht]
99[Negen]
1010[Tien]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Waar is een...?[Vahr is eyn...?]
What's the address?Wat is het adres?[Vah-t is het ah-dress?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Kun je me laten zien (op de kaart)?[Kun yuh meh lah-ten zeen (op de kaart)?]
When's the next (bus)?Wanneer komt de volgende (bus)?[Vahn-deer komt de vol-ghen-de (bus)?]
A ticket (to ....)Een kaartje (naar ...)[Eyn kaar-teh (nahr ...)]

History of Para District

Indigenous settlement before colonisation

The rivers, savannahs and forests of Para were inhabited long before the arrival of Europeans. Indigenous peoples, including Lokono and Kari’na communities, developed detailed knowledge of the region’s plants, animals, waterways and seasonal patterns. Archaeological evidence across Suriname points to long traditions of cultivation, fishing, hunting and movement between ecological zones. These histories remain relevant today through Indigenous communities and through the continued importance of river and forest knowledge. European accounts often described the district through the priorities of colonial settlement, but the deeper history of Para begins with societies that shaped and used its landscapes for centuries.

Jodensavanne and the Jewish plantation community

Jodensavanne developed on the Suriname River during the seventeenth century as a Jewish settlement under Dutch colonial rule. Its residents established plantations, cultivated crops and created communal institutions, including a synagogue and burial grounds. The settlement became an important centre of Jewish life in the colonial Americas, although its prosperity depended within the wider plantation system on the labour of enslaved Africans. Disease, economic difficulties, changing political circumstances and the movement of residents towards Paramaribo contributed to its decline. The surviving cemetery, ruins and landscape provide an unusually direct record of Suriname’s layered colonial history.

Cassipora and the plantation landscape

Cassipora Cemetery, near Jodensavanne, is associated with an earlier Jewish settlement along the Suriname River and is among the oldest Jewish burial places in the Americas. Together with Jodensavanne, it reflects the fragmented pattern of colonial settlement in Para, where plantations, river transport and religious institutions were connected. The surrounding region was also shaped by slavery, Indigenous displacement and the movement of goods along the river. Today, the sites are important not simply as Jewish heritage places but as reminders of the unequal social and economic structures that supported colonial Suriname.

The abolition of slavery and changing rural society

The abolition of slavery in Suriname in 1863 transformed plantation society, although formerly enslaved people remained subject to a period of state-supervised labour. As plantations changed or declined, new forms of settlement and agricultural production developed. Para’s river communities became part of a broader rural society that included descendants of enslaved Africans, Indigenous peoples and later migrant groups from Asia. The district’s present cultural diversity has roots in these nineteenth-century transformations, even though the colonial economy continued to shape land ownership, labour and access to resources.

Bauxite and the rise of Paranam

Bauxite mining became one of the defining economic developments of twentieth-century Suriname. Deposits in and around Para supported extraction, transport and processing, while Paranam grew as an industrial centre on the Suriname River. The industry brought employment, roads, power infrastructure and major changes to the district’s settlement pattern. It also tied Suriname closely to international aluminium production and left lasting environmental and social questions. Industrial activity later contracted, but Paranam’s name remains central to the country’s modern economic history and to the visible industrial heritage of Para.

Zanderij and national transport links

The development of the airfield at Zanderij gave Para a strategic role in Suriname’s transport network. What began as an airfield during the twentieth century became the site of the country’s principal international airport, linking Suriname with the Caribbean, the Netherlands and regional destinations. The airport strengthened the road corridor between the coast and the interior and increased the importance of nearby settlements. It also illustrates how Para’s geography has repeatedly made the district a meeting point between national infrastructure, rural communities and access to the forested interior.

Para District in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Para District, Suriname

Discover the best of Para District with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich set of information, including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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More about the Evendo app

Evendo is your comprehensive travel guide to Para District, Suriname. Discover attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and easily book hotels, tours, and experiences—all for free.

  • History of Para District
  • Travel essentials for visiting Para District
  • Curated local tips to experience the city like a local
  • Near me feature to find nearby attractions and amenities
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases or additional costs
  • Global coverage with information on 7,000+ destinations worldwide

Welcome to Para District, Suriname—a region rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. With Evendo, you have a 100% free, all-in-one travel guide right at your fingertips, making it easier than ever to explore and enjoy your trip.

Explore famous landmarks like the Jodensavanne, a historic Jewish settlement, or the stunning Brownsberg Nature Park, where you can hike and experience breathtaking views of the rainforest. Discover hidden gems such as the Peperpot Nature Park, perfect for bird watching and hiking.

Savor local cuisine at renowned restaurants like Lelydorp's 'Kruiden Garden,' known for its delicious Surinamese dishes, or enjoy a night out at lively bars and nightclubs in the area. Whether you're looking for shops, bars, nightclubs, or unique experiences, Evendo has detailed information on all the best spots.

With features like detailed descriptions, images, local tips, and maps, Evendo helps you plan and organize your trip effortlessly. Plus, you can easily book hotels, tours, and tickets directly through the app, ensuring a hassle-free travel experience. Download Evendo today and make the most out of your visit to Para District!

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