Suriname is one of four non-Spanish speaking South American nations- and the only one that counts Dutch as its national language. The capital, Paramaribo, conjures images of Old Amsterdam, peppered with Caribbean and West Indian spices and bordered by lush jungle.

The country’s inhabitants are the exotic descendants of European colonialists, escaped African slaves, Indonesian and Indian indentured workers and native Ameri-Indians. Not surprisingly, this cultural mélange has created diversity in everything from food and music, to religion.

Suriname can be divided into two regions- the low-lying coastal region where the vast majority of the population lives and the tropical interior which is also home to the country’s two main mountain ranges. While travel to the interior is challenging and takes time, it is certainly worth it! Remote Indian villages, incredible pristine rainforest and staggering wildlife lie in wait for adventurous travellers.