Suriname is one of South America’s most untouched and biodiverse destinations. Over 80% of the country is covered by rainforest, filled with wildlife and rare plants found nowhere else on Earth. Exploring the best nature reserves in Suriname gives you a glimpse of lush jungles, wetland bird sanctuaries, and turtle-nesting beaches. Before you start your trip, it’s best to rent a car because many of these reserves are far from the capital. You can follow scenic routes, stop for photos, plan day trips from Paramaribo to nature parks nearby, or go deeper into the rainforest for longer adventures.
Suriname’s reserves are part of a strong conservation system built under the Nature Protection Act of 1954. These places are for scientists and travellers who love the outdoors, birdwatching, or peaceful forest walks. Here are some of the reserves that nature lovers can go to:
The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is one of the most remarkable protected areas in South America. This vast rainforest covers about 1.6 million hectares, making up roughly 10% of the country. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protects the upper watershed of the Coppename River and several headwaters that feed Suriname's main rivers.
The landscape includes lowland forests, montane forests, granite inselbergs, and the country’s highest peak, Juliana Top, which rises to 1,230 metres above sea level. The reserve also features the Tafelberg, Suriname’s only tepui, or tabletop mountain. With such diverse elevations and soil types, this region supports many habitats, including dense forests, rocky savannahs, and swamps. Scientists have recorded over 5,000 plant species here, many found nowhere else.
You can see some of the most unusual animals in the area, like sloths, jaguars, giant river otters, and harpy eagles. There are also eight kinds of primates and more than 400 kinds of birds, such as the colorful Guiana cock-of-the-rock and the red macaw. You can safely explore this reserve by driving through it in a guided 4WD. This will take you to parts of the forest connected to Brownsberg and Raleighvallen.
Brownsberg Nature Park is one of the most popular protected areas within the Suriname reserves system. It is about 120 kilometres from Paramaribo and covers roughly 12,000 hectares of pristine rainforest. The park was founded in 1969 and takes its name from the 560-metre Brownsberg peak that rises in the centre. Scientists and travelers are drawn to it because of its high elevation and location near the Brokopondo Reservoir, which keeps the temperature cool and offers sweeping views.
The park has high plateaus, beautiful waterfalls, and thick jungle trails where you can see many different animals. Brownsberg is one of the easiest places to see wildlife in Suriname. It is part of the larger Amazon rainforest corridor and is home to many animals, such as howler monkeys, macaws, peccaries, and deer.
Brownsberg also has simple but comfortable places to stay overnight. Stinasu, the Foundation for Nature Conservation in Suriname, runs the park's rustic lodges, campsites, and hammock spots from its headquarters. It takes about 3 hours to get there from Paramaribo by car on a red-dirt road. There are trails in the park that range from easy walks to more challenging climbs that lead to waterfalls like Irene Falls and Leo Falls.
The Raleighvallen Nature Reserve is part of the vast Central Suriname conservation region. It is located deep in the rainforest, surrounded by thick jungle, river valleys, and towering rock formations. The reserve covers the area around the Voltzberg, a granite mountain that rises above the forest canopy.
Reaching Raleighvallen requires some effort. Travellers can drive part of the way before transferring to guided river transport that takes them further into the reserve. Once there, the sound of tropical birds fills the air. You can see monkeys swinging between the trees, colourful butterflies gliding through the light, and various rare birds. The area is known for jaguars, giant river otters, scarlet macaws, and many other animals typical of Suriname’s interior forests.
Hikers should definitely climb the Voltzberg. The climb goes through thick plants and rocky ground before opening up to a wide rainforest view. The hike is challenging, but when you reach the top, you can see how big the country's wild areas are. You can plan trips that last several days and connect your route to the Central Suriname Nature Reserve for a full rainforest adventure by driving toward this area.
The Galibi Nature Reserve is located on Suriname’s northeastern coast near the mouth of the Coppename River. It is one of the country’s most unique coastal reserves, where dense jungle meets long stretches of quiet beach. This area is world-famous for its turtle nesting sites, attracting wildlife experts and travellers. The reserve also protects important wetland habitats that support manatees, tropical birds, and other marine life.
From April to August, the beaches of Galibi come alive with nesting activity. Four species of sea turtles visit these shores to lay their eggs: the leatherback, green, olive ridley, and hawksbill turtles. The leatherback turtles are the largest of all and can return year after year to the same beaches. Conservation projects here work to protect the nests from poachers and natural threats so hatchlings can reach the sea safely.
To get to Galibi, you have to drive and boat. You can drive to Albina, about 145 kilometers from Paramaribo, and then take a boat to the reserve. The trip takes you past beautiful riverbanks, mangroves, and traditional indigenous villages. Galibi is much quieter than other reserves, so it's a great place to have real eco-adventures in a peaceful setting. You can explore this area freely by driving there and returning to the coast. You can also visit nearby attractions like the Commewijne River plantations.
Peperpot Nature Park is one of the most accessible and fascinating nature reserves, about 5 kilometres from Paramaribo. When the Dutch were in charge, the area was a coffee and cocoa plantation. Now, it is a protected park where animals have taken back the land. The site is about 820 hectares. To protect native animals and let visitors see Suriname's biodiversity up close, it is split into a forest corridor, a buffer zone, and a visitor park.
The park’s landscape combines secondary forest, marsh areas, and canals left from the old plantation days. The original coffee and cocoa trees are still overgrown with orchids, bromeliads, and climbing plants. You can see squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys, giant lizards, and colorful butterflies as you walk along the wide trails. One of the best things to do here is watch birds. There are more than 500 kinds of birds in the park, such as the cinereous tinamou, green-backed trogon, and blood-colored woodpecker.
Visitors can see much of the forest canopy from a 12-meter bird tower, a great place to look for tropical birds in their natural habitat. Peperpot’s well-maintained trails are easy to explore on foot, and the park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can also explore the historic remains of the old plantation, including the coffee warehouse, director’s house, and the kampong, a small village where workers once lived.
Bigi Pan Nature Reserve lies on Suriname’s northwestern coast, near the town of Nieuw Nickerie. It is one of the most impressive wetland areas in the country and one of the best nature reserves in Suriname for birdwatchers. This vast protected zone consists of lagoons, mangroves, and open water habitats supporting countless bird species, fish, and other wildlife.
The Bigi Pan wetlands are also home to birds such as flamingos, scarlet ibises, herons, and ibises, often seen feeding in the shallow lagoons. The mangrove forests here act as nurseries for young fish and shrimp. The reserve is also a sanctuary for caimans, manatees, and giant river otters living in the surrounding waterways. Because of this diversity, Bigi Pan has become one of the country’s most important areas for wildlife watching in Suriname. To reach Bigi Pan, you can rent a car and drive from Paramaribo to Nieuw Nickerie, then continue by local boat.
Wia Wia Nature Reserve is one of three coastal reserves in Suriname and one of the country’s most secluded natural areas. It is along the Atlantic coast near the Marowijne River, surrounded by mangroves, mudflats, and freshwater swamps. Covering an extensive stretch of shoreline, this reserve is known for its high biological productivity, supporting fish, shrimp, crabs, and countless bird species.
The reserve is best known for its migratory shorebirds and sea turtles. During migration, more than 100,000 shorebirds, such as sandpipers, plovers, and terns, stop to eat and rest. It is also an Endemic Bird Area, where you can find the Guyanan piculet, blood-colored woodpecker, and rufous crabhawk. Leatherback, green, olive ridley, and hawksbill sea turtles come to the beaches to lay their eggs. Wia Wia is one of the most important places in Suriname for protecting turtles because of this species. The best time to go is between August and November, when the weather is drier and you can see turtles more often.
The trails here are not clearly marked. They take you through mangrove estuaries, wild dunes, and quiet beaches where you can see nesting activity and tracks left by turtles. The reserve also features coastal lagoons and mudflats. There are basic camping options for visitors, so you should be ready for a rustic stay. Driving to Wia Wia is possible with a sturdy vehicle, and the trip gives you a great view of the coast in the Commewijne District.
The Coppenamemonding Nature Reserve is located along Suriname’s northern coast in the Saramacca District, between the estuaries of the Coppename and Suriname Rivers. This protected area stretches for about 50 kilometres and features mudflats, mangroves, and swamps that provide perfect feeding and nesting grounds for migratory birds. It is one of the country’s most important coastal ecosystems. Because it remains remote and relatively untouched, it plays a vital role in conserving Suriname’s coastal wildlife.
The reserve’s coastal mudflats are covered with vegetation like Spartina brasiliensis, while a wide band of mangrove forests lines the shore. Behind the mangroves are brackish and freshwater swamps, with species such as Pterocarpus officinalis and Annona glabra. The Pralala Pan lagoon, one of the area’s main features, is a haven for waterfowl. Surveys have recorded nearly 400,000 shorebirds in a single season, including the semipalmated sandpiper, plovers, and yellowlegs. The reserve also protects one of the largest scarlet ibis colonies in the country, with more than 7,000 pairs counted during breeding surveys.
In addition to birds, the area is home to fish, shrimp, crabs, white-tailed deer, and jaguars. These thriving populations make Coppenamemonding a key site for wildlife watching in Suriname. The Suriname Forest Service manages the reserve under the Ministry of Physical Planning, Land Use, and Forest Management.
The Jodensavanne Nature Reserve is about 70 kilometres south of Paramaribo. In one visit, you can see Suriname’s rainforest and its past. Established around the remains of a 17th-century Jewish settlement, Jodensavanne is now a peaceful area surrounded by tropical forests, mangroves, and wetlands. The reserve’s landscape is filled with thick vegetation and calm riverbanks that support monkeys, sloths, and other forest-dwelling animals. Birdwatchers can enjoy spotting local species while walking the trails or joining guided tours. The site’s most notable features include the ruins of an old synagogue, a cemetery, and other remnants of early Jewish life in Suriname. Large trees now shade these ruins.
The weather in Suriname is tropical, so you can travel there all year. Some months are better, depending on what you want to see. There are two main seasons in the country: dry and rainy. These seasons affect the roads, the animals, and how easy it is to get around.
When it's dry, August to November is the best time to drive around. Roads are more reliable, and it's the best time to see wildlife in Suriname, especially along the coast in places like Wia Wia and Galibi, where sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs. The dry months are also great for hiking in Brownsberg Nature Park or birdwatching in Bigi Pan and Coppenamemonding, when the water levels go down and the birds come together in large groups. During this time, driving between reserves is easier and more comfortable, especially on long trips from Paramaribo to the interior.
From December to July, the rainy season brings heavier rains, making Suriname's rainforests beautiful green areas. The rivers get stronger, and the waterfalls in Brownsberg look even better. During this time, you must be extra careful when driving because country roads can get muddy or slippery. You can still easily visit the main reserves in Suriname if you plan and use a reliable 4WD.
Exploring the best nature reserves in Suriname is an experience that connects you with pure, untouched nature. You can drive from the capital to quiet beaches, rainforest trails, and peaceful wetlands filled with birds and wildlife. As you travel, you’ll see how carefully the country protects its natural treasures.
To make your trip easy and stress-free, rent a car in Suriname with Final Rentals. Choose your preferred pick-up and drop-off point, including Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport or Paramaribo Zorg en Hoop Airport. Final Rentals offers many vehicles, from compact cars to sturdy 4x4 SUVs for off-road travel. You’ll enjoy instant booking confirmation, no hidden fees, and flexible cancellation options. For extra convenience, you can also download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
