Upper Suriname: Boat Trips and Places to Visit

Boat trips around Upper Suriname range from journeys departing from Atjoni to an excursion to Tapawatra Sula described by Knini Paati. Nature and cultural themes also feature in the wider destination of Sipaliwini. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between these regional highlights.

Boat trips around Upper Suriname

Atjoni in Brokopondo District is a starting point for boat trips to Upper Suriname. A separate accessibility note applies to villages south of Pokigron: they can only be reached by boat.

Knini Paati describes a boat trip to Tapawatra Sula, which is about 2.5 hours away. On the tour described, departure is between 07:00 and 08:00. There is a breakfast stop along the way, and time at the rapids is planned for during the day. The departure window and planned time at the destination provide concrete points of reference for planning the day. Before travelling, confirm whether the excursion is currently available and what conditions apply.

Culture and history in Sipaliwini

In the wider destination of Sipaliwini, the Saamaka Museum in the village of Pikin Slee on the Upper Suriname River presents the cultural heritage of the Maroons, their past and way of life, as well as developments over recent decades.

The communities along the Suriname River are also part of this cultural picture. Descendants of the Maroons and Indigenous peoples have preserved traditional ways of living and dwelling in Sipaliwini District. They live in tribal communities in several villages along the river.

The Werehpai Caves in Sipaliwini District are located outside the village of Kwamalasamutu and contain more than 500 rock drawings. The tourism description dates the petroglyphs to between 4,200 and 5,000 years ago and gives 2004 as the year the caves were discovered.

Forests, rivers and rocky landscapes in Sipaliwini

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve, established in 1998, lies in the central part of Sipaliwini District. The UNESCO description of the protected area mentions jaguars, giant armadillos, giant river otters and lowland tapirs, among other animals; eight species of primate are also found there.

Activities mentioned in Sipaliwini include hikes through dense forests and paddling trips on calm rivers. The description thus covers both trails through forest landscapes and quiet stretches of river.

From Raleigh Falls, visitors can climb Mount Voltz, a 240-metre-high granite outcrop. From there, they can enjoy a view over the jungle canopy. Devil’s Egg is another named rock formation in Sipaliwini: it sits on the edge of a cliff and appears to be precariously balanced. The two rocky destinations offer different highlights: Mount Voltz provides a view over the canopy, while Devil’s Egg stands out for its precarious position on the cliff edge.

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Discover more destinations: Goddo.

View the wider travel overview: Sipaliwini.