Suriname (formerly a Dutch colony known as Dutch Guiana) is a small coastal country in South America bordered by French Guiana, Guyana, and Brazil. Suriname, though independent, retains its Dutch influence. The official language is Dutch and it is widely used. English and Sranang Tongo (also called Surinamese) are commonly spoken as well and Surinamese young people are more likely to use Sranang Tongo than Dutch.

The capital, Paramaribo, is lively and rich with culture. In Paramaribo, you can dine in world class restaurants, hit up glitzy nightclubs, and refuel your energy reserves with coffee and naps in plush beds. It is a drastic contrast to the rest of Suriname, which is largely rural, densely forested, and partially unexplored. Rivers criss-cross the forests making quick travel more difficult on land than by boat.

The cuisine of Suriname is spicy and quite different from what you’ll find in most of South America. Typical Surinamese dishes blend Dutch, South American, Indian, and Indonesian traditions as the Dutch colonists brought Indonesian and East Indian laborers to work in Suriname at the time the country was colonized.

The Indian and Indonesian influence is apparent in the popularity of curry and roti. Asian taste blends with local fruit in the dish Bakabana, which is the typical South American fried plantain but with a spicy peanut dipping sauce.

Throughout Suriname, Tropical fruits like guava and melon are popular and seafood is eaten frequently. Seafood and meats are often mixed with rice, cassava root, potatoes or other staples as the base of heavily spiced stews served with flatbread. For dessert, coconut is extremely popular and is a primary ingredient in Bojo Cake, which also features cassava root.

Over one-third of Suriname is protected land and many of the best things for travelers to do take place in and around these preserves. Seek out a quiet beach preserve to see leatherback sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs (you’ll need a guide for this) or just to walk along the pristine shores. Or head into the jungle to discover the many species of orchid and cactus (among many other things) within.

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR) is a vast preserve excellent for bird-watching, hiking, and exploring. Much of the reserve remains nearly untouched by humans and researchers are still documenting the species that live there. The CSNR is an important reserve because of how little it has been explored. Pristine stretches of river, untouched trees, and perhaps even some undiscovered species lie deep within the reserve.

All images are used via Creative Commons Attribution rights. View the original images on Flickr at: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4