Overland Suriname Travel
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Pan American Highway > Suriname
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Suriname
- 2 Entering Suriname with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Suriname
- 4 Gas price in Suriname and Diesel price in Suriname
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Suriname
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Suriname
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Suriname
Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.
Entering Suriname with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: March 2013
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Suriname, application instructions and fees see: Suriname Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
- Passport of registered owner.
- Drivers license of registered owner.
- Original vehicle registration.
- Proof of vehicle insurance.
- Visa / Tourist Card
Process at border
- Entering the other side of the river with the ferry, you first go to immigration.
- You have to fill in a tourist card and get a stamp for 1 month.
- Don’t forget the arrange your Visa/Tourist Card in Georgetown (Embassy of the Republic Suriname, Crown Street in Georgetown) or Cayenne (Avenue Leopold Héder)
- You need a car insurance for Suriname.
Jan 2015, leaving Suriname to Guyana: Process on both sides of border was very slow.
On Suriname side they opened the gate at 6am and closed it at 8am for the 9.30am ferry departure. There is a campsite next to the ferry terminal on the Suriname side, with cut grass, shelters, toilets and showers.
Ferry is payable in cash only, USD or SRD. Prices in USD were $15 per person and $40 for motorhome.
Process was: 1) pay for ferry tickets at window and swap your passport for number tags. 2) wait inside for return of passports and ferry tickets (give number tickets back in exchange). 3) proceed to immigration for passport stamping. 4) go to customs to exit vehicle (this can also be done by one person while the other waits for passports and tickets (step 2).
on Guyana side (coming from Suriname): Join queue for foreigners. They will take your passports and get you to sit down. Passport will be returned and you'll be directed to customs, keep asking directions. Have GYD200 ready (exchange some on either side of border) to pay for car paperwork.
Cost of entry
No entry fees
Permitted length of stay
- 1 month for person
- 1 month for vehicle import permit
- Tourist card is valid for 3 months, Visa may be valid 1, 2 or 3 months, single or multiple entry.
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
- Custom and immigration is in the same building near the ferry.
- First you have to go to the police. He will sign your car information in his book.
- Then you have to drive your car near the building on the parking lot.
- We paid $40.00 USD for the car and $10.00 USD per person.
- Next step is the exit stamp in your passport and customs want your vehicle import permit.
Driving in Suriname
Recommended books for Overlanding in Suriname
Travel insurance for Suriname
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle insurance requirements
Car insurance is mandatory.
In Guyana (neighbouring country) radio advertisements indicated that a policy from Assuria could cover both Suriname and Guyana, it is recommended that you request this if you are travelling both countries (Purchasing in Albina (Suriname) or Letham (Guyana).
Cost of vehicle insurance
$1.00 USD per day.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
Coming from French Guyana:
Insurance can be purchased on arrival in Albina, customs will give directions.
Coming from Guyana:
In Corriverton (last town for the ferry) are several insurance companies.
We purchased a policy to cover Suriname in Lethem, Guyana at the same time as purchasing Guyanese insurance. It was about the same price, so a good deal and much easier to buy two insurances in one go.
Driving license
An international Drivers Permit is required in Suriname. Officially this only applies after 2 weeks stay, but we were asked to show an IDL at the border.
Driving side of road
Left.
LHD vehicles can be driven in Suriname.
Mandatory items in vehicle
State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)
Roads
General Road quality
Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.
Road signs
Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.
Toll roads
List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.
Bribery in Suriname
Do not expect bribery on roads in Suriname.
Checkpoints
describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas price in Suriname and Diesel price in Suriname
Last updated: (last updated date)
Fuel prices in Suriname are less expensive than in French Guiana, but it is less again in Guyana. All fuel stations expect payment in cash.
Currency and unit to display:
Modify the table below as required.
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Regular (87) | $0.00 USD per Gallon (US) |
| Super (88) | $0.00 USD per Gallon (US) |
| Premium (90) | $0.00 USD per Gallon (US) |
| Ultra (95) | $0.00 USD per Gallon (US) |
| Diesel | $0.00 USD per Gallon (US) |
Link to external websites with price & quality information, if available.
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.
Vehicle parking
Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.
Special driving considerations
A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Suriname - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Suriname
- At Domburg (inland on the river from Paramaribo) there is a yacht marina "Domburg Waterkant Marina" that will allow overlanders to camp riverside. Has toilets, showers, laundry, wifi, water, drinking water from a tap, gas service, bar & restaurant. Electricity may be available. www.marinasuriname.com €8.50 EUR per vehicle per day. Discounted for longer stays, turn in behind the police station. N05.70167, W055.08186
- Brownsburg Forest allows overlanders to stay overnight. Shower, toilet, electricity, View, and sometimes visiting monkeys. $15.00 USD per night.
- Neuw Amsterdam: Overlanders stay between the Fort and the Police Station (on the grass/ parking area)
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Drinking water
Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Suriname
GPS Maps of Suriname
Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Suriname
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
If you wish to get a phone chip in Suriname the Digicel chip is easily obtained and you can get a data package for internet access (eg, in Dec 2014 it was SRD29 for 2048MB of data to use in 7 days). There may be other options too.
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Suriname
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- Suriname: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Suriname - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Suriname travel guides at wikivoyage
- Suriname - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
