Best Time to Visit Suriname

One city, two dry seasons

Our site covers Paramaribo, the capital, so that's where this guide focuses. Suriname sits close to the equator, so the temperature hardly changes through the year. What changes is the rain. The country has two wet seasons and two dry ones, which surprises many first-time visitors.

The long wet season runs roughly from late April to August. May is the wettest month in Paramaribo, with 308 mm of rain. The short wet season comes around December and January. Rain often arrives in heavy bursts, then the sun returns.

September and October: the sweet spot

These are our best months. The long dry season is in full swing, roads into the interior are easier, and rivers are calmer for boat trips. October is also the hottest month at 31°C, so afternoons in the city feel sticky. Do your wandering in the morning, then cool off with a cold Parbo beer or a break in the shade of Independence Square.

If you want to see the Dutch colonial wooden buildings in the old centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, this is a comfortable time to do it. Fort Zeelandia and the riverside promenade are easy on dry days.

Holidays, crowds and seasons

Suriname's mix of cultures shapes its calendar. Holi Phagwa, the Hindu spring festival, usually falls in March and fills Paramaribo with coloured powder. Keti Koti on 1 July marks the end of slavery. Independence Day is 25 November. Eid, Diwali and Christmas are also celebrated, and some shops close on these days.

High season is not sharply defined, since Suriname gets far fewer tourists than its Caribbean neighbours. Still, the dry months of September and October, plus the short dry spell from February to early April, are the busiest for jungle lodges and river trips. Many Surinamese families with relatives abroad travel around Christmas, so flights fill up then.

The long wet months are the quiet ones. Prices for stays may drop, and the rainforest looks very green. But some interior trips get harder, so check with your lodge first.