Suriname - Health
Medical facilities in Suriname are limited. Ensure that you have sufficient travel health insurance and ready access to finances to pay the expense of any overseas medical care and repatriation.
Several hospitals are good and well-equipped in Paramaribo. Several private clinics do exist as well. The Academisch Ziekenhuis in Paramaribo is the largest hospital in Suriname and operates 24/7. Doctors and hospitals usually require cash payment prior to providing services, including emergency care.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:
Make sure all of your routine vaccinations are current.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended vaccinations for Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B.
Malaria prophylaxis is advisable.
Travelers arriving from any country at risk of yellow fever are required to present a Yellow Fever Certificate (e.g. If coming from Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Venezuela).
Food and Water Concerns:
Be careful when drinking local water, and opt for bottled water whenever possible. Use fruit juices that are plentiful locally, but look for places that serve freshly squeezed juices when you order.
There is some risk of Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) in coastal districts.
Mosquito-borne Diseases:
There is a risk of Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis) in Suriname.
Dengue is endemic in Suriname. Regular outbreaks occur with an increase in the number of dengue infections.
The Zika Virus has been reported in Suriname. Because of the risks to pregnancy, travelers should consult the CDC Travelers’ Health website for the most current recommendations for Zika.
- Prevention:
Use a repellent containing 20%-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin on exposed skin. Re-apply according to the manufacturer’s directions. - Wear neutral-colored (beige, light grey) long-sleeved clothing.
- Pre-soak or spray the outer layer of clothing and gear with permethrin.
- Ensure that the hatch and window screens work properly.
Other Diseases:
Animals: In Suriname, rabid dogs are prevalent. It may be difficult or impossible to get rabies treatment if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or another mammal while visiting Suriname. Therefore, it is advised to get a rabies vaccination before travel.
Prescription Drugs:
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be found in Paramaribo pharmacies, but quality cannot be guaranteed. There are frequent prescription medication shortages.
Always carry medicines in their original packaging with prescription labels showing your name attached. Ask your doctor to write you a letter certifying that the medicine is for personal use only, stating the medicine (not the brand name), what you are taking it for, and the dosage.
Emergency Numbers:
For emergency services in Suriname, dial 115.
See Emergencies.
Last updated: June 2023
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We contacted Noël from Waterland Marina before we departed from our previous port. His staff sent us all the required documentation, which we filled out and returned. A day after arrival, Noël organised a taxi for the day (SRD 900 / about USD 25) to take us from Waterland to an ATM, the downtown marina office (where Noël gave us our forms with stamps from MAS), and the Military Police (for which Noël joined us, as he wanted to make sure we were seen by the chief officer, who knows the procedure). We then got sim cards, lunch, groceries at one of the “Western” supermarkets in town, and fruit and vegetables at one of the market stalls along the “highway”. Great service at no cost other than the taxi.
I left my boat, a Oceanis 473, in the water from may to october 2019 in the small marina Waterland Suriname. The owner Noel and his crew took very good care of it. The electrician Aad Smit is great, and sympathetic. As in many small countries, he is skilled in many crafts. He also did an excellent plastic job on my boat.
Its important to cover the properly, the deck was stained by yellow dust.
Currently moored in Domburg in Suriname and planning to clear in tomorrow in Paramaribo (27 May 2019)
After meeting and discussing the issues/process with Netti (Harbour Resort Domburg), it “seems” to me that MAS is basically acting as “Customs” and if I understand the process, a private vessel must “1st” go there to receive entry documents for the vessel then “2nd” secure a tourist card (or visa) with the Consular Affaires (which also requires a trip to the Bank with USD or Euro ONLY no SRD – not sure why they don’t take their own money) and then “3rd” the Military Police to get passport stamped (basically acting as Immigration). While I admit this might seem a little “opposite” them most places (where Immigration is 1st and Customs next) it seems to be how they want it done and it’s their country.
Also for information, we attempted to notify MAS on VHF 16 and 12 of our arrival at the mouth of the Suriname River as suggested in the Noonsite “Clearance” section but no response was received so we continued up river to Domburg.
TY bclark.
To all visitors who plan to come to Suriname.
Do not fear or think that anything is hard to get.
All is there for you to explore.
All you wil meet is very friendly people to guide you to where and what to do, after entering Suriname river by yacht.
My strong advice is never to enter at night, so plan your arriving at incoming tide, at daylight.
This due to many lights at shore at night who may confuse entering even with a good map or electronic charts!
Anchor out at 5 mtr dept and wait to daylight and incoming tide.
Never enter in sailing, due to ships who enter as well, but motor in.
When at Domburg or at Waterland Resort you have three days before going for a visa.
And believe me from there you will receive all the help you need, to start a beautiful time in Suriname.
And remember, this is a very special country and you will not get this grand arrival feeling elsewhere, not in many other islands .
Enjoy and have a wonderful stay.
Mieke mv Southern Cross!
We stayed for almost 1 month at Waterland resort. Highly recommended as it is a secure place to leave your ship when visiting inland.
On Sundays, you can have a very good brunch at the resort and from time to time also BBQ in the evening. Beware: dinghies have been stolen at Waterland and at Domburg this year. Be sure to keep them well locked!
They currently have BBQ on Saturday afternoon and excellent all you can eat buffet on Sunday afternoon. Bar is open every day and snacks are available. The dock has electricity and water. There are plans for another dock to double the capacity. I think this is the only marina between Brazil and Trinidad. Noel was most friendly and helpful for getting us a rental car, help for a diesel a problem and information on batteries as ours had died en route. We stayed a week and a half before continuing north and it was an excellent experience.
The sail across from Ascension Island to the Suriname River mouth took us 25 days – about 2652nm. Crossing in the path of the Amazon River, we were affected by cross-currents, even 260nm out. Coming in closer to Suriname, there were a lot of fishing boats with nets extended all over the place and it was very difficult to pick your way though it all, especially at night, so take great care on the approaches or come around at higher latitudes and then turn South heading straight for the entry markers.
We anchored just off the river mouth to wait for a full days light. MAS (Maritime Authority Suriname) would not allow us to anchor closer in, we had to either proceed up to Domburg or wait outside, and so we waited. The current was hectic at 2 am so you have to very careful as of where to anchor and keep watch.
We arranged a docking at Marina Resort Waterland which is about 27nm up the river. GPS – 05deg39’.503N and 055deg03’.833W (see their website http://www.waterlandsuriname.com and they have a facebook page). Fees were €27 + 8% tax per day with water and electricity. Very nice, relaxing place to recuperate after the long sail.
The owner, Noel, arranged a taxi for us to go into Paramaribo to check in. This took about 6 hours as we needed a visa from Immigration. Visa fee was $45 each and had to be paid at the Central Bank which was a short walk away. Everyone was friendly.
We stayed on a dock for 2 weeks then moved 6.7nm back towards Domburg and went on a mooring ball at Harbour Resort Domburg GPS – 05deg42’.222N and 055deg04’.899W. Also very nice with a restaurant (River Breeze Restaurant & Bar), swimming pool, showers and a small laundry machine. Fees were €8.75 for the mooring ball.
Although while we were there, there was construction working in progress along the bank retaining wall so there was no floating dingy dock and difficult access to land. There was no “water supply” to your boat as part of the facilities/services and the “cooking gas service” entails hiring a car or taxi and going to town yourself.
The Tourism Foundation has a fairly comprehensive tourist destination guide and there is also the Suriname Travel magazine and a variety of smaller brochures/booklets that will assist any visitor to Suriname. These are available at the immigration visa office and Marina Resort Waterland.
Regarding clearing out in Paramaribo, please note that you do not go to Vremdelingenspolitie, but to the Military Police on the corner of Tourtonne Laan, same police post you have been visiting when checking in.
I was told that this is the case since 2 or 3 years already.
Please note that sometimes you get your crew list stamped, sometimes not – we did not get a stamp.
Vremdelingenspolitie is still the point to go when you stay longer than 4 weeks and you have to get you 3 months visa re-stamped.