Bakaaboto Nature Resort
River rapids, hammock afternoons, and Maroon-country calm on the Upper Suriname River
Why Go
Roughly 185 km south of Paramaribo, tucked into the rainforest at the edge of the Bakaaboto Sula, this riverside resort trades city noise for the sound of white water crashing over black rocks — a proper reset button in the Sipaliwini interior.
The Experience
Bakaaboto sits along the Upper Suriname River just below the Brokopondo Reservoir, where the current tumbles through a wide chain of granite ledges known locally as a 'sula.' Day-trippers pile out of the transfer bus, kick off their shoes, and wade straight into the rapids — the shallow channels between rocks form natural jacuzzi pools that locals have been cooling off in for generations. Beyond the waterline, the property is stitched into the forest: waterfront cabins on stilts, hammock tents strung under thatched roofs, and open-air common areas where the kitchen turns out a smoky BBQ lunch with fresh fruit. Guided walks lead into the surrounding jungle and to nearby Saamaka Maroon villages, where families still live with African-rooted traditions carried across centuries. Nights here are all frog chorus, river hiss, and stars — no light pollution, no signal bars, no hurry.
What to Try
Book the classic day trip if you're short on time — it bundles the round-trip road transfer from Paramaribo, resort entrance, BBQ lunch, non-alcoholic drinks, fruit, and unlimited time in the rapids. If you can stay overnight, choose a Waterfront House (HWT) for the river view or a Hangmatten Tent (HT) if you want to fall asleep to the sula in a hammock. Ask a guide to walk you to a nearby Maroon village and to point out the medicinal plants along the way. Bring water shoes — the rocks are slick — and pack a dry bag for phones and cameras.
Insider Tip
The rapids look playful but the current between the outer channels is stronger than it seems in photos; stay in the sheltered rock pools closer to shore unless a guide waves you further out. Also: the last stretch of road in gets rough, so day-trippers arriving in their own car should have a high-clearance vehicle — most guests skip the headache and take the resort's organized transfer.
The Practical Stuff
Address: GMCM+FXH, Wittikamba, Sipaliwini, Suriname (about 3–3.5 hours drive from Paramaribo, part of it on unpaved interior road). Booking is essential — arrange day trips and overnights in advance via the website, WhatsApp, or by phone (+597 88 00 157); email depthhinterland@protonmail.com. Cash (SRD or USD) is your friend; card infrastructure in the interior is thin. Bring insect repellent with DEET, reef-safe sunscreen, a light rain layer, a towel, and a headlamp if staying over. Mobile coverage is patchy to non-existent, which is rather the point.
Pair It With
- Brokopondo Reservoir viewpoint — On the drive down from Paramaribo, stop at the Afobaka Dam overlook for a sense of the massive lake whose overflow feeds the river you'll be swimming in.
- A Saamaka Maroon village visit — Ask your Bakaaboto guide to arrange a short walk or boat hop to a nearby village — the wood-carving, drumming, and food traditions are the cultural half of what makes this stretch of the river special.
- Paramaribo old town — Bookend the trip with a day wandering the UNESCO-listed Dutch-colonial center before or after — the contrast between the capital's café scene and Bakaaboto's rainforest quiet is the whole story of Suriname in 48 hours.
