One mountain.
Eight monkeys.
Zero malaria.
A single day carved out of the Amazon: climb a 530-metre lateritic plateau, hike primary rainforest with a naturalist guide, and swim below Leo & Irene Falls — all 150 km from your hotel in Paramaribo.
- Elevation
- 530 m plateau
- Reserve size
- ≈12,000 ha
- From Paramaribo
- 150 km / 3 hrs
- Status
- Open to public & researchers
A rainforest built in layers
Brownsberg isn't one habitat — it's several, stacked. The tour moves through all of them in a single day.
Two plateaus, one range. The upper plateau tops out at 530 m, roughly 473 m above the surrounding lowlands — humid, cloud-brushed, and cooler than Paramaribo. A second, drier plateau sits at 100–150 m.
Everything in between is steep, exceptionally tall forest, broken by ridges of hard laterite crust where the canopy drops low and Myrtaceae trees take over.
The result: seasonally dry forest, seasonally flooded forest, and creek-side forest in the same 12,000-hectare park — which is exactly why researchers keep finding species here that science hasn't recorded before.
How the day unfolds
Pickup in Paramaribo
Your guide collects you from your hotel lobby and heads south. One stop along the way at the old bauxite/aluminium works, plus a bathroom break.
Onto the mountain
Twelve kilometres of red bauxite road switchback up to the plateau — the moment the drive becomes an expedition.
Guided rainforest hike
A naturalist guide leads you through primary and secondary forest, pointing out what's moving in the canopy. All eight of Suriname's monkey species live in this park — keep looking up.
Leo & Irene Falls
The trail opens onto the falls. Bring a swimsuit — the natural spring pools are the reward for the climb, and the best photo you'll take in Suriname.
Lunch at the visitor centre
A picnic lunch and cold drink, with time to rest before the descent.
Back to Paramaribo
Descend the mountain and drive back to the city. Drop-off at your hotel around 7 pm.
A working research station, not just a trail
Brownsberg Nature Park is Suriname's only wildlife reserve open to the public and to researchers at the same time. Students and scientists work alongside visitors here, and new species of frogs, insects and fish are still being described in the park today.
Whether you're here for the waterfall or the biodiversity, you're walking through an active field site — one of the last places in Suriname where that's true.
What's actually in the forest
All eight primate species recorded in Suriname, plus frequent finds of frogs, insects and fish new to science.
What makes it worth the drive
The real jungle, in one day
The only day trip from Paramaribo that puts you in true primary rainforest, not a roadside reserve.
Malaria-free
Brownsberg sits above the malaria zone, so you can hike without prophylaxis.
Nature and action, balanced
Guided wildlife spotting in the morning, waterfall swimming at midday, rest and lunch in the afternoon.
Small groups
Departures run with as few as 3 people, so you're never lost in a crowd.
Fair pricing
From €95 per person for a full day of transport, guiding, entrance and lunch.
Daily departures
Runs every day of the week — no need to build your trip around a fixed schedule.
Pick your pace
- Round-trip transport from Paramaribo
- Naturalist guide & entrance fees
- Picnic lunch & refreshments
- Everything in the day tour
- Overnight at the plateau
- A second morning to hike or rest
- Everything in the 2-day trip
- Extended time in the reserve
- More ground, fewer other hikers
Included
- Round-trip transportation from Paramaribo
- Entrance fees
- Guided nature hike with a naturalist
- Refreshments & picnic lunch
Not included
- Alcohol & personal expenses
Payment
- Bank transfer or cash
Ready for the plateau?
Send us your dates and group size — we'll confirm your departure and everything you need to bring.