Paramaribo, Suriname

Why go?

Suriname’s road signs, maps, menus and official documents may be in Dutch, but after a few hours in this intriguing country you soon realise what an stimulating mash-up of Amerindian, Asian and Creole cultures it is. Almost half the population live in the capital yet its mood is sultry and benign, a place where commuters travel by motorised pirogue (wooden canoes) and streets bear curious names like Mr F H R Lim A Postraat. The most venerable buildings are constructed from the flat red bricks that were shipped over as ballast while the colossal St Peter and Paul Cathedral was constructed using Surinamese cedar. Start your exploring at Fort Zeelandia, which guards the mouth of the Suriname River and has a comprehensive historical museum, then take a stroll in the nearby Palmentuin, a public park said to have 1,000 palm trees.

Don’t miss: A walk around the historic and remarkably intact Inner City, which was granted World Heritage status for its ‘gradual fusion of Dutch architectural influence with local techniques and materials’. Elaborate wooden houses and a mid-18th century street plan create an extraordinary time capsule that needs no guide – just wander and wonder.

Local flavours: Head for the riverfront cafes and restaurants around Fort Zeelandia for a taste of Surinamese cuisine with its many influences including Chinese, Javanese, Jewish and Creole. De Gadri is an easy-going, mid-price option with dishes that combine chicken and spices with noodles, rice or the root vegetable pomtajer (facebook.com/degadrisu).

Our tip: Take a day trip east to Commewijne, home to historic plantations, then visit Nieuw Amsterdam, a former fort and prison. Travel options include by boat, bike and tuk-tuk (orangesuriname.com).

Dutch designs (clockwise from bottom left) The Dutch colonists left their mark on the local architecture, such as this renovated white wooden building in Paramaribo’s historic Inner City; a wooden church in Nieuw Amsterdam, sitting just across from Paramaribo over the Suriname River; Creole women selling fruit and vegetables at a local market; colourful boats waiting on the Suriname River