597SpeedUp Watertubing: Suriname's Adrenaline Rush on the Water
Grip the handles, hold your breath, and let Suriname's rivers do the rest.
Why Go
Paramaribo is a city of colonial verandas and long, lazy afternoons, but 597SpeedUp exists to shake you out of that rhythm. The +597 in the name is a wink at Suriname's country code, and the 'SpeedUp' is a promise: this is where visitors trade the walking-tour tempo for a speedboat, an inflatable tube, and the wide brown water that makes this country feel more Amazon than Caribbean. Based out of a small operational base on Saturnusstraat in the Ma-Retraite district, the crew ferries small groups out to open water for a session of tubing, splash-downs, and the kind of belly-laugh chaos that turns strangers into a group chat by sunset.
The Experience
You arrive at Saturnusstraat expecting a proper reception counter and instead find something more Surinamese: a low-key meet-up, a friendly rundown in Dutch or English, and a short transfer to the water. Once the boat throttles up, the guide reads the group like a DJ reads a floor ΓÇö mellow arcs for first-timers, hairpin cuts for the ones egging them on. You skim across coffee-coloured water framed by mangroves and the odd wooden jetty, the humidity peeling off you as the wind takes over. Between runs, everyone flops into the boat, gulps water, and points at whatever bird just cut across the tree line. It's not a polished theme-park operation; it's a small-country outfit that lives and dies on repeat customers and word-of-mouth, so the vibe is loose, personal, and unmistakably Surinamese.
What to Try
The classic single tube ride is the entry point ΓÇö one person, two handles, and a driver who is very interested in whether you can stay on. Groups usually escalate to a double or triple tube so friends can wipe out in sync, which is objectively funnier than wiping out alone. Ask about a longer 'circuit' run if the water is calm ΓÇö a wider loop that trades sharp turns for a proper cruise and better photo opportunities. Bring a waterproof phone pouch or a GoPro-style mount; the crew is used to helping guests film runs, and the golden-hour light on the river is stupidly good.
Insider Tip
Book late-afternoon rather than midday. The equatorial sun over open water at noon is punishing, and the wind picks up in the late afternoon so the ride feels faster without the boat actually going faster. Message ahead on WhatsApp ΓÇö Surinamese businesses run on WhatsApp far more than on email or web forms ΓÇö and confirm the day before, because sessions get shuffled around river conditions and rain. Wear a rash guard or a t-shirt you can ride in; a bare-back wipeout on a tube at speed is a lesson you only need once.
The Practical Stuff
Saturnusstraat 25 sits in the Ma-Retraite neighbourhood of Paramaribo, roughly a 10ΓÇô15 minute taxi from the city centre and Waterkant. There's no walk-in traffic to speak of, so treat the address as a meeting point rather than a shop ΓÇö always confirm the launch location, since the actual water session may run from a jetty outside town. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen (reef-safe if you have it), a dry bag for phones and wallets, and cash in SRD for tips; card facilities are inconsistent. Minors and non-swimmers are usually fine with a life vest, but flag it when booking. Sessions are weather-dependent ΓÇö heavy rain or high wind will push you to another slot.
Pair It With
- Waterkant and the Palmentuin — After an afternoon of getting thrown around on the water, drift along Paramaribo's riverfront promenade and wander into the palm garden ΓÇö a slow, shaded counterweight to the boat's chaos before dinner.
- 'T Vat Sidewalk Cafe Guide — The default post-activity debrief spot in Paramaribo: cold Parbo beer, a covered terrace, and the kind of people-watching that lets a wet, sunburned group decompress without changing out of flip-flops.
- Commewijne River plantation cycling tour — If the tubing hooks you on Suriname's rivers, spend the next morning on the opposite bank cycling old Dutch coffee and cacao plantations ΓÇö same water, completely different pace.
- Fort Zeelandia and the Presidential Palace square — A short, air-conditioned dose of Surinamese history the day after tubing, when your arms are too sore to grip a handlebar but your curiosity is up.