Braamspunt Zeeschildpadden
A moonlit river crossing to watch giant sea turtles come ashore
Why Go
There is nothing in Suriname quite like standing barefoot on a dark Atlantic beach while a leatherback the size of a coffee table hauls herself out of the surf to nest. Braamspunt Zeeschildpadden runs the classic evening boat tour from the Waterkant, ferrying small groups down the Suriname River to the sandy spit where green, olive ridley and leatherback turtles come to lay their eggs between February and August.
The Experience
You meet at the little office on Waterkant 5c, right on the riverfront in central Paramaribo, then transfer up to the Leonsberg jetty at the end of Anton Dragtenweg. From there it is roughly 90 minutes by open tent boat, threading past the mangrove-fringed mouth of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers ΓÇö keep your eyes on the water for the pink Guiana dolphins that often surface at the confluence. You arrive at Braamspunt around sunset, share a simple picnic on the beach and wait for darkness. Guides sweep the sand for fresh tracks, then quietly lead the group (max six per guide) to a nesting female. You watch the entire trance-like ritual: the deep body pit, the eggs dropping like wet ping-pong balls, the meticulous camouflaging with the back flippers. It is well past midnight before the boat idles back into Leonsberg.
What to Try
Prioritise a night between May and mid-July if leatherbacks are your goal ΓÇö that is peak season for the giants, which can top 500 kg. Earlier in the year (February to April) skews to green turtles, and you have a better chance of also seeing hatchlings scrambling to the sea if you go later in the season. Ask the guide to show you the difference in track patterns in the sand ΓÇö leatherback tracks look like a small tractor drove up the beach.
Insider Tip
Bring a headtorch with a red-light setting (or tape red cellophane over a normal one) ΓÇö white light disorients nesting females and is strictly off-limits on the beach. Also wear closed shoes you do not mind soaking: the boat lands in shallow surf and you will walk kilometres on soft sand in the dark. Cash SRD for the guide tip is appreciated, as card payment on the beach is obviously not an option.
The Practical Stuff
Office: Waterkant 5c, Paramaribo (bookings and payment). Boat departs from Leonsberg pier, roughly a 15-minute taxi from the city centre. Tours run only in nesting season, February through August, on request with a minimum of four guests; private departures possible. Expect a 6ΓÇô8 hour round trip, typically 17:00 to well after midnight. Bring: water, insect repellent (sand flies at dusk are ferocious), a light rain jacket, red torch, and a change of dry clothes for the ride back. Not suitable for very young children or anyone who struggles with a bumpy small-boat crossing at night.
Pair It With
- 'T Vat Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Grab a hearty pre-departure meal and a cold Parbo on the Waterkant terrace ΓÇö you will not eat properly again until well after midnight.
- 101 Suites Guide — A comfortable central base to crash into after the late boat return, within easy walking distance of the Waterkant meeting point.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — Solid recovery lunch the next day when you finally surface ΓÇö sits close enough to the Waterkant to build a lazy post-tour afternoon around.