Car Rental Suriname & Parsoe Autoverhuur
A local Kwattaweg rental outfit that hands you the keys to Suriname beyond the city limits
Why Go
Suriname rewards travelers who wander ΓÇö the coastal Commewijne plantations, the red-dirt roads to Brownsberg, the sleepy fishing villages of Nickerie ΓÇö and none of it runs on tour buses. Parsoe Autoverhuur (also trading as Car Rental Suriname) is one of the independent, family-run rental outfits on Kwattaweg that quietly keeps that kind of trip within reach for anyone who prefers a local counter over a global chain badge.
The Experience
The setup on Kwattaweg is deliberately low-key: a small yard just off the main road heading out toward Kwatta Markt, a handful of well-kept sedans and compact SUVs, and staff who actually know which stretches of road are potholed after the last rains. Paperwork tends to be quicker than at the airport chains, and because they're locals in a compact city, they can usually meet you at a hotel in Paramaribo-Noord or hand off keys with a WhatsApp confirmation rather than an hour of forms. It feels less like a rental transaction and more like borrowing a car from a well-organized cousin.
What to Try
Pick something with decent ground clearance if you're planning to head south of the Afobakaweg ΓÇö Suriname's paved network thins fast once you leave Paramaribo. For city-only stays, a small sedan is plenty and easier to park around the Palmentuin and Waterkant. Ask specifically about weekend rates and whether the vehicle can cross into French Guiana or Guyana; policies vary and it's worth confirming before you build an itinerary around the AlbinaΓÇôSaint-Laurent ferry.
Insider Tip
Kwattaweg isn't in the tourist core, so plan the pickup around traffic ΓÇö the road into central Paramaribo clogs badly between 7 and 9 a.m. Grab the car mid-morning, fuel up at the Kwatta station before heading out (stations get sparser once you're past Lelydorp), and take a photo of the odometer and every existing scratch before you drive off. Cash in SRD is still king for tolls, roadside warungs, and the Meerzorg ferry queue, so hit an ATM before you leave the city.
The Practical Stuff
Located on Kwattaweg in the Kwatta area of Paramaribo, roughly 15 minutes northwest of the city center and about an hour from Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport. You'll want a valid driver's license (an international permit is smart but not always required for short stays), a credit card for the deposit, and to confirm rates and availability directly ΓÇö this is a small operator, so booking by phone, WhatsApp or their Facebook/Instagram (@parsoe_autoverhuur) is faster than any aggregator. Driving is on the left, a Dutch colonial holdover that surprises first-time visitors.
Pair It With
- Kwatta Markt — Grab fruit, bara, and a cold Fernandes for the road just minutes from the rental yard before pointing the car out of town.
- Commewijne plantation loop — An easy half-day self-drive across the Wijdenbosch Bridge to Frederiksdorp and Peperpot ΓÇö exactly the kind of trip that's a headache without your own wheels.
- Brownsberg Nature Park — A ~2.5-hour drive south past Brokopondo Lake; having your own vehicle means you can leave at dawn and skip the pricey tour transfers.
- Waterkant & Palmentuin, Paramaribo — Return the car for an evening stroll along the Suriname River waterfront and the historic UNESCO-listed old town.