Cars Plus N.V.
Paramaribo's low-key key handover to the Suriname beyond the city
Why Go
Suriname rewards travelers who wander ΓÇö the red-dirt road up to Brownsberg, the Javanese warungs along the East-West Highway, that quiet river beach past Domburg. Cars Plus is the family-run rental office on Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat that quietly makes all of it possible, without the airport-counter chaos or the surprise-fee sting.
The Experience
Walking into Cars Plus feels less like a corporate rental desk and more like collecting keys from a well-organized neighbor. The office sits on Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat, a short hop from the historic center, and the vibe is efficient-Dutch-meets-Caribbean-friendly: paperwork is quick, English is spoken alongside Dutch and Sranan Tongo, and the fleet of 30-odd vehicles is genuinely well-kept because they run their own service department out back. You'll see economy hatchbacks lined up next to muddy-but-mighty 4WD pickups still wearing the dust of somebody's Brownsberg run. Ask for free pickup or drop-off inside Paramaribo city limits and they'll usually oblige, and the 24/7 emergency hotline is a real one ΓÇö reassuring when you realize how empty the road to Apoera gets after dark.
What to Try
If you're sticking to Paramaribo, Nieuw Nickerie runs, and the coastal highway east toward Albina, a small automatic sedan or compact SUV is plenty and easy on fuel. But if you have any ambition of reaching the interior ΓÇö Brownsberg Nature Park, Berg en Dal, the bauxite-road detours toward Atjoni for a korjaal ride upriver ΓÇö book a 4WD pickup or a high-clearance SUV. Rainy-season potholes on the unpaved stretches are not a rumor. Long-term leases (weekly or monthly) are noticeably cheaper per day than daily walk-up rates, so if you're staying more than a few days, ask about the lease pricing rather than the tourist rate.
Insider Tip
Suriname drives on the LEFT (a colonial holdover) but most of the cars have the steering wheel on the LEFT too ΓÇö an odd combo that catches first-timers out at roundabouts and when overtaking. Do a slow lap around the Palmentuin block before heading out of town to get your bearings. Also: fill the tank at a Chevron or GOw2 station before leaving Paramaribo ΓÇö service stations thin out fast once you're past Paranam, and the ones deep in the districts sometimes only take cash SRD.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat, Paramaribo (near the Rode Kruislaan intersection, ~10 min walk from the historic waterfront). Reservations via their website or by phone are strongly recommended in high season (JulΓÇôAug and around Christmas/Carnival) ΓÇö the good 4WDs go first. Major credit cards accepted, but keep some SRD cash for tolls and rural fuel stops. You'll need a valid driver's license from home; an international permit is a nice-to-have but not always required for short stays. Free pickup/drop-off within city limits; Zanderij (PBM) airport transfers can be arranged for a fee. 24/7 emergency hotline included with every rental.
Pair It With
- 'T VAT Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Grab a cold Parbo and a broodje right around the corner before you hit the road ΓÇö a Paramaribo tradition and a good spot to plot your route.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — Once you have the 4WD, drive out to their river base for a half-day on the water ΓÇö exactly the kind of trip that's impossible without your own wheels.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — A solid Chinese-Surinamese dinner nearby to celebrate a successful pickup (or a safe return) ΓÇö hearty portions after a day behind the wheel.