Okido Travel & Tours: Your Local Gateway to Suriname's Wild Interior
A homegrown Paramaribo tour operator turning first-time visitors into converts of Suriname's rainforest, rivers, and Creole capital.
Why Go
Suriname doesn't have a tourism machine ΓÇö it has people like the team at Okido, running a small office on Verlengde Keizerstraat who'll pick up the phone, sort out your permits, and put you in a 4x4 heading south before most travelers have even figured out the ATM situation.
The Experience
Tucked into a modest storefront a few blocks off the Waterkant, Okido Tours & Travel N.V. is the kind of family-run agency that quietly holds Suriname's inbound tourism together. There's no glossy showroom ΓÇö just a desk, a coffee pot, and staff who actually know the difference between the dry-season Brownsberg trail and the muddy December version. They handle domestic packages (binnenlandse tours) covering the classics ΓÇö Brownsberg Nature Park, Bigi Pan's flamingo-flecked mangroves, Commewijne plantation loops, and multi-day trips deep into the Marowijne and Upper Suriname River regions to visit Maroon and Indigenous communities. What sets them apart from the bigger, more polished operators is flexibility: they'll build a custom itinerary around your dates, your budget, and how much sweat equity you're willing to invest, and they can bundle transfers, boat legs, guides, and lodge nights so you're not stitching logistics together yourself. English, Dutch, and Sranan Tongo are spoken; expect an unhurried, conversational booking process rather than an online checkout.
What to Try
Ask about their Brownsberg day trip if you're short on time ΓÇö a 2.5-hour drive south, then a rainforest hike to Leo Val or Irene waterfall for a plunge pool swim. For a full contrast, book the Bigi Pan boat-and-lodge overnight in the northwest, where you sleep in a stilted hut and drift through mangroves at sunrise. Anyone with 3+ days should push for a Kabalebo or Upper Suriname River package ΓÇö canoe transfers, jungle lodges, and evenings around the fire in a Saramaccan village. If you'd rather stay near Paramaribo, their Commewijne bike-and-boat combo (across the river to former Dutch coffee and cacao plantations) is the easy win.
Insider Tip
Book in person or by WhatsApp rather than email ΓÇö Suriname runs on relationships, and a 10-minute chat at the desk will usually unlock a better price, a spare seat on a departing group tour, or last-minute lodge availability that never shows up online. Bring cash SRD or euros; card infrastructure for tour deposits is patchy, and USD is accepted but at a less favorable rate.
The Practical Stuff
Located at Verlengde Keizerstraat 13, a short walk from the historic city center and Fort Zeelandia. Weekday office hours are typical for Paramaribo (roughly 8:30ΓÇô16:30, closed Sunday) ΓÇö confirm by phone before showing up on a Saturday. Multi-day interior trips often require booking 3ΓÇô7 days ahead to secure lodge beds and internal charter flights, especially in the JulyΓÇôOctober dry season and around Christmas. Bring insect repellent, quick-dry clothing, and a headlamp for any overnight jungle trip; most lodges provide bedding but not much else.
Pair It With
- 'T Vat Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Classic Paramaribo terrace a short walk away ΓÇö perfect for a cold Parbo beer to celebrate booking your jungle trip or to debrief once you're back.
- 101 Suites Guide — Central, well-priced base within easy reach of Okido's office, so you can handle bookings, packing, and airport transfers without crossing town.
- 88 Car Rental Suriname Guide — If you want to combine a guided interior tour with self-drive coastal exploration (Commewijne, Nickerie), pairing Okido's expertise with a rental adds serious range.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — Reliable Chinese-Surinamese spot nearby for a hearty pre-departure meal before an early-morning pickup to Brownsberg or Bigi Pan.