Jungle Resort Pingpe: Saramaccan Life on the Upper Suriname
A river-side jungle stay where the rainforest, the Saramaccan community, and Chapeau's hospitality set the rhythm.
Why Go
Three hours upstream from Atjoni by korjaal (or a bush plane into Djumu), Pingpe drops you at a handful of thatched cabins facing the wide, tea-dark Upper Suriname River ΓÇö with the Saramaccan village of Pingpe waving from the opposite bank.
The Experience
Founded by local guide Kenpris 'Chapeau' Siesa at the invitation of his tribal chief and the village women's association, Pingpe is less a resort than a doorway into daily Saramaccan life. Days drift between hammock naps on your veranda, dips in the river where kids from Pingpe village are already swimming, and long jungle walks or boat trips into the surrounding rainforest. Cabins are simple ΓÇö single or double beds under mosquito nets, private shower and toilet, and a porch angled at the water ΓÇö but the setting is pure interior Suriname: dense broccoli-green canopy, granite rapids, and evening drum circles carrying across the water.
What to Try
Take Chapeau's guided walk into Pingpe village to meet weavers and woodcarvers, then boat upriver to the Tapawatra Sula rapids on the Gran Rio and the freshwater pools of the Pikin Rio ΓÇö both swimmable on calm days. Ask about a night hike to spot caimans on the riverbank, and don't skip the Saramaccan meal of pom, cassava bread, and freshly caught anjumara served family-style at the resort.
Insider Tip
Book the transfer package that includes the small plane from Zorg en Hoop (Paramaribo) to Djumu airstrip instead of the road-plus-boat combo ΓÇö you'll trade a punishing 4-hour drive to Atjoni and 3-hour boat ride for a 45-minute flight over unbroken jungle, and you arrive with enough daylight to actually enjoy your first afternoon on the river.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Boven Suriname (Upper Suriname River), opposite Pingpe village. Access: ~4 hrs by 4x4 to Atjoni + 3 hrs by motorized korjaal, or ~45 min by charter plane to Djumu airstrip + short boat transfer. Stays are typically sold as 3-, 4-, or 5-day all-inclusive packages via Surinamese tour operators (Tourbox, Waterproof, All Suriname Tours) covering transfer, meals, and guided excursions. Bring cash SRD/EUR, DEET, a dry bag, and reef-safe sunscreen ΓÇö there is no ATM, shop, or reliable mobile signal upriver. Best months: AugustΓÇôNovember (dry season, clearer water, easier rapids access).
Pair It With
- Tapawatra Sula (Gran Rio rapids) — The signature half-day excursion from Pingpe ΓÇö natural rock pools and rapids you can safely swim in with a guide.
- Djumu airstrip transfer — Chartering the small plane in/out of Djumu is the smoothest way to reach the resort and turns the journey itself into part of the adventure.
- Pingpe Saramaccan village visit — The village across the river is the whole reason the resort exists; a guided walk with Chapeau is the cultural anchor of any stay.
- Brownsberg Nature Park — An easy add-on before or after Pingpe ΓÇö waterfalls and howler monkeys in a park you can reach from Paramaribo without another bush flight.