Rod's Tours & Travel
A family-run Paramaribo outfitter turning Suriname into a tailor-made adventure
Why Go
Tucked into a low-key storefront on Kochstraat, Rod's has spent more than two decades quietly threading together the jungle lodges, riverboats, and neighborhood characters that most first-time visitors to Suriname never know exist. You walk in with a rough idea; you leave with a hand-built itinerary that reads more like a friend's recommendation than a brochure.
The Experience
The office is unassuming ΓÇö a small counter, a wall of laminated maps, and a family of agents who greet regulars by name in Dutch, Sranan Tongo, and English. That informal feel is the point: rather than pushing you toward a fixed package, the team asks what you actually want out of Suriname ΓÇö a Maroon village on the Upper Suriname River, a sea-turtle nesting beach at Galibi, the birdsong of Brownsberg, or just a lazy day trip to Commewijne's coffee plantations ΓÇö and then quietly stitches together transport, guides, lodging, and permits so the pieces line up. Expect a lot of paper printouts, a lot of phone calls in your presence, and a level of local know-how that no booking website replicates.
What to Try
Ask about their multi-day Upper Suriname River trips to Maroon-run lodges like Awarradam or Danpaati, the sea-turtle season packages up to Galibi (FebΓÇôAug), and the shorter Commewijne day loops that pair a river cruise with rum-distillery and coffee-plantation stops. If you're short on time, a half-day Paramaribo city tour with one of their guides is the fastest way to understand the wooden UNESCO old town.
Insider Tip
Walk in rather than emailing ΓÇö response times over email can be slow, but in person the team will happily rearrange an itinerary on the spot, quote in SRD or euros, and tip you off to which lodges have space that week. Bring cash for deposits, and ask them to bundle your domestic MAZ or Gum Air flight into the booking so you're not chasing separate confirmations.
The Practical Stuff
Koch Straat 11, central Paramaribo, a short walk from the Waterkant and the Palmentuin. Office hours are typically MonΓÇôFri 08:00ΓÇô17:00 and Sat 08:00ΓÇô13:00, closed Sunday; call +597 434 671 to confirm before visiting. English, Dutch, and Sranan Tongo spoken. Payment in SRD, euros, or USD; card acceptance is limited, so plan to pay deposits in cash. Book multi-day interior trips at least a week ahead in high season (FebΓÇôApr, JulΓÇôAug).
Pair It With
- 'T Vat Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Grab a Parbo beer and a bami on the terrace after your planning session ΓÇö it's a two-minute walk and the go-to meeting spot for travelers comparing notes on interior trips.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — Round out the day with a hearty Chinese-Surinamese dinner nearby, a local favorite for big-portion comfort food before an early-morning departure to the interior.
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient central base that puts you within walking distance of Rod's office, so you can drop in twice ΓÇö once to plan, once to collect tickets ΓÇö without crossing town.
- 88 Car Rental Suriname Guide — If your Rod's itinerary includes self-drive days to Brownsberg or Commewijne, this nearby rental desk pairs neatly with their tour bookings.