Sameer Transport en Car Rental
Family-run wheels and airport pickups on Rietbergplein ΓÇö your low-key key to exploring Suriname beyond Paramaribo.
Why Go
Sameer isn't a shiny international counter with kiosk queues and hidden fees ΓÇö it's a small Surinamese outfit tucked at Mr. L.J. Rietbergplein 1, where a driver with your name on a sign meets you at Zanderij and a Toyota Vitz or a seven-seater Voxy can be waiting at your hotel by breakfast. For travelers who want the freedom to chase Commewijne's plantation road, drive out to Brownsberg, or just avoid the Paramaribo taxi shuffle, this is the operator locals actually recommend.
The Experience
Walking into the Rietbergplein office feels more like meeting a neighbor than checking in with a rental chain. The team runs both a car rental fleet and a full transport service, so you can mix and match ΓÇö grab a Toyota Vitz for a solo city week, book a driven Noah for a group day trip to Commewijne, or arrange a straight airport transfer with a name-sign pickup at Johan Adolf Pengel International (Zanderij) 45 km out of town. The fleet leans Toyota (Vitz, Ractis, Auris, Allion, Wish, Noah, Voxy) with a Prado and Isuzu D-Max pickups for anyone heading toward the interior or the Afobaka road. Vehicles are delivered to hotels around downtown Paramaribo and the Torarica corridor, and the same phone that books your car will also help you troubleshoot a flat tire at 10 p.m. ΓÇö Sameer runs a 24/7 hotline for exactly that.
What to Try
For a two- or three-day loop, take a Vitz or Ractis (about US$245/week including liability insurance) and drive the Commewijne River road out to Frederiksdorp and Peperpot Nature Park ΓÇö it's an easy day and something taxis quietly overcharge for. Group of four or more? Book the Toyota Noah or Voxy seven-seater (around US$385/week) and split the cost heading to Brownsberg Nature Park or Bergendal. If you'd rather not drive left-hand-side traffic on Surinamese back roads, ask for a chauffeured day tour instead ΓÇö same fleet, Sameer's own driver.
Insider Tip
Reserve airport transfers at least 48 hours ahead and confirm your flight number ΓÇö Sameer monitors arrivals, so even if you're delayed at Schiphol, your driver will still be waiting at Zanderij with a name card. If you land last-minute, call the hotline rather than emailing; bookings inside 24 hours are handled by phone only. And bring your International Driving Permit ΓÇö they'll ask for it before handing over keys, and a Dutch or U.S. license alone won't clear the paperwork.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Mr. L.J. Rietbergplein 1, Paramaribo (central, walkable from the Palmentuin and the Waterkant). Hours: daily 8:00ΓÇô17:00, with a 24/7 emergency hotline. Phones: +597 421567 / 421568 and +597 0899-7260. Payment: USD cash deposits of US$250ΓÇô500 depending on the vehicle; liability insurance included, all-risk available as an add-on. Airport transfers run about US$50 for 1ΓÇô3 people, US$75 for 5ΓÇô6. Drop-off and pickup at your hotel is standard, not an upsell.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A quiet, walkable-from-Rietbergplein base for your first night ΓÇö arrange a Sameer airport pickup straight to the door, then collect your rental in the morning.
- 'T VAT Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Grab a Parbo beer and a bite two minutes from the office while you wait for your car to be delivered ΓÇö classic expat-and-locals hangout on the same block.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — A dependable Surinamese-Chinese dinner spot nearby, perfect for the night before an early Zanderij transfer when you want something fast and filling.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — Rent one of Sameer's pickups or a Noah, load up friends, and drive out to their river base ΓÇö the kind of half-day trip that only really works if you've got your own wheels.