Beyond Tapawatra to the Gran Dan sula
Four days on Kumalu Dream Island, on the Upper Suriname River
Three days are good. Four are better. The four-day tour at Kumalu Dream Island adds something the three-day version doesn't have: the Gran Dan sula. About 45 minutes upriver from Tapawatra, deeper into the Upper Suriname River, there are rapids that outdo everything you've seen before. On top of that come a village walk and, water levels permitting, a boat trip on the river after dark.
Day 1 — The long way to the island
You leave Paramaribo early for a three-hour bus ride to Atjoni. There you transfer to a korjaal, a traditional dugout canoe, for a four to five hour trip up the Upper Suriname River. Along the way you pass Maroon villages, rapids and endless rainforest. When you arrive at Kumalu Dream Island there's time to explore, get into the water, and then dinner by the river.
Day 2 — Ananasberg and Tapawatra
After breakfast you head into the forest towards the Ananasberg. The climb asks something of your legs, but the view from the top makes up for all of it. In the afternoon you travel to the Tapawatra sula. Swim, relax, and let the water do the work. If the water level allows, the evening ends with a boat trip on the river after dark.
Day 3 — The Gran Dan sula
Today you go further than most visitors get. By korjaal (wooden boat) you travel around 45 minutes beyond Tapawatra towards the Gran Dan sula. These rapids are bigger, rougher and more impressive than anything you saw on day two. Swim if you dare, watch if you'd rather. Depending on the day, a village walk is on the programme as well.
Day 4 — Back to Paramaribo
The last morning is yours. One more swim, one more lungful of that quiet. Around 06:30 you leave by korjaal back towards Atjoni, followed by the bus ride to Paramaribo. You arrive back in the city in the afternoon, a good deal quieter than you left.
Included:
Bus and boat transport both ways, all meals and drinks, accommodation on the island, forest walk, visits to the Ananasberg, Tapawatra and Gran Dan sula, village walk and a night-time boat trip depending on water levels.
Not included:
Alcohol and personal expenses.
The order and content of the activities may vary depending on weather or water levels. The river level changes with the season and can differ considerably from year to year. Your guide adjusts the programme where needed, always with your safety and experience in mind.
Highlights
Gran Dan sula
Beyond Tapawatra, the largest rapids on the route
Village walk
A look at daily life along the Upper Suriname River
Ananasberg
A climb through the rainforest, rewarded with a view across the canopy
Tapawatra sula
One of the finest sets of rapids in the Surinamese interior
Night-time boat trip
Out on the river in the dark, depending on water levels
Photos
Grietjebie tip: The Gran Dan sula depends on the water level, so ask about the season when you book. Worth the trouble of finding out, because at the right level this is the finest moment of the whole trip.
Prices
Four days, two sulas and a beautiful island
Practical Info
Address
Djumu, Suriname
Atmosphere
Adventurous and relaxed
Duration
4 days / 3 nights
Departure
Central Paramaribo, 08:00
Group size
Minimum 2 people
Price
2 people €390 p.p. 3 or more people €350 p.p.
Reviews
Echt een heerlijk weekend gehad! Het eiland ligt in de prachtige natuur van Suriname. Gio is een uitstekende gastheer en niets is te veel gevraagd! De huisjes zijn voorzien van fijne bedden met klamboes en een eigen badkamer met douche en wc. Gio nam ons mee de jungle in en wist heel veel te vertellen over de bomen planten en dieren die in de jungle te vinden waren, ‘s avonds nam hij ons mee om nacht dieren te spotten langs de rivier en overdag was er tijd om te vissen, te zwemmen en watersport te doen. Ik raad deze trip aan iedereen aan die een kijkje wil nemen in het binnenland van Suriname!
(Marieke Hopman) via Google Reviews
Fantastische plek als je de echte Surinaamse jungle wilt beleven. Gio is heel vriendelijk en heeft veel kennis van de natuur. Het eiland is van alle gemakken voorzien en niks is te veel gevraagd!
(Janneke Jacobs) via Google Reviews
Wat een geweldige plek. Ruim 3 uur varen over de Suriname rivier. Eenvoudig, maar supermooi. Zeer vriendelijke staf. Prachtige omgeving. Prima eten. Andere wereld.
(John K) via TripAdvisor
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Four to five hours on the water along the Upper Suriname River, past Maroon villages and rapids, and then the island appears. Kumalu Dream Island sits in the middle of the river, surrounded by rainforest and the kind of quiet you never find in Paramaribo. This three-day tour is built around two highlights: the Ananasberg, a climb that rewards you with a view you don't see coming, and the Tapawatra sula, one of the finest sets of rapids in the Surinamese interior.
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