Day 1
You will be collected in the morning between 8.00 and 8.30 am from your accommodation in the centre of Paramaribo. The journey by bus to the small dugout canoe harbour of Atjoni takes approximately 2½ hours. On the way, you’ll enjoy Suriname’s colourful culture and pass through small villages and settlements of indigenous people and Creoles. Once you arrive at Atjoni, you can stretch your legs and enjoy lunch whilst the dugout canoe is loaded for the boat trip to Jungle Resort Pingpe. After lunch, you’ll sail for around 3.5 hours along the beautiful Upper Suriname River to Pingpe, although the duration depends partly on the water level. During this journey, you’ll see many villages along the river and enjoy the surroundings, whilst observing how local residents go about their daily activities, such as doing the washing, catching fish and children playing in the water.After being welcomed at Jungle Resort Pingpe and settling into your lodge, you can swim in the river or relax on the island. You will then travel by boat to the village of Pingpe for a village walk, where you will meet the locals and see how they live and spend their days. After dinner, you’ll meet the local staff, and the guide will tell you more about Saramaccan culture, the language, interesting facts about the island and the surrounding area, and give you a preview of the next day’s programme.
Day 2
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll walk with your guide through the unspoilt forest and past the villagers’ fields. Along the way, the guide will tell you all about the various medicinal plants, trees and animals, and share insights into the customs of the jungle. You’ll see how the villagers work hard to grow their own food on their small plots of land. After this enriching walk, you’ll return to the resort for a delicious lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and enjoy a refreshing swim in the river. After dinner, you’ll set off on an evening trip by dugout canoe. The guide will let the boat drift with the current, so you can enjoy the silence and the enchanting sounds of the jungle, the starry sky and the chance to spot caimans.
Day 3
After breakfast, you’ll travel by dugout canoe to the village of Asindohopo on the Pikin Rio, home to the Granman people. During a walk through the village, you’ll visit the local radio station and get a glimpse into the daily lives of the villagers. You will then travel to the stunning Tapawatra Sula, a natural rapids where you can swim and enjoy a natural massage pool. You will enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on one of the rocks in the rapids. On the way back to the resort, you’ll visit the Djumu health centre with your guide – an important medical facility for the wider area. After dinner, the local people will host an evening of culture featuring song, dance and rhythm. The women from the village will become increasingly enthusiastic as you and your fellow passengers actively join in this convivial evening. (For groups of 4 people or more)
Day 4
Early in the morning, you will travel by dugout canoe to the village of Semoisi to visit the local primary school, where children from both villages attend classes. After this visit, you will return to Jungle Resort Pingpe for breakfast. You will then travel by korjaal to Djumu for a walk through the Ananas Mountains, a mountainous area renowned for its pineapples and offering stunning views of the natural surroundings. After this walk, you’ll return to the resort by korjaal for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is entirely at your leisure at the resort. Your final evening will conclude with a cosy campfire on the island, where fascinating stories will be told.
Day 5
After breakfast, you will travel downstream by dugout canoe to Atjoni, a journey of around 2.5 hours. En route, or once you arrive in Atjoni, you will enjoy a delicious lunch, after which you will board the bus for the approximately 2-hour journey to Paramaribo.