You may well be woken by the calls of howler monkeys. Today you’ll be introduced to the tropical rainforest. Even before sunrise, we’ll sail down the river with the engine switched off, so that you can experience nature’s awakening in complete silence and find a lovely spot for breakfast. We will then sail to the starting point of the forest trail to Potihill, an impressive granite hill which you can climb at the end of the walk. During the dugout canoe trip along the Tapanahony River and the forest walk, you’re likely to spot various birds, such as macaws, parrots and toucans, and possibly monkeys or an otter. At the top of Potihill, a magnificent view of the jungle awaits you. After lunch at the lodge, you’ll have an archery lesson in the afternoon with an experienced instructor. It looks simple, but hitting the target is quite an art. Find out if you’re a natural. Dinner will be served at the lodge.

After breakfast, we’ll take you by dugout canoe to the stunning Mabuka Falls for a day of relaxation. You can swim in the river, enjoy a natural massage beneath the waterfall and relax in a hammock. For those looking for a bit more activity, there’s a forest walk through the jungle with interesting facts about the trees, plants and animals you’ll encounter along the way. The surroundings and the delicious barbecue lunch are sure to leave a lasting impression. In the late afternoon, you’ll sail back to the jungle lodge. After dinner, our guide will take you on a trip down the river to enjoy the enchanting sounds of the jungle at night.

Early in the morning, at dawn, you’ll take a short boat trip down the river and enjoy all the sounds of the jungle at dawn. After breakfast, you’ll visit the Palumeu indigenous village, where you can buy traditional, handmade crafts along the way. After lunch, you’ll fly again to the Kajana airstrip, about a 55-minute flight south of Paramaribo. Upon arrival, the lodge staff will take you to the dugout canoe that will carry you across the Gran Rio to your holiday destination. It is a 30-minute boat ride to the Awarradam holiday resort, an island at the foot of the Awarradam rapids. After checking in and meeting the staff, you will enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, you can explore the resort and relax by the rapids, where you will soon recognise the resort’s eco-friendly principles. The jungle lodge is built in traditional style and is run by friendly Maroons from the Saramaccan tribe. The cool evenings make air conditioning unnecessary, but you will enjoy the comfort of a mosquito net. Solar power is used for lighting, and meals are prepared over a wood fire using mainly Surinamese ingredients. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the beautiful Peti rapids, just a few minutes’ boat ride from the lodge, where you can enjoy a lovely water massage and then drift back to the lodge wearing life jackets or paddle back in a canoe. On the first evening, you’ll learn more about this unique area where the Maroons have managed to preserve their ancient West African traditions.

In the early morning, as the first light breaks, you’ll drift peacefully down the river by boat and experience the magical awakening of the jungle. After breakfast, you’ll go on an informative jungle walk to explore the unspoilt tropical rainforest. Your guide will teach you how to identify trees and plants and which animals reveal their presence through their sounds and tracks. After lunch, you’ll visit the spectacular Peti rapids, where you can spend the whole afternoon swimming, paddling in a dugout canoe and relaxing in a hammock overlooking the rushing waters. After dinner, your guide will share even more fascinating stories about the unique flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest.

Before sunrise, you’ll walk through primary rainforest to the riverbank, where you’ll set off upstream. After about half an hour, you’ll switch off the engine and drift back with the current, whilst taking full pleasure in the sounds of the jungle and the wildlife. On your return to the lodge, breakfast will be waiting for you, after which you’ll have the morning free until lunch to explore the lodge and the surrounding rapids or to be pampered at the traditional Jungle Spa on the island. After lunch, you’ll travel half an hour downstream to the local community. Along the way, you’ll see how the river forms the lifeblood of the local community: you’ll see people fishing, washing clothes and doing the washing-up, and between the inhabited areas you can enjoy nature and, with a bit of luck, even spot a caiman on the bank. From the jetty, you’ll take an extensive walk past various villages, where you’ll gain a good insight into daily life in a Maroon village. At sunset, you’ll sail back to Awarradam.

In the early morning, at dawn, you’ll take a short boat trip down the river and experience the jungle waking up in complete silence. After breakfast, you can go for another paddle in a dugout canoe, have a swim or simply enjoy the sounds of the jungle in peace and quiet.