Suriname
Jungle Survival Expedition
Take on one of the most hostile environments on the planet!
Mission Order
Have you ever dreamt of confronting one of the most hostile environments on our planet? If so, I challenge you to survive the Amazon rainforest of Suriname, the densest and most inaccessible jungle.
You'll travel up rivers in dug-out canoes, fish if you want to eat, get by on water, sleep surrounded by fearsome creatures and kayak for miles between endless calm waters and fearsome rapids in an extreme climate. Once you've set off, quitting won't be an option. Good luck.
February-April, August-November. 9-11 days 8-10 nights ( average )
Program
Welcome to the Green Hell
Arrival in Suriname. Preparation for departure on mission.
You can stay a few days before and/or after the expedition if you wish. Paramaribo is a great town to visit and party in.
Departure for the mission
You will set off overnight towards the Amazon rainforest. After driving for several hours until you reach the last village on the river, you will board pirogues that will take you as far as possible.
The mission begins.
Take a pirogue up the river
The first part of the mission will take place by pirogue. It will probably take you several days on the river going upstream, sometimes having to unload the boats and cross parts on foot carrying everything, before you reach the drop point in the middle of the densest forest in the world.
Learn to survive
You'll make the most of the first few days in the canoe, while you still have some energy left and won't lose it paddling, to learn the basics of jungle survival: how to fish with or without fishing gear, how to set up a survival camp, how to find water, what plants you can eat and what plants or living creatures can get you into trouble...
You'll be in the hands of the best. Even if you already have plenty of survival experience, the jungle of Suriname is very special, so don't rest on your laurels or take the mission lightly.
Kayaking through the jungle
Now you're in the middle of nowhere on your own. There's no turning back and no giving up possible. Now it's time to continue the mission by kayak. You'll be paddling dozens of kilometers a day in extreme heat. You'll have to manage your energy and efforts to paddle, fish, set up camp and fight hunger. You may have to make several passages on foot through the jungle to avoid waterfalls or other obstacles. This could add several hours or even days to the mission.
Every evening you'll set up camp, which will also be the best time for fishing and hunting.
This part will take as long as you want, 4 days, 7 days or 2 weeks, depending on your pace.
Back to civilisation
Congratulations, you've survived the jungle and risen to the challenge. Now it's time to head back to Paramaribo to put on the pounds you lost at McDonald's and get healthy again.
You can stay in the country for a few extra days if you wish.
Included
- Transfer to and from the airport
- Transport throughout the country (4x4, pirogue)
- Kayaks and related technical equipment
- All camping and survival equipment required
- Beacons and GPS phones
- Emergency food rations
- The services of your mission guide
- Follow-up and advice on organizing and on taking your flights
Not included
- Return flights to and from Suriname
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, snacks, etc.)
- Tips for local staff
- Entry visa: €25
- Accommodation in Paramaribo (I will provide you with more information)
- Personal insurance (you will be subject to a liability waiver)
Mission Overview
FAQ
You will need a valid passport.
To enter Suriname you will need to obtain a visa, which costs around €25. You will need to apply a few days before your trip on the website :https://suriname.vfsevisa.com/suriname/online/home/index where you will apply for your E-Visa. There are a lot of problems with the platform, and you may arrive in the country without a visa because the site was not working. In this case you should explain your situation to customs (they're used to this) and they'll tell you what to do once you arrive in the capital Paramaribo. You can contact me if you have any problems with this.
The yellow fever vaccine is compulsory for this region. I invite you to make an appointment at your nearest travel vaccination centre/tropical medicine centre to discuss and allocate the recommended vaccines. COVID just in case.
Take out your own travel insurance. You'll sign a liability waiver.
You are responsible for yourselves.
I'll talk to you personally to make sure you've got everything you need, depending on where you're from.
I'll send you a packlist in due course! All the technical equipment for the expedition will be available on site, but if you'd rather take a few personal items like your own hammock or something, you can of course bring it with you.
The price of this trip varies according to the number of people and includes the items listed above:
- From 2250€ for 4 persons or more
- From 2450€ for 3 persons
- From 2950€ for 2 persons
Many adventurers like you dream of living the most impressive and incredible experiences. Only, it's more fun with friends and makes for unforgettable memories to share. But when it comes to extreme expeditions, it's sometimes hard to find friends who are ready to experience the unthinkable and step out of their comfort zone. That's why I've created a Facebook group"les sunlights des tropiques" where you can find ‘Travel Buddies’ and share your best moments, ask questions and get advice!
You'll sleep in a hammock in the middle of the jungle. As far as Paramaribo is concerned, I can advise you on where to stay, depending on what you want.
This is an expedition in an extreme environment. You'll be paddling for hours on end every day and fighting hunger. I'd advise you to prepare yourself as little as possible physically to make the experience less painful, but the most important thing for this mission will be your mind. Anyone can attempt the mission, but you have to be fully aware of how difficult it is and that you won't be able to give up because you'll be lost in the middle of nowhere.
So to answer the question, you need to be in good physical condition, but not a top-level athlete. The most important thing is in your head
I can send you a training programme if you like.
I recommend that you visit your doctor beforehand for a check-up and explain the expedition to him or her. Discuss putting together a medical kit with all the equipment, medicines and other items you need to prevent as many physical and health problems as possible. For example, it would be a good idea to take a course of probiotics before setting off...
YES.
First of all, the choice of river. All my expeditions can be adapted to suit your needs. For this mission, I'm focusing on a region of the country that's right in the centre of Suriname, but it's possible to carry out this mission on other rivers or in other regions and adapt the terrain if, for example, kayaking isn't really your thing. There are thousands of rivers in Suriname, so we can discuss the options together. Of course the price will be re-evaluated according to your request.
As far as food is concerned, you can change the difficulty level of the mission in this respect. You have the choice of doing it without food in total expedition mode, or completing the mission, but taking all the food with you for every meal and concentrating on the exploration part instead. Anything's possible, just let me know your preferences.
Suriname is a strange country. It's surprisingly developed in some ways, but also very medieval in others.
Withdrawing money and paying in Suriname :
It is almost impossible to pay by bank card/Visa in Suriname. Most establishments do not accept foreign cards. They prefer MasterCard and cash. The problem is that there are only 2-3 hidden banks in the capital where you can withdraw cash with your Visa, and not just any Visa, and as these are the only terminals for foreigners, they are often emptied of all traces of cash. The rest of the ATMs will not accept foreign cards.
I'd advise you to open a free account with Revolut, which specialises in bank cards that are ideal for travelling (we can discuss this together).
I'd also advise you to bring American dollars or euros, which you can exchange at the country's bureaux de change. They use the Surinamese dollar. 1€ = 35$S.
Take all this into consideration and prepare yourself well, because it's easy to find yourself stranded without any money in this country.
They speak Dutch. It is the country's official language, but don't worry, most Surinamese speak English, even in the most remote parts of the country.
As with every country in the world, you have to be careful where you step. The mission takes place in the heart of Suriname. Where you are, there will be no one but you. You will encounter no sign of human life for the duration of the expedition. What will be most dangerous will be the natural elements, nature and physical strain. You're embarking on an expedition in an extreme environment, so there will be danger, but you'll learn to tame it.
As for the capital Paramaribo, it's really safe and the atmosphere of this strange little town is pleasant.
You'll be in the best hands, and everything will go perfectly smoothly as long as you respect the place and its inhabitants.
If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them. You can contact me by email, by message on Whatsapp or we can also call each other.
your mission if you choose to accept it...
I want to customise my expedition to the jungles of Suriname
Let's talk about finding the best solution for your tailor-made assignment!