Local time is GMT -3 hours.
Electrical current ranges between 110 volts and 230 volts, 60Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.
The official language is Dutch. The local creole language, Sranan Tongo, is also widely spoken.
Malaria medication is recommended for those visiting the provinces of Brokopondo and Sipaliwini. Vaccinations are recommended for all travellers for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and yellow fever, and those planning to eat outside restaurants and hotels may want to consider a vaccination for typhoid. Travellers arriving from infected areas require proof of a yellow fever vaccination to enter Suriname. There is a risk of yellow fever in Suriname.Tap water shouldn't be drunk unless it has first been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected. Medical facilities are extremely limited in Suriname and travellers are advised to have comprehensive travel health insurance. All required medications should be taken along in their original packaging and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor detailing what they are and why they are needed.
Local culture in Suriname is relaxed and friendly, but strictly patriarchal. Women are expected to dress conservatively. It is customary to greet a new acquaintance with a handshake and a good friend with a hug. It is polite to remove your shoes when entering someone's home. Ask permission before photographing government, military buildings, or any landmark considered to be holy.
The international dialling code for Suriname is +597. Mobile coverage is adequate in towns and cities, but is limited in more remote areas of the interior. Internet cafes are available in major towns.
Visitors to Suriname may import the following goods duty-free: 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; two litres of alcohol; perfume for personal use; and other goods up to the value of SBD 400.
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