In the far north-east of Suriname the Marowijne River, which forms the border with French Guiana, meets the Atlantic. The beaches at its mouth form the Galibi Nature Reserve, established in 1969, one of the most important nesting grounds for sea turtles in the western Atlantic.
Beside the reserve are two villages of the Kaliña, the Carib Amerindians of the coast: Christiaankondre and Langamankondre, together known as Galibi. Visitors stay here in simple guest lodges and go to the nesting beach by boat after dark.
Top things to do: Galibi
Watch turtles nest
In season, rangers lead small groups along the beach at night. Leatherbacks — the largest turtles on Earth, well over a metre and a half long — and green turtles haul themselves up the sand, dig, lay and return to the sea. Olive ridleys and hawksbills are rarer. Later in the season you may see hatchlings run for the surf.
Stay in a Kaliña village
By day the villages are quiet: sandy lanes under coconut palms, fishing boats, cassava being grated and baked. Local women sell pottery and beadwork. It is a chance to meet Suriname’s first peoples on their own ground.
The river journey
The boat ride down the wide Marowijne from Albina, with France on the far bank, takes an hour or more and is part of the appeal. Boats often pause at river beaches or mangrove islands for birds.
How to get to Galibi
- Road from Paramaribo to the border town of Albina (about 140 km, two to two and a half hours), then by boat downriver to Galibi (one to one and a half hours, depending on tide).
- It is normally done as a two-day, one-night tour arranged by a Paramaribo operator or directly with a village lodge. No Galibi tour is currently listed on GetYourGuide.
- Closer to the city, turtle trips also run to Matapica beach from Commewijne in season.
Insider tips
- The season runs roughly from February to August, with leatherbacks peaking around April to July. See when to go.
- No flash and no white torchlight on the beach — light disorients turtles. Follow the ranger’s instructions and keep behind the animal.
- Nesting depends on tide and moon, and no night is guaranteed. Two nights double your chances.
- Lodging is very simple. Bring cash, repellent, a light rain jacket and a red-filtered torch if you have one.
Tours: Galibi
GetYourGuide lists only a handful of Suriname tours. These are the real, bookable ones most relevant to Galibi:
Multi-day trip from €796 3-Day Tour of the Suriname Interior, All Inclusive
The only multi-day trip into the Surinamese interior on GetYourGuide. Three days out of Paramaribo with transport, meals and accommodation included: river travel, a village stay, caiman spotting after dark and a try at piranha fishing. Read the day-by-day programme on the listing to see exactly where it goes.
- Transport, meals and accommodation included
- Night-time caiman spotting
- Piranha fishing and village life
River trip from €79 French Guiana: Day Trip to Cacao via the Comté River
For travellers heading east into French Guiana: a day on the Comté River to the village of Cacao and its well-known market. It starts near Cayenne, a long way from Paramaribo, so plan it as part of a French Guiana leg rather than as a day trip from Suriname.
- Boat trip on the Comté River
- The market of the Hmong village of Cacao
- Small group
