How to Visit Brownsberg Nature Park: Suriname’s Slice of Amazonian Paradise
Visiting Brownsberg Nature Park is one of the best things you can do while traveling through Suriname. Located just an hour and a half outside the capital, this stunning stretch of Amazon rainforest is packed with wildlife, waterfalls, sweeping viewpoints, and a raw, off-the-beaten-path energy that is genuinely hard to find anywhere else in the world.
Whether you are looking for a day trip from Paramaribo or want to spend a night waking up deep in the jungle, Brownsberg Nature Park deserves a spot on your list.
This guide covers everything you need to know before you go – from how to get there and where to stay, to what to see, what to pack, and what to expect on the ground.
Want to save the article for later? Pin it!
*Please note that this blog post may contain some affiliate links, which we make a small profit on, at zero cost to you. Links are only used on products & services that we’ve used and believe in, to give you the best buying experience. Purchasing from these links helps us to continue providing free travel guides for you- so thank you for your support!
Our Travel Planning Recommendations
The Basics for Visiting Brownsberg Nature Park
If you are planning a visit to Brownsberg Nature Park, it helps to understand what makes this place so special before you dive into the logistics.
Brownsberg is not a polished, tourist-ready destination with paved paths and souvenir shops. It is a real, raw slice of the Amazon – with muddy trails, dense jungle, howler monkeys, and waterfalls you feel like you discovered yourself. That is exactly what makes it worth the trip.
⭐️ Why Visit Brownsberg Nature Park?
Brownsberg Nature Park is one of the most rewarding nature experiences in all of South America, and it remains surprisingly under the radar. While other Amazon destinations have become increasingly crowded, Brownsberg still has the feeling of genuine wilderness. You are unlikely to run into large tour groups here.
The park sits on a plateau above the Brokopondo Reservoir, which means the views from the top are absolutely stunning – a seemingly endless stretch of green rainforest canopy meeting open water on the horizon. The park is home to an incredible variety of wildlife including toucans, parrots, howler monkeys, armadillos, and if you’re lucky, tapirs.
On top of all of that, it is one of the most accessible pieces of true Amazon rainforest you can visit anywhere. You don’t need a week-long expedition to get here. You can leave Paramaribo in the morning and be standing under a jungle waterfall in just a few hours.
📍 Where is Brownsberg Nature Park Located?
Brownsberg Nature Park is located in the Brokopondo District of Suriname, near the small town of Brownsweg. It sits approximately 110 km (68 miles) south of Paramaribo, making it an easy drive or bus ride from the capital.
The park is managed by STINASU (Foundation for Nature Conservation in Suriname) and covers around 84,000 hectares of protected rainforest. The plateau itself sits at about 500 meters above sea level, which gives it a slightly cooler and breezier climate than the lowland jungle – a nice relief from Suriname’s heat.
How to Get to Brownsberg Nature Park in Suriname
Being just an hour outside the capital, it is one of the most popular things to do when in Suriname. Here are the different options of getting to Brownsberg Nature Park from Paramaribo.
🚌 How to Get to Brownsberg Nature Park with Public Transportation
To get to Brownsweg, there is a bus from the main station in the center that goes a few times a day. The schedule changes all the time, so we suggest asking the day before. Once you are in Brownsweg, you will then have a 4-hour hike.
We’re going to go into detail about our personal experience, because at the time of our visit the Suriname we didn’t have any options but to go on our own.
Are you in a rush?
Get got you! Save it on Pinterest to read it later.
Save to Pinterest
🚕 Getting to Brownsberg Nature Park with Private Transportation
Another option is private transportation, which you can get at a tour agency (of course this will be the most expensive option). Despite the price, this will be best for those who want comfort, and who don’t want to stress about figuring it out on their own. This will also save you from having to do the super long hike (4 hours each way) through the jungle to get there.
Renting a 4×4 is a great option, and was only $20-30/day! (Keep in mind this was in 2019, so prices may have changed). We think this is the best option if you are in a bigger group and are a confident driver, as it’ll give you flexibility and prevent you from having to do the 4-hour hike.
Unfortunately there wasn’t any availability when we were there, so we definitely suggest booking in advance if this is the route you’d like to go.
🚐 Taking a Tour to Brownsberg Nature Park
Having a local guide is honestly the best idea when visiting Brownsberg. Not only does it take the stress out of transportation logistics, but it also supports locals and provides valuable insight into the rainforest.
Booking ahead is highly recommended, since there are limited tours available.
Our Experience Going to Brownsberg Park in Suriname
It was the weekend when we went and since we waited last minute, all of our options had run out for the day. We suggest booking in advance if you want to rent a car (must be a 4×4), or going to the bus station the day before if you would like to get a schedule for the following days.
We ended up hitchhiking! There is only one straight highway for most of the way, so it wasn’t too difficult. Once you arrive in Brownsweg (the town), it is just a tiny village.
We hitchhiked to the town of Brownsweg.
➡️ Arriving in Brownsweg
Once you arrive in Brownsweg town there is then a long dirt road that is a 4 hour uphill hike. In the heat this can be pretty intense, and at night quite scary. It is also very bumpy, which is why if you choose to drive you must get an SUV.
We hopped on a local’s ATV for half the way which saved us some time! But we got pretty lucky, being that it was during sunset hours, so after that there wasn’t much traffic going down that road at all. We definitely suggest going early do you don’t have to hike in the dark like we did!
The road to Brownsberg Nature Park in a 4 hour uphill hike.
⛺️ Staying Overnight at Brownsberg Park in Suriname
When you finally arrive to the park, there is just one place that you can stay. We wouldn’t say it is by any means luxurious, but it does the job. We suggest bringing food to cook breakfast in the morning. The hours are very limited, and there was barely anyone around when we went. We actually got yelled at for showing up at the ungodly hour of 8:00 pm!
There are a few options when it comes to lodging. The cheapest of course is staying in a shared room where you can hang your hammock, for 50 SRD (about $7 USD). The most expensive option is the lodge for 1,400 SRD (about $188 USD) which is if you plan on going in a very large group.
There is an additional charge for park entry for 30 SRD ($4.50 USD), which you can pay to the owner of the lodge. Listed below is the chart of all prices.
The prices of staying at Brownsberg Park in Suriname
We also had lunch there and it was fantastic. Only $7 for amazing portions and tasty locally spiced food. The options are very simple, but all the flavor is there!
The food on site is simple but tasty.
Exploring Brownsberg Nature Park in Suriname – Things to See
We went to two waterfalls, which fell under the same main path. The trail was located right off of the main road, after leaving the place that we stayed.
💧 Ireneval Waterfall
This was the more beautiful waterfall, and took about an hour and half to get to. All you need to do is follow the signs, and generally, keep right.
Ireneval was our favorite part of Brownsberg Park in Suriname.
💧 Leoval Waterfall
On our way back to the main road, we decided to check the other waterfall, which was only 5 minutes off the main path on the way back. From the starting point of the trail, it is about 45 minutes-an hour.
Leoval is the first waterfall, and isn’t as full as Ireneval.
🤩 Mazaroni Viewpoint
Right outside the accommodation is a small trail that takes you to a beautiful view of the park. It takes only about 10 minutes, and has a nice shaded bench area to sit and enjoy the views.
On the way we also saw this cool abandoned house!
Macaroni has a great viewpoint and a cool abandoned house.
Final Things to Know About Visiting Brownsberg Nature Park in Suriname
Now you know all about visiting Brownsberg Nature Park in Suriname – but don’t go yet! We have a few other helpful things to share with you.
🦺 Staying Safe at Brownsberg Nature Park
Brownsberg Nature Park is part of the Amazon, and there can be dangerous animals like poisonous snakes around. It’s important to always be aware of your surroundings, and never approach wildlife.
Remember to listen to the park rangers, use bug spray, and explore only when it’s light out.
For a trip like this, we highly recommend using travel insurance – we always use Safety Wing and highly recommend it! It’s super affordable and easy to set up.
🔙 Traveling From Brownsberg Park Back to Paramaribo
The last bus back to Paramaribo is at 12:30 each day from the main road. You can try to catch a ride with someone heading into town, but make sure that it is a favor, as they tried charging us. If you don’t get a ride, the walk will be a fun 3 hours back to town (at least it’s downhill!)
🌳 Heading Further Inland
We had a friend staying with us that had a much longer time to spend in the country, so he decided to venture deeper into the rainforest. If you go down the main highway, there are small villages on the river that we heard are really cool!
If you’d like to even get more adventurous, you can go even further south. But how if the road stops? That’s right, there are boats that can take you down the river where you will find villages completely disconnected from everything! It doesn’t get more authentic than that right?
Brownsberg Nature Park is one of the best things to do while in Suriname, and definitely deserves an overnight trip to be able to wake up in nature and enjoy all that the park has to offer.
Upgrade Your Inspo
Get the best travel tips, tricks, and hidden gems sent directly to your inbox. You’ll become a better traveler, week after week.
Upgrade Your Inspo
Get the best travel tips, tricks, and hidden gems sent directly to your inbox. You’ll become a better traveler, week after week.
🎒 Packing For a Trip to Brownsberg Nature Park
Here are some of the things you should keep in mind to pack when visiting the park:
- Sneakers
- Swimsuit (if you want cool off at the waterfall)
- Towel
- Bug Spray
- Sunscreen
- A change of clothes
- Insulated water bottle
- Simple foods such as sandwiches and snacks
- Hammock (if you want to spend the night on a budget)
- Wipes (in case you get dirty or need to go to the bathroom in nature – please dispose of your products in a trash bin or bring them with you!)
- Power bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
Want to save the article for later? Pin it!
👀 What’s Next?
Now that you know all about visiting Brownsberg Nature Park in Suriname, you’ll probably want to know more about exploring this area of South America!
Here are some other guides we have about the Guyanas:
🇸🇷 Suriname travel guide
🚗 How to travel to Suriname from Guyana
🚌 How to travel from Suriname to French Guiana
🚤 Traveling from French Guiana to Brazil
🇬🇾 Guyana travel guide
🇬🇫 Things to Do in Cayenne, French Guiana
Visiting Brownsberg Nature Park in Suriname is a great way to experience an off-the-beaten-path adventure, without having to venture too far from capital. We definitely think it is one of the top things to do in the country, and something to add to your list while traveling throughout the area.
Planning on traveling through the Guyanas or to other spots throughout the continent? We have plenty of South American travel guides to help you through your travels.
Need help planning your trip? Scratch Your Mapa now offers custom made travel itineraries and detailed travel services so that you can enjoy more, and worry less!
Here are some other articles you’ll love:
Like this article? Please share it with your family and friends, so that we can continue to keep creating free travel guides for you! It takes just a second, and would mean the world to us. Thanks for being here!
One Comment
Comments are closed.