Unlike most sightseeing hot spots, Nieuw-Nickerie offers a welcome break for the serious tourist. With a rich and long history, it boasts of a treasure trove of sightseeing locales and a diverse list of monuments. Testifying examples are the Roman Catholic Church, mosque, Hindu temple, and bust of Mahatma Gandhi. Its unique street plan resembles a checkerboard.

Bigi Pan, the large marshland located east of the river Nickerie, is a bird watcher’s paradise. A breeding ground, it attracts many migrating feathered visitors in winter. It also has a rich marine life.

The market, festooned with colours, is worth a visit. The casinos and discs ensure that the city animal feels at home. Experimental gourmands may relish the local delicacies kwikwi and iguana. Travellers need not be anxious about running out of money; in Nickerie, they can use their foreign bank cards and credit cards to draw money up to the equivalent of US$ 350.

Paramaribo boasts a rich mix of architectural styles, thanks to the many cultures that make up the population, including the Roman Catholic cathedral, a huge mosque, Hindu temples in Koningst...