There is much truth in the Surinamese self-definition about their country: the ‘beating heart of the Amazon’. The small South American state lies at the convergence of rivers, and lush rainforests cover a great part of the country. However, its cultural diversity is the most interesting in Suriname: its population is made of descendants of indigenous Amerindians, West African slaves, Chinese, Javanese and Indian workers, and Lebanese, Jewish and Dutch settlers.

Suriname once was the last Dutch colony in South America, and the colonial past can easily remarked as you walk on the streets of its capital, Paramaribo. This city is a unique blend of Dutch architecture and the jungle. Grassy squares are lined with black and white colonial buildings, and the spicy aromas coming from the Indian roti shops mingle with the smell of car exhausts. Somber Dutch forts and maroon artists selling colorful paintings, mosques and synagogues standing near each other, and everybody is proud of their rich multi-ethnic background. The inner city of Paramaribo is listed on the Unesco World Heritage site since 2002.

There is a gripping contrast in Suriname: while Paramaribo seems to be more like a modern city, not far away begins the untamed jungle where the western amenities of civilization are nowhere to be found. Transportation is convenient on the coastal areas: the road system is good, therefore tourists can go everywhere using buses or cars.

However, those who want to visit the interior of the country have no choice but to use light aircraft. There are 50 small airfields in Suriname served by local air charter companies. Most trips into the jungle will also include some traveling with a local dug-out canoe. In the jungle, the only means of transportation are the aircraft, the canoes.

Suriname was once part of a large Dutch colony in South America that included large parts of Brazil and most of the Guianas. The Netherlands got into conflict with Britain and France, and lost everything, except Dutch Guiana and a few Caribbean islands.

In the 19th century many Hindustanis, Indonesians and Indians came to Suriname to work on plantations. Suriname became a self-governing state in 1954, and gained its independence in 1975. In the ’80-s and ’90-s there was quite a lot of political turmoil in Suriname, with military coups and elections held ahead of schedule.

These days ecotourism makes one of the most important incomes of Suriname, with strong government support. Visitors can choose from a wide selection of jungle adventures, out of which trekking with a guide is the most popular. The guide explains how different trees and plants are used in the day-to-day live of local people. Suriname has 700 species of birds, so bird watching is also very popular. Great mudflats and mangrove swamps, with savannah and rainforests create a very diverse habitat for all kinds of plants and animals.

There are also opportunities for tourists to stay for a few days in a traditional Amerindian or Maroon village. Besides the specific activities, travelers can choose from a wide range of outdoor activities, from mountain biking to fishing, diving, rafting or canoeing, horse riding and turtle watching.

Isabella Olsen is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide, including many European countries by car. To book a car rental Estonia, or learn more about car rental worldwide, visit www.zencarhire.com