Good Time to Visit
Weather
The weather in Suriname is hot and humid all year, cooled by the northeast trade winds. The best time to visit is during either the long dry season (August to October) or the short dry season (February to April).
The rainy seasons last from May to July and from November to January. As Suriname lies outside the hurricane zone, the most extreme weather condition is a heavy rain shower known as the sibibusi (forest broom).
Visitors are advised to bring lightweight clothing and rainwear.
More information on the Surinamese weather can be found in Climate in Suriname.
Festivals
Festivals in Suriname celebrate the major events in the Christian, Hindu and Muslim calendars. The colourful End of Surifesta welcomes the new year with dancing and musical performances. Carnival, in February/March, is a riotous time. Independence Day is 25 November.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Suriname:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| February/March (variable) | Holi (Phagwa) or Festival of Colours |
| March/April (variable) | Good Friday |
| March/April (variable) | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 1 July | Abolition of Slavery Day |
| 25 November | Independence Day |
| 25-26 December | Christmas |
| Variable* | Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
* Although Muslim holidays always fall on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date they are celebrated on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, due to the fact that the Islamic calendar is lunar whilst the Gregorian calendar is solar. Because this lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days usually shift 11 days earlier each successive solar year. The method used to determine when each Islamic month begins also varies from country to country.
