EXPEDITIONS JOIN US ON A LIFE CHANGING ADVENTURE

With 93% forest cover, Suriname is the greenest country on the planet. With only half a million inhabitants that means Suriname is mostly unexplored.
If you are not bound to lodges, and prefer to immerge into nature, you will be able to explore these remote jungles with us!
Sleeping in a hammock at some of the most stunning and pristine locations in the interior, filled with wildlife!

Expeditions of a life time! What will your next adventure be?

DECEMBER 3rd – 16th, 2024

14 DAYS

MARCH 18th – 27th, 2025

10 DAYS

On request

5 DAYS

Preparation is key IT IS IMPORTANT TO START YOUR EXPEDITION WELL PREPARED

Adventures such as a jungle expedition might be physically demanding and mentally challenging and therefore it is of major importance to be well prepared. If you are well prepared and know what you can expect you will be able to focus on the beauty of nature and enjoy it to the fullest!

Gear & packing

Make sure you have all the required gear in order to have a comfortable expedition and a pleasant experience. If you are only planning to use it once, you might be able to borrow it from friends or family. Some gear you can borrow from us. If you will use it more often it might be useful to buy them yourself. Make sure you have the right hiking gear, you can carry it comfortably and your belongings stay dry in the humid conditions.

For advice you can contact us as well.

Weight

Weight of the gear you are taking is of major importance during an expedition. At first you might prefer having an extra t-shirt, but in the end of the expedition all of them will be smelly anyway. The weight of your backpack will have major effects on your fitness and mobility during the expedition. If you have a choice between the same product but one if lighter, always choose the lighter one. You will have your personal gear to take with, but beware that overall necessities for the group, such as food, will also be divided over the expeditioners.

Transport

Many of the expeditions take place in remote areas which are only accessible by helicopter or small airplanes. These airlines can be very strict on weight per person and their kit. Make sure you have provided your own personal weight to us so you can receive proper instructions on the total weight everyone is allowed to carry with them.

What gear will I need?

Your personal gear is important for your own comfort. The right hiking gear, but also to make sure you can carry it comfortably and your important stuff stays dry in the humid conditions.

Boots

For many non-tropical expeditions hiking boots are advised. In the tropical rainforest we will not hike long distances per day as the vegetation is dense, soil soft, the land rugged and the weather conditions humid. The humid conditions in our tropical rainforest can make it very challenging to get your shoes dry after they get wet. It is not healthy to have your feet exposed to the constant humidity. Therefore we advise you to have rubber boots with plenty pairs of fresh socks and a small bottle of baby powder. This combination will keep your feet dry and healthy! Once we have set up camp you will want to take of your boots and step into some easy flipflops and let your feet breathe a little bit!
Backpack

A good quality and sturdy backpack is your best friend during an expedition. Make sure it has enough space. Are you a minimalist then 60L might just be sufficient, some more space in your backpack increases the comfort; it does not have to be fully filled. If you are fit and tall up to 110L can be used in the jungle. Larger than that will be unhandy manoeuvring through the dense vegetation. Make sure your backpack has proper waist bands as you do not want to carry all this weight on your shoulders. A rain cover will keep most of your gear relatively dry but mostly; it will keep the rain from making your bag very heavy.
Drybags & Daypack

Rain in the tropical rainforest can be compared with submerging your backpack completely. Therefore it is important to make sure your gear is safe and sound in there. Some people prefer one big drybag, other subdivide their kit into multiple drybags. Sometimes we set up camp and make small hikes from there. Now you will only bring your camera and some water, so a (waterproof) daypack might come in handy!
Clothing

The jungle has many insects and possibly irritating leaves. Therefore it is important to always wear trousers! In the humid conditions you would prefer quick dry and light weight clothes. Long sleeved shirts are not a must but can be comfortable for some people. Tank tops are not advised as your backpack will leave marks on your bare shoulders whilst hiking. After a long sweaty day, you will need to freshen up, so don’t forget a quick drying towel!

Food and sleeping

After long and possibly physically demanding days it is important that you will have good night’s rest! Dry clothes and a warm night are therefore a must. Make sure you always have one set of dry clothes. Nights in the jungle can be cold so it is advised to have some comfortable sleeping pants, long sleeved (thermal) shirt, dry underwear and a small sleeping bag or proper warm blanket. And always store them in a separate drybag!

Hammock & Tarp

Every night we will set up camp on a place preferably near water so you will be able to clean yourself up before getting into the hammock. This will be your bed during most of the expedition, so make sure it is of good quality, comfortable, clean and lightweight! You want to sleep in a dry bed when it rains and out of the wind when its windy. A lightweight tarp will be your best friend in this case. If you do not have this gear yourself you will be able to borrow it from us. A poncho might come in handy during heavy rain showers, but could also be very comfortable to use as a groundsheet for your stuff underneath your hammock.
Electronic gear

Need to pee at night? Or go for a night hike? Looking for wildlife on a nocturnal boat trip? One of your best friends on this trip will be your headlight. Make sure you have a proper one with an option to recharge, or with plenty of extra batteries. Make sure you have a backup headlight or flashlight, you don’t want to be without.

Optionally you can bring your camera or/and phone. We won’t have any reception but capturing these amazing moments are worth a lot!

Recharging your gear can be a challenge. Depending on the location we will have little to no opportunities to recharge your electronic devices. Bringing one or multiple power banks will be of great help. Nowadays there are plenty of power banks available that can be solar charged, we’ve been using these for quite a while.
Water
Food

We will provide cooking pots and food. Beware that all the food has to be carried and last the whole expedition, so don’t expect culinary delights. We will eat mostly vegetarian foods based on foods such as oats, kwak (cassava) that will fill your belly well. You will probably lose some weight during the expedition. If you have any nutritional demands, allergies etc. please let us know in time!
Soap
Additional Items

Some people are more sensitive to insect bites then others. Insect repellent could be of use for some people. But be careful as it washes off paint from e.g. clothes, water bottles and even your camera! Especially if you will spend time on boats or along rivers, sunscreen, cap, sunglasses and water shoes might come in handy. If you’d like to take a closer look at the wildlife; don’t forget your binoculars!

Other considerations

Weather

Suriname’s tropical climate always has a high humidity and warm temperatures. Depending on the elevation and the amount of rain, temperature can get to about 17 °C at night. A hammock doesn’t store any heat, therefore nights can still feel kind of chilly. During the day its usually warm and up to 35 °C in the sun. But in the forest usually between 23 °C and 27 °C.
Delay

Many expeditions start and/or end with a helicopter or airplane flight to the interior. Flight cannot always be performed during or after heavy rainfall. Some airstrips are also not accessible after heavy rainfall. Therefore take into account that the departure of the trip might be delayed. That also applies for the return day.
Emergency

If you require any specific medical attention make sure you notify the organization in time. Bring your EpiPen if you have any extreme allergies such as bee/wasps or peanuts. Bring your own specific medication if you are diabetic or asthmatic.

The team will always bring an extensive medical kit during expeditions. Medical accessories such as bandages, disinfectants and plasters for cuts and burns. Several kinds of pills such as anti-diarrhea, painkillers, allergy pills, ORS and dextrosis are added for systemic effects. Sterilized needles will be available for removing thorns or opening up bumbs on the skin.

Very few areas in the interior of Suriname have cellphone reception. A satellite phone or inReach will always be brought on expeditions in case of emergencies so a contact person can be informed. This contact person will possess all the information of the participants and their contact persons in case of emergency. Before departing on the expedition it is necessary to share your contact persons information with the organization.

Small cuts and burns are very common during these expeditions. It is always wise to bring some basic first aid yourself, band-aids, disinfectants, tweezers etc. Bring your own specific medication if you are diabetic, asthmatic or other medication that you often require.
Insurance

If you require any specific medical attention make sure you notify the organization in time. Bring your EpiPen if you have any extreme allergies such as bee/wasps or peanuts. Bring your own specific medication if you are diabetic or asthmatic.

The team will always bring an extensive medical kit during expeditions. Medical accessories such as bandages, disinfectants and plasters for cuts and burns. Several kinds of pills such as anti-diarrhea, painkillers, allergy pills, ORS and dextrosis are added for systemic effects. Sterilized needles will be available for removing thorns or opening up bumbs on the skin.

Very few areas in the interior of Suriname have cell phone reception. A satellite phone or inReach will always be brought on expeditions in case of emergencies so a contact person can be informed. This contact person will possess all the information of the participants and their contact persons in case of emergency. Before departing on the expedition it is necessary to share your contact person’s information with the organization.
Navigation

The team will always carry a GPS and use navigational apps on the cellphone. Apps like Gaia GPS, Alltrals, Outdooractive etc. can help if you would like to track the routes yourself. We would advise you to download this free app and download the map for the specific area beforehand.
Meet and greet

Are you ready!?

Such an expedition is not only the experience in the field. But also the process towards it. Preparing all your gear, is also preparing your mind! We’ve experienced that these kind of travels are often a life-changing experience. Making you more grounded, respectful to nature and aware of the beauty of this world.

Are you up for an adventure of a lifetime?

GROUP SIZE

We only run expeditions when the minimum group size is reached and, unfortunately, will need to cancel if this is not the case.
However, we always do our best to reach the required number, and if a tour is cancelled, you’ll receive a full refund.
Alternatively, you can choose to book a private expedition for an additional cost.

Unlock Nature

YouTube Video UCENBxtRuGBVlSuP3l6XtbNA_MDUEDKhdpiU

Join us on an unforgettable adventure deep into the untouched wilderness of Suriname! In October 2023, our Lucie River Kayak Expedition took us deep into untouched nature, paddling through beautiful rivers and spotting amazing wildlife. This aftermovie captures the best moments of the journey. Perfect for nature lovers and those looking for an adventure. 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCENBxtRuGBVlSuP3l6XtbNA?sub_confirmation=1 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝘀: https://www.instagram.com/unlocknature.tours/ https://www.facebook.com/unlocknature.su/ #Nature #Wildlife #Travel #Adventure #HiddenGems #EcoTourism #Suriname 00:00 Intro 00:03 Helicopter ride 00:10 Expedition details 00:23 Expedition 02:08 Outro

Lucie River Kayak Expedition: Into Suriname's Wilderness | October 2023

Attempting a world First Record! We're on day 3 and are meeting constant obstacles of Rapids ans Logs.

The relentless obstacles we have to cross with our Kayaks!

As we were settling in for the night, a caiman was spotted lurking in the waters nearby. 🐊 But the real thrill came when Dick found a little caiman in the creek nearby. Just another wild night in the heart of Suriname! 🌿 Stay tuned, this expedition is full of surprises!

Night-time Surprise: Caiman Encounter at Camp!

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Unlock Nature provides professional guided jungle tours in the Suriname wilderness.
Book your tour or expedition today for an unforgettable adventure.

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