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Jodensavanne

Jodensavanne

8:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
8:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
8:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
8:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
8:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8:15 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles117 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
41
Average
19
Poor
4
Terrible
3

Gdel_12
Brussels, Belgium24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2012 • Friends
Marina Da Costa offers a great day trip to Joden Savannah. Her family is steeped in Jewish Surinamese history so she is the ideal person to have you show around. First, by car to Overbridge, then a lovely trip on the river, a visit to her family plantation and then a walk around Joden Savannah. She is enthusiastic, interesting and entertaining- definitely worth your while!
Written December 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MRMinSF
Berkeley, CA508 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jodensavanne is a relic of Suriname's plantation past, the remnants of a semi-autonomous Jewish enclave from the mid-17th Century along the Suriname River, 50 km from Parimaribo.

Today's visitor will be most interested in what's left of a synagogue as well as numerous tombs. There is also a small "fountain of youth" spring with historical significance to local Amerindian communities. The synagogue is said to be the oldest in the western hemisphere. The area is managed and maintained by the Foundation for Jodensavanne in cooperation with the village of Redi Doti, a nearby Carib Amerindian village.

The typical route to Jodensavanne involves several hours by car from Parimaribo, a trip complicated by a collapsed bridge over the Suriname River. While ferry service is generally reliable, extended waits of up to 2 hours may be required in either direction. With the notable exception of the broken bridge, the road is in decent condition the entire way.

Entrance is SRD10 per person.

The grounds are well-kept but are not extensive. A 30-minute walk through gives the casual visitor adequate coverage of the available points of interest. As such, this can be a long drive for not much time at the destination. Those interested in spending additional time at Jodensavanne might wish to pack a picnic lunch and bring a swimsuit to dip in the river (ask your guide for advice about safety).

Take caution when following the steps down to the river - they can be hazardously slick.

Travelers with an interest in Jewish history will certainly want to include this stop in their Suriname itinerary - ensure that your tour operator supplies a guide with adequate knowledge of the area and the history here.

Note that it is possible to visit Jodensavanne by charter boat - quality time on the river culminating in a visit here could be a great daylong excursion.

My primary reason for being in Suriname was to explore the rainforests and learn about indigenous cultures (Amerindian, Saramaccan, etc). So, for my purposes, this wasn't a highlight stop. I can imagine for other types of travelers, it may be a more rewarding destination.

I'm listing this as "recommended" in light of the site's historical significance and overall good condition of the grounds. I suggest potential visitors carefully weigh their options and time limitations when considering visiting here, however.
Written April 13, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rachel R
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2015 • Friends
We were a group of 11 people (of which 9 residents) who made this superb trip to Joden Savanne with Marina Da Costa, our tour guide.
She provided us with awesome information about the old Jewish Settlement. It is a wonderful experience to hear about the Surinamese history (apart from history class ;-)) and see it come to life. Marina has her special way of explaining our beautiful history. Moreover, the history about Joden Savanne is her own story, because she comes from one of the oldest Jewish families in Suriname.
I enjoyed every part of the trip and I would highly recommend this trip with Marina Da Costa to everyone, including residents.
Enjoy the Joden Savanne trip with Marina Da Costa and be richly blessed!
Written March 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

spiegelaar
Breda, The Netherlands145 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2018 • Friends
We visited Jodensavanne by boat, a delightful 2 hours cruise from our starting point south of Paramaribo.
The site is indeed a bit mysterious, as only a large cemetery remains plus the ruins of the synagogue. There are no remains anymore of any of the former plantation houses.
However we had the great advantage of a excellent guide for this visit who told us about the fascinating stories of Jodensavanne and its former residents.
The graves themselves are unique and tell the stories of the deceased via the tombstones.
Written December 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HBINDC
Miami Beach, FL31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2015 • Couples
We took a guided day trip from Paramaribo to Jodensavanne. The historic site was very interesting. It was brought to life by our guide Marina de la Costa. She provided excellent background information and really made the site come to life.

She had a neat trick in the Cemetary. The gravestones were quite difficult to read. However, after she spread a little flour over the letters, they became much clearer.

All in all it was a very worthwhile outing.
Written February 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

IslandDreams10
Deltona6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2013 • Solo
If you find yourself in Paramaribo, be sure and check out Tours with a Flair and Marina Da Costa's trip to Jodensavanne. You will have a wonderful day on the river as well as tour the Jewish settlement. She is a wealth of historical information about the Jewish settlers as well as Suriname. It is her personal touch that makes this day special. Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, this trip will be a true blessing to you.
Written July 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carina H
Sydney, Australia29 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Family
We had the place to ourselves when we visited recently. There is excellent information about the former Jewish settlement and the buildings in both English and Dutch. A small museum with pictures and information about Jewish settlement across the whole of the Carribean. Well worth reading, especially if you have read any of Cynthia McLeods books on Suriname.
Written January 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nieske Halim
The Netherlands172 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Couples
it is about one hour drive from Paramaribo. All that is left are the remains of a synagoge and a graveyard.
Written April 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GinnyPlacitas
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Couples
My husband and I had a day to visit Paramaribo and made the perfect choice-a personal guided tour with Marina Da Costa to Jodensavanne. Marina knows this region better than most-she's a descendant of one of the earliest settlers in this area. The region is very personal for Marina and she made us feel personally involved also. I felt at home and very comfortable the entire day. Marina also puts a very personal touch on everything she provided for the day. She also provides other tours-in & out of Paramaribo. We highly recommend her.
Written September 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

949bas
Utrecht, The Netherlands2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2015 • Couples
Today Marina da Costa showed us the Jodensavanne. Back in our guesthouse, we are still impressed by this mystic historical must-see.
The trip was very wel arranged with delicious food and beverages and also Marina is a nice company to have :) We received lots of information, not only about the Jodensavanne but also broader about Jewish culture and about Surinam. Definitely a recomendation!
Written May 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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JODENSAVANNE (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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