Amatopo Rainforest Retreat

For a pure jungle experience on the Corantijn River

Visit to Amatopo Rainforest Retreat
Today I'm leaving for Amatopo. This is an indigenous village deep in the southwest, situated on the Corantijn River, the river that forms the border with Guyana. The accommodation Amatopo Rainforest Retreat is part of Vortex Aviation Suriname, and therefore, the flights are operated by a Vortex aircraft, piloted by the owner himself. I get to fly up front next to him.

There's also a young man coming along who's been hired for maintenance work. He's flying for the very first time today. We wait together in the waiting room and chat a bit about this and that. Coincidentally, his mother's name is also Suzette. She gave birth to TC when she was 14! It's nice to hear that TC isn't repeating history. He's 25 and has already made many wise decisions, which is why he hasn't had any children yet. Now he's moving back inland because the city doesn't energize him.

arrival Amatopo
After about a two-hour flight, we arrive at the Amatopo airstrip. We're welcomed by Jeroen and Eddy, who coordinate the tours and accommodations at Amatopo. The accommodation only opened to guests this year, and there's still some work to be done, but it's a start! I get to sleep in one of the Hilltop rooms with a fantastic view of the mighty Corantijn River. It's a very peaceful setting, and the jungle is breathtakingly beautiful here.

First exploration
Because I normally plan 5- or 7-day trips, Jeroen and Eddy created a tight schedule to give me as many impressions of the area and the activities as possible. So, after arriving, we immediately set off on a beautiful hike through the forest. It's striking that we spot very few animals or birds. Just goes to show, there's never a guarantee. A pair of macaws flying overhead is our reward for the day. After dinner, we take a boat trip in the dark. We enjoy the beautiful night and thousands of stars in the sky, but even now it's remarkably quiet, and we only see a sleeping kingfisher.

The village of Amatopo
The alarm goes off at 6:30! Ready for a day with a full schedule. We're going to see all the places that guests normally spread out over several days. First, we'll visit the village of Amatopo. The visit to the school, in particular, touched me. The school was established only three years ago. Before that, the children didn't receive any education. The "jungle teacher" Chyvaika has thrown herself into this adventure. It's her very first job after completing her teaching degree. There's no government support whatsoever, so she has to do it all herself. Fortunately, the children are incredibly motivated, and so are the parents. For those who have TikTok, follow her on chyvaikakartomedjoShe makes beautiful, moving videos with the children.

King George falls
In the afternoon, we take a scenic hike to the King George Falls, where petroglyphs were discovered, carved long ago by indigenous people to protect their territory. We walk through beautiful nature and rest at stunning locations overlooking enormous rapids. Eddy explains a lot about the plants and trees in this area along the way. He himself has an indigenous background and has worked as a guide at other locations in the interior. On the way back, we get caught in a heavy downpour. Wet, cold, but satisfied, we return late in the afternoon and enjoy a delicious meal prepared for us by our regular chef, Winston: Anjoemara (a large predatory fish with wonderfully firm flesh) with masala!

Farewell to Amatopo
Sadly, I'm already heading back to Paramaribo today. My visit is far too short; I could easily stay here all week. Unfortunately, the flight is scheduled for 12:30, so we can do a bit of kayaking before then. It's always nice to enjoy nature without the sound of outboard motors. Then it's time for a final dip in the river, after which I have to pack everything and say goodbye to the crew at Amatopo.
I'm flying back with a large group of workers who have been working on construction at Amatopo for a few months. Upon arrival at the airstrip, the pilot converts the plane from a freighter to a passenger plane. In two hours, we fly across the interior back to Zorg en Hoop.

Do you also want to go to Amatopo?
If you feel the itch after reading my blog and want to go on an adventure in the deep western interior, I would be happy to arrange a stay at Amatopo Rainforest Retreat For you. Because the resort is still in its initial stages, I can still tailor many stays to your needs and preferences. For guests seeking more adventure, there are options to book an expedition/survival program from Amatopo, where you'll spend several nights in the jungle, staying in hammock camps along the river.

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