Suriname Birding Tour: Cotingas & Trumpeters

Suriname lies in the heart of one of the greatest wilderness regions of tropical South America. Its sparse population (only about 750,000 people) is settled almost entirely near the coast, leaving the vast interior in a wild, unspoiled state. Formerly Dutch Guiana, Suriname has been a sovereign, democratic nation since 1975. It's a delight to travel in Suriname--things generally go at a relaxed, even-keeled pace. Field Guides has operated many tours to Suriname in the recent past, and we're delighted to be traveling there with this revised, succinct Suriname birding tour itinerary inaugurated in 2020 and visiting several bird-rich venues.

Isolated from both the Amazon basin to the south and the northern Andes to the west, Suriname maintains a flavor all its own, both in its natural history and in its people. Its population reflects a rich mixture of cultures and religions, from Javanese, East Indian, European, Chinese, African, and Amerindian to Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian. Add to this Suriname's Dutch heritage, and you have a country distinctly different from any other in South America. Infrastructure within the country continues to improve, and a growing number of good birding sites have become accessible.

The bird life here is also quite distinctive. Rufous Crab Hawk, Gray-winged Trumpeter (here, probably the easiest trumpeters anywhere in the world), Caica and Red-fan parrots, Green-throated Mango, Crimson Topaz, Guianan Toucanet, Blood-colored Woodpecker, Arrowhead (Guianan) Piculet, Black-throated and Band-tailed antshrikes, Dusky Purpletuft, Crimson Fruitcrow, Capuchinbird, Guianan Red-Cotinga, Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, White-fronted and Black manakins, White-throated Pewee, Pale-bellied Mourner, Glossy-backed Becard, Rose-breasted Chat, Blue-backed Tanager, Finsch's Euphonia, and Red-and-black Grosbeak are just a few of the many specialties birders come to Suriname hoping to see. [Our tour description text continues below the video.]

Guide Micah Riegner has compiled a video of highlights from the 2025 Succinct Suriname Field Guides birding tour that we think you'll enjoy watching! Click on the video to get it started, or on the fullscreen icon at bottom right of the video to see it in larger format.

With vast areas away from the coast still untouched by humans, Suriname offers an outstanding lowland rainforest experience, and this will be the primary focus of our tour. Taking advantage of the country's extensive nature reserve system--particularly at Brownsberg Nature Park--we'll spend a considerable portion of our tour birding in the very heart of the forest. We'll have simple but adequate accommodations in the park and at a new lodge to the southwest of Brownsberg with some great birding trails literally at our doorstep. On daytrips out of the capital city of Paramaribo and nearby Zanderij, we'll also visit Suriname's grassy savannas, marshes, remnant coastal plain forest, and coastal mangrove swamps.

We can expect to tally about 375 species of birds on this tour, all of which are well illustrated in the new Suriname field guide (Brill). Many of the typical Neotropical bird families are well represented, including the following cross section: 5 species of macaws, 25 hummingbirds, 6 jacamars, 8 puffbirds, 40 antbirds, 10 manakins, 11 cotingas, 70 flycatchers, and 30 species of raptors! Join us for this fabulous tropical birding experience to Suriname!

Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.

Client comment
"A fantastic overall experience! This was a great trip. Really fun, terrific guides, great group of people, amazing birds and wildlife. Very interesting country to visit, and the best birds were seen well. Very well. Micah Riegner is an exceptional guide. His birding skills are extraordinary, but on top of this, his people skills, kindness, and quiet humor were quite impressive, and much appreciated. He was incredibly fun to bird with." J.H., SUCCINCT SURINAME tour participant

"This was an excellent tour. Both Micah Riegner and Sean Dilrosun were great leaders and guides. The birds were also great. Field Guides tours and guides are top of the line, so overall Field Guides is probably the best company for birding trips." J.S., SUCCINCT SURINAME tour participant

ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS

ITINERARIES • We issue a separate itinerary for each year, typically at least 9 months before that year's first departure. Most itineraries don't vary much year to year, but there may be small or rarely more substantive changes. A sample previous-year itinerary is usually available even if the one for your chosen departure is not. We do not require any deposit for provisional bookings until the itinerary for the departure is ready.

2026 (PDF)

DEPARTURES • We have 2 departures currently scheduled through 2027, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.

2026

Jan 3-14, 2026
Guided by: Micah Riegner & Sam Wilson
Tour Manager: Karen Turner
Tour Limit: 8
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available - This tour is provisionally full. However, we are awaiting deposits from some of those booked, so space may open up. Click below to be waitlisted for this tour with no obligation; if you are waitlisted, we will also notify you in case of an added departure of this tour.
Tour Fee: $4750
Single Supplement: $450
Deposit: $475
REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO

2027

Jan 9-20, 2027
Guide: TBA
Tour Manager: Karen Turner
Tour Limit: 8
Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space.
Tour Fee: To be determined / 2026=$4750
Single Supplement: To be determined / 2026=$450
REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO