Name: Maratakka (optional with Bigi Pan)
Location: Suriname

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12 reviews

Duration: 3 days

Group size: 2 - 6

Maratakka (optional with Bigi Pan)

Suriname

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Unlock Nature

Email address verified

12 reviews

€550

Duration: 3 days

Group size: 2 - 6

The Maratakka river is situated in the district of Nickerie. This beautiful river is not yet discovered by most of the tourists. We have chances to see manatees, giant otters, Toco Toucan and because of the many Mauritius palms we have a very good opportunity to see the blue and yellow macaws!

You can choose to sleep in a bed in the village Wageningen or you can choose to stay in a nice hammock camp near city next to the river. This way you can really make a connecting with nature!

Bigi Pan

Big Pan, meaning Great Lake, is an area formed of creeks, mangroves, wet and dry swamps. Many bird species live in this area, the most famous of which is the Scarlet Ibis. In addition to birds, the area is also rich in fish and reptiles.

You will spend the night in a lodge on the water. There are three lodges available in Bigi Pan:

Mantje's lodge

At Mantje's lodge you will have your own bedroom. Toilet, bathroom and electricity point are shared.

Stephanie's lodge

At Stephanie lodge you will have your own bedroom with your own toilet. Bathroom and electricity point are shared.

Akira overwater resort

In the Akira lodge you have your own lodge with a private bedroom, balcony and bathroom. There is also 24/7 electricity available in your room.

This tour can only be done when the water level is high enough. If you would like to add this tour to the Maratakka tour, please check with us if it is possible in the period that you would like to go.

* Please contact us if you want to add Bigi Pan to your Maratakka trip!

Please contact us if you:

- have any questions

- prefer to make this a private tour

- would like to do a different length

- would like to do this tour in combination with Bigi Pan or make it part of a bigger trip.

3 days, 2 persons

Available until 3 days before departure

€550

3 days, 3 persons

Available until 3 days before departure

€425

3 days, 4 persons

Available until 3 days before departure

€350

3 days, 5 persons

Available until 3 days before departure

€350

3 days, 6 persons

Available until 3 days before departure

€350

3 days, 7 persons

Available until 3 days before departure

€350

3 days, 8 persons

Available until 3 days before departure

€350

3 days, 5 people (Surinamese)

Price per person

€325

Sleeping in beds in Maratakka 2 nights

€50

Available until 3 days before departure

The price is per person for two nights. Please select the amount of people wishing to sleep in a bed instead of a hammock.

Sleeping in beds in Maratakka 1 night

€25

Available until 3 days before departure

The price is per person for one night. The other night you will sleep in a hammock. Please select the amount of people.

Day 1
Day 1
Departure
Around 7 o’clock we leave Paramaribo to start driving in to Wageningen in the district of Nickerie. While on the road we can already spot some wildlife! We will have lunch somewhere on the way and we aim to arrive around 2 in Wageningen. Near Wageningen flows the small and beautiful Maratakka river. When the sun goes down and we had some nice dinner cooked, we go out by night and search for the animals that awaken at night! Hopefully we will find snakes, frogs, caiman etc.
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Day 2 and 3
Day 2 and 3
Exploring the river
There is no better place to wake up than lying in your hammock and hear the animals in the jungle start their day! Early in the morning we can spot some birds, especially the blue/yellow winged macaw. After breakfast we have a whole day to explore the river and see if we can encounter some giant otters and manatees! During this day we are flexible in what we want to do, it up to the group and you how we are going to plan the day!
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Optional extra day
Optional extra day
Bigi Pan
Bigi Pan, meaning Great Lake, is an area formed of creeks, mangroves, wet and dry swamps. Many bird species live in this area, the most famous of which is the Scarlet Ibis. In addition to birds, the area is also rich in fish and reptiles. You spend the night in a lodge with beds and there are also options to sleep in a hammock. The following activities are planned during your stay; spot birds, caimans and snakes, kayak and possibly a mud bath.

* Please contact us if you want to add Bigi Pan to your Maratakka trip!
Read more

Day 1

Departure

Around 7 o’clock we leave Paramaribo to start driving in to Wageningen in the district of Nickerie. While on the road we can already spot some wildlife! We will have lunch somewhere on the way and we aim to arrive around 2 in Wageningen. Near Wageningen flows the small and beautiful Maratakka river. When the sun goes down and we had some nice dinner cooked, we go out by night and search for the animals that awaken at night! Hopefully we will find snakes, frogs, caiman etc.

The trip to table mountain, was not just a trip but a journey through the heart of Suriname and a journey for the mind, body and soul. The views were stounishing, the wildlife was all around, the company was great. Thanks to the good guidance of Dick and Jordi it was a journey, never to forget. Thank you guys...

By Axel G for Table Mountain Expedition on Apr 05, 2025

Our trip to Maratakka was fantastic! Everything was excellently organized, and our guide, Mike, played a major role in the trip's success. He went above and beyond to accommodate everyone's wishes. We had the unique opportunity to see amazing animals in their natural habitat, including anacondas, river otters, manatees, toucans, sloths, and many more. Sleeping in nature was an incredible experience. The camp is simple but provides everything you need. A must-do for nature lovers and adventurers!

By Renate V for Maratakka (optional with Bigi Pan) on Feb 20, 2025

We absolutely loved this night tour of the park. We saw sloths, monkeys, huge porcupines, owls, tarantulas, snakes, birds etc. The guide was excellent. We'd highly recommend doing this during your stay. even better if you stay at Boutique Hotel Peperpot as it's right next to the park entrance.

By Lance C for Peperpot Hiking Tour on Jan 11, 2025

Bad organization, good trip - saved by the 2 amazing guides Ash and Marcos (they are the 2 ⭐ of the expedition) The lack of communication before the trip is alarming. The description says that an interview is included to discuss about the details of the trip, but half of the group had none, including myself. Travelling as a lone not-native English speaker woman, I had many questions regarding the organization : physical intensity of the trip, precision about the gear needed (translations I found were inadequate and I was missing crucial items due to that), and also the identity of the guides / their experience on the field. I was the very first to book the trip after having a short chat with the manager/owner Diederik (aka Dick) Lock the 29th January of 2024. As I just said, I had no news since then from neither him, his associate Lieke or anyone else of the crew. I was said that a whatsapp groupchat would be created and when I asked to Mr. Lock when it was going to be set up, he was only saying that there was no rush at that time. So, I was patiently expecting for the interview and the creation of the groupchat to have more news. All the other travelers and I thought he was going to be part of the trip. I randomly learnt it was not going to be the case scrolling instagram at the end of July (what a way to find out an important information of a 4000€ remote expedition....). When I asked for precisions to Mr. Lock, he did offer no apologies for the lack of communicaton and only offered the option to cancel the whole trip. What a customer service I had, after payig that amount of money... Fortunately, with that amount of informations missing (including on the guides side that learned some info, for instance that total load was limited), the mission has been a good time thanks and only thanks to the 2 amazing guides that are Ash and Marcos. The Unlock crew even forget to book the taxi for me to leave Sutopia at the end of the trip. I stayed 1 extra night and they had the memory of me at 22pm the day before I was leaving. Unfortunately they are the only company to offer this type of discovery of Surinam wonderful nature, so it does not let much of a choice. So if you're into going hazardly through remote/no contact nature, I can only advise you to ask for Ash and/or Marcos (the best would be them together as they are a super teeam).

By Clémentine M for Kayak Expedition Lucie River on Nov 12, 2024

Dear Clémentine Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re glad to hear that Ash and Marcos helped make the expedition a memorable experience for you, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to them. Regarding communication, we’re sorry to hear that you felt it was lacking before the trip. After our initial meeting over New Year’s, where Dick shared details about the expedition, we continued to provide trip information through brochures and our group chat to keep everyone informed. We also offered the option to cancel at any point if the arrangements did not meet your expectations. Our interview process is mainly for guests we haven’t met before, to ensure they’re a good fit for the group and have the right expectations, especially when signing up online. We make sure that everyone receives all essential information in advance and is welcome to reach out to us at any time. Since we had already spoken with you personally before your booking, an additional interview wasn’t required. Thank you again for your feedback; it’s important to us in maintaining and enhancing our guest experience. If there’s anything more you’d like to discuss, please feel free to contact us directly. We hope you’ll keep in touch and perhaps join us for another adventure in the future. Warm regards, Dick Lock and Lieke Verwoerd

By Unlock Nature on Nov 18, 2024

Such an amazing trip! So many cool sights and up close experiences with amazing wildlife.