SURINAME is a bit off the radar for travelers to the Caribbean, but that may not be the case for long.

The country is one of just three CARICOM countries that are not islands, along with Belize and Guyana. And the Dutch-influenced South American outpost, the continent’s smallest sovereign state, is a fascinating mix of cultures — from Dutch and South Asian cuisine to one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere.

Perhaps the country’s best hotel is the Royal Torarica, located in Suriname’s capital of Paramaribo.

One of the things you get in Suriname is value — and that’s readily apparent at the Torarica, where a presidential suite comes at a price almost unheard of in the Caribbean — around $155 per night.

The suite is one of seven on the Torarica’s uppermost floor, with panoramic windows and a terrific view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of downtown Paramaribo.

Enjoy the view.

— CJ