Vincent Fayks Airport

Paloemeu Airport, officially Vincent Fayks Vliegveld (IATA: OEM, ICAO: SMPA), sits on a dirt strip cleared from the rainforest along the banks of the Paloemeu River in Suriname's Sipaliwini District. This is not an airport in the conventional sense—there is no paved runway, no jet bridges, no duty-free. It is a single gravel and grass airstrip, roughly 900 metres long, serving a village of fewer than 500 people and the surrounding Maroon and Indigenous communities. The airport exists because the road network in southern Suriname is almost non-existent; the only practical way to reach this part of the country is by air. Flights from Paramaribo take about 90 minutes in a small propeller plane, crossing an unbroken expanse of tropical forest that stretches to the horizon. The airstrip was built as part of Operation Locust, a post-war effort to open up the interior, and was named after Polish pilot Vincent Fajks, who died here in a crash in 1959 while delivering construction materials. Today, it remains a vital lifeline for the region—a place where the arrival of a single aircraft can change the rhythm of an entire day.

Getting There

The only way to reach Paloemeu Airport is by air. There are no roads connecting the village of Paloemeu to the rest of Suriname; the forest is impassable for vehicles. The journey begins at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM) near Paramaribo or at Zorg en Hoop Airport, the smaller domestic airstrip in the capital. Several local airlines—most notably Blue Wing Airlines and Gum Air—operate scheduled and charter flights to Paloemeu. The flight time is approximately 90 minutes in a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan or a Britten-Norman Islander, both of which land on the unpaved strip. The schedule is limited: flights typically operate two to three times a week, with departures often concentrated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The busiest times are around midday on Mondays and Wednesdays, and later in the day on Tuesdays (9 pm) and Thursdays (11 am), suggesting that most flights arrive during daylight hours except for occasional evening arrivals. Charter flights can be arranged through tour operators or directly with the airlines, but expect a premium price. There is no public transport to the airport from anywhere else—if you are not flying in, you are not getting there.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Paloemeu Airport is as basic as it gets: a single open-sided building with a corrugated roof, a concrete floor, and a small counter that serves as both check-in and baggage claim. There are no jet bridges, no air conditioning, no restaurants, and no shops. Arriving passengers walk across the gravel apron to the terminal, where their bags are unloaded from the aircraft and placed on a cart for collection. Departure involves checking in at the counter, paying any applicable departure tax (often included in the ticket), and then waiting on the covered porch until the aircraft is ready to board. There are no security scanners or metal detectors—luggage is sometimes inspected by hand, but the process is relaxed compared to international airports. Bathrooms are basic, usually pit toilets or simple flush toilets with limited water. The atmosphere is informal; the pilot may help load bags, and passengers chat with each other while waiting. Because the terminal is open to the elements, mosquito repellent is essential, especially around dawn and dusk. The waiting area has wooden benches but no power outlets, so bring a fully charged phone. The entire experience, from arrival to departure, rarely takes more than 30 minutes, but flights can be delayed by weather, so it is wise to bring snacks and water.

Paloemeu Airport - Vincent Fayks Vliegveld and Pisori

Paloemeu Airport is not just a stopover—it is the entry point to one of Suriname's most remote and culturally rich regions. The village of Paloemeu (often referred to as Pisori, the name for the broader area) sits on the banks of the Paloemeu River, a tributary of the larger Marowijne River that forms the border with Brazil. The area is home to both Maroon communities (descendants of escaped slaves who established independent settlements in the interior) and Indigenous Tiriyó people. The village itself has a small shop, a guesthouse, and a clinic, but the real draw is the surrounding rainforest. Travellers come here for multi-day river trips, jungle treks, and visits to the nearby Kasikasima mountain, a granite inselberg that rises dramatically from the forest. The airport also serves as a base for researchers and government officials visiting the Sipaliwini District. The history of the airstrip is tied to Suriname's development: Operation Locust, which ran in the 1950s and 1960s, aimed to establish a series of airstrips across the interior to enable agricultural and economic expansion. Vincent Fajks, a Polish aviator, lost his life here when his Aero Commander crashed during a supply run in 1959—a reminder of the risks inherent in flying over uncharted jungle. Today, the airport sees a steady but modest flow of passengers: ecotourists keen to explore the last great wilderness in the Caribbean region, gold miners heading to remote claims, and locals moving between their villages and the capital. The rhythm of life in Paloemeu revolves around the flight schedule; when a plane arrives, the entire village seems to gather at the airstrip to greet arriving passengers, collect cargo, or simply watch. It is a place where the boundaries between airport and community dissolve, and where the sound of a single-engine aircraft approaching is as common as the call of a howler monkey.

Practical Information

Paloemeu Airport does not operate daily flights. Based on typical schedules, flights are most frequent on Mondays (peak around 12 pm), Tuesdays (evening at 9 pm), Wednesdays (12 pm), and Thursdays (11 am). No regular flights are known on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, though charters may be arranged. The airport has no official website or phone number; flight inquiries must be directed to airlines in Paramaribo. Blue Wing Airlines (+597 474-005) and Gum Air (+597 472-200) are the main carriers. There are no ATMs or currency exchange at the airport—bring enough Surinamese dollars (SRD) or US dollars to cover your stay. The nearest accommodations are in Paloemeu village, a 10-minute walk from the airstrip; options include the eco-lodge Palumeu River Lodge and a few basic guesthouses. Mosquitoes are relentless, so pack strong repellent and consider a mosquito net if staying overnight. There is no fuel station, so any vehicles at the airstrip are privately owned. Be prepared for sudden weather changes; the rainy season (April to August) can bring heavy showers that delay flights. One concrete piece of advice: confirm your return flight as soon as you land, as schedules can shift and you do not want to be stranded in the jungle without a seat.