Guinea-Bissau travel guide

Wedged in between Senegal and Guinea, this former Portuguese colony is well off the tourist trail, but punches above its weight when it comes to cultural riches, biodiversity and wildlife. Few people could find Guinea-Bissau on the map, but those who do discover it experience a country that keeps ancient traditions alive, loves a carnival and can serve up pristine beaches where saltwater hippos wander. Find out more in our Guinea-Bissau travel guide.

Home\Africa\Guinea Bissau

Guinea-Bissau travel guide

Tiny Guinea-Bissau, sandwiched between its beefier West African neighbours Senegal and Guinea, is overlooked, little known or at best, prone to mixed press. It’s true that political instability and violence have dogged the country on and off since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974, although currently it’s peaceful. Nevertheless, this tiny country is creeping onto travel itineraries and handsomely repays the intrepid visitor with vibrant traditions that rival any of its larger neighbours, interesting wildlife and a lively capital whose residents love to party.

The official language of Guinea-Bissau is Portuguese, just one of the ways this country is unique – a linguistic island within mostly French and English speaking West Africa.

The country’s gorgeous coast is the focus of most tours, and the jewel in Guinea-Bissau’s crown is the Bijagos Archipelago – 80 odd islands where sacred rites and saltwater hippos are among the unusual highlights. Find out more about Bijagos and the country’s other highlights in our Guinea-Bissau travel guide.

See all our Guinea-Bissau Vacations

Give us a call

Guinea-Bissau is…

An unsung hero of West Africa, with fascinating wildlife, natural beauty and many different ethnic groups and traditions.

Guinea-Bissau isn’t…

Guinea, a much larger country bordering Guinea-Bissau to the south, or Equatorial Guinea, which lies just above the equator.

Guinea-Bissau map & highlights

Guinea-Bissau is a difficult country to navigate independently, so joining a specialist small group trip is the best way to travel. There’s an airport in the capital Bissau, and flights in and out often arrive and depart in the early hours of the morning. All other travel is overland on poor roads. Most yours of Guinea-Bissau focus on its superb coastline, made up of lagoons and wide tidal estuaries flanked by mangrove swamps, so you’ll be boarding a boat, too, at some point. A flight over the Bijagos Islands on a private plane is a lovely addition on some itineraries.

Give us a call to help with your itinerary

1. Bijagos Archipelago
2. Bissau
3. Bolama Island
4. Manjaco ethnic group
5. Mask dances
6. Quinhamel

Bijagos Archipelago

1. Bijagos Archipelago

This archipelago of 88 islands, 65km off the mainland, has fascinating wildlife and an isolated ethnic population, still governed by tribal chiefs and priestesses. Rare saltwater hippos are found on Orango Island and the archipelago is also one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in Africa. About 20 islands are inhabited; Bubaque, the largest village of the archipelago, has a tiny museum of local culture.

Bijagos Archipelago

Bissau

2. Bissau

Often considered the most ‘Mediterranean’ of West Africa’s capitals, Bissau is huge relative to the country’s size, and filled with decaying Portuguese colonial buildings. Highlights include Bissau Velho, the old city center, and nearby Fortaleza d’Amura, still used by the country's military. Venture into the barrios and you’ll hear Portuguese, the lingua franca Criolu and local languages being spoken.

Bolama Island

3. Bolama Island

An early Portuguese trading post, Bolama was the capital of Portuguese Guinea from 1871 to 1941, before it was moved to Bissau. Some local people still live here, but Bolama’s buildings have fallen into disrepair, and it has a ghost town feel. Originally laid out like a Roman citadel, today all that remains are empty avenues and squares, dry fountains, overgrown gardens and crumbling colonial mansions.

Bolama Island

Manjaco ethnic group

4. Manjaco ethnic group

The Manjaco ethnic group live in tiny villages peppered through the forests of the Senegal border. Known for their ancestor worship, the Manjaco create sacred wooden sculptures from wooden poles, called pecab, that represent the spirits of their ancestors. Different generations have developed their own styles of sculpture, and with the permission of village elders, it’s possible to see this vibrant tribal artform.

Mask dances

5. Mask dances

Guinea-Bissau is home to vibrant traditions and unique culture, and many organised tours visit local ethnic groups to learn more about their lives and perhaps experience a traditional ceremony. The vaca bruto (wild bull) wooden mask, complete with real horns and leather ears, is used in dramatic dances celebrating the harvest in the Bijagos Archipelago.

Mask dances

Quinhamel

6. Quinhamel

A city to the west of the capital Bissau, Quinhamel is a good base for exploring the flooded mangrove forests near the coast, home to superb birdlife including pelicans, goliath herons and flamingos. It’s close to the isolated territory around the border with Senegal, where you can visit the villages of local Felupe and Baiotes people, who have a unique style of architecture.