A little more
Guinea-Bissau.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Guinea-Bissau: what to know before you go

Guinea-Bissau is a small West African country of mangrove-lined rivers, a Portuguese-influenced capital and the Bijagós Archipelago, a scattering of islands with turtles, saltwater hippos and traditional communities. It suits adventurous travellers interested in nature and culture who are comfortable with very limited tourism infrastructure.

Where to go

• The Bijagós Archipelago. A group of around 88 islands and islets off the coast, a UNESCO biosphere reserve with mangroves, sandbanks, beaches and rich birdlife.
• Orango Islands National Park. Famous for hippos that live in fresh and brackish lagoons and swim between islands in salt water.
• João Vieira and Poilão Marine National Park. A remote group of islands where Poilão is one of the most important nesting sites for green turtles in the Atlantic.
• Bubaque. The most accessible of the Bijagós islands and the usual base for visiting the archipelago, with simple guesthouses, beaches and boat connections to other islands.

Best time to visit

The dry season, from roughly November to May, is the best time to visit: roads are passable, boats to the islands run more reliably and the weather is pleasant. The harmattan wind can bring dust and haze around December to February.

Staying online in Guinea-Bissau

Mobile coverage is reasonable in Bissau and some towns on the mainland, with mobile data available in the capital. Coverage is patchy or absent in rural areas, in the mangroves and on most of the Bijagós islands, where you should expect to be offline for long periods. Wi-Fi is limited to some hotels and cafés in Bissau and a few island lodges, and power cuts are common. Download offline maps before you go. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.