Bissau

• Fortaleza d’Amura: A 17th-century Portuguese fort and a memorial site for the independence struggle. (1 hour)
• Central Market: A street-level showcase of cashews, spices, fresh catch, and wax-print fabrics. (1.5 hours)
• Cutuno Fishing Port: Golden hour for photography as fishing boats return at dusk. (1 hour)
• Rio Geba Estuary Sunset Walk: Stroll along the riverbank to watch the Atlantic sunset. (Evening)

Bijagós Archipelago (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve)

• Bubaque Island: The archipelago’s hub, home to a sea turtle conservation station and a fishing village culture base. (1 day)
• Orango National Park: Mangrove waterways and one of the world’s rarest populations of coastal hippos. (1 day)
• Poilão Island: A key nesting site for green turtles—night visits require permits and guides (Nov–Feb). (1 night)
• Calanta and Salt Village: Traditional salt-drying techniques and palm wine workshops. (Half day)
• Caravela Island: Long white-sand beaches and a large fishing village, a frequent stop on island-hopping routes. (1 day)

Other Mainland Highlights

• Bolama Island: Ride through cashew orchards, rice fields, and mangroves; the traditional gateway to the archipelago with daily ferry connections. (1 day)
• Bafatá: An inland trade hub and window into Fulani culture, famous for its market yogurt and cashews. (Half day–1 day)
• Gabú: A northeastern border town serving as a gateway to ethnic villages and wildlife areas; stop by the wooden mask craftsmanship villages. (1 day)

Itinerary Tips

Guinea-Bissau has a low density of attractions and a relaxed pace. It’s recommended to allocate 60% of your time to the archipelago: the biosphere reserve’s hippos, sea turtles, and mangroves are the trip’s highlights. Bissau can be fully explored in a day and a half. Inland ethnic villages are best visited during the cashew season or carnival period. Accommodation around Bissau Carnival in February gets booked up quickly, so plan ahead.