Arquipélago Dos Bijagós Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Transport to the islands is difficult and/or expensive. Canoas – large, motorised and often leaky canoes – leave Bissau from Port Rampa, the fishermen’s port near the Estádio 24 de Setembro. There are several Bissau–Bubaque canoas (US$5 per person, four to six hours) that follow a regular weekly schedule, though departure times vary according to tides and winds. You can also ask around for unscheduled departures.

At the other extreme, higher-end fishing camps hire out speedboats at the cost of about US$200 for a one-way trip from Bissau to Bubaque (up to eight people). The Hotel Marazul (6-626277) in Quinhámel has a range of boats and is the most likely option.

At the time of writing a small cruise ship called the African Queen was expected to return to Bissau, with regular, multiday excursions to the islands. Check with travel agencies in Bissau for the schedule and prices.