Things to do in Guinea Bissau
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Arquipélago Dos Bijagós
At first, the Bijagós - Africa's only archipelago - may seem simply a pleasant escape from the problems of the mainland, with swaying palms, cooling breezes and powdery, white-sand beaches. Stay a little while though, and you'll begin to fall under the islands' singular spell.
Protected by swift tides and treacherous sandbanks, the islands have long been a world apart. They eluded Portuguese control until the 1930s, and the fiercely independent Bijagós people still retain a large degree of autonomy from the federal government.
Most visitors to the islands seem to be either biologists who come to study the unique and rich variety of marine life, or else sports fishermen…
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Dona Fernanda
Hidden down a dirt road east of Estrada de Santa Luzia, Dona Fernanda serves up excellent Guinean dishes. Her bica (sea bream) is considered one of the best in the city.
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Ilha de Bolama
Located just off the mainland, about 40km (25mi) south of Bissau, the island of Bolama was long home to the Portuguese capital. Deprived of its status in 1941, the once-grand town (also called Bolama) has been decaying ever since, with sagging colonnades and papaya trees sprouting from stately living rooms. The effect is one of eerie beauty.
The island is virtually devoid of a tourist infrastructure, though the NGO Prodepa, an international group devoted to preserving traditional fishing techniques, rents basic rooms and serves food. The closest beach is about 4km (2.5mi) south of Bolama town, but the best beaches are along the far southwest end of the island, about 20km…
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Ilha de Orango
West of Bubaque is Ilha de Orango, which, along with several other islands, forms part of the Orango Islands National Park. To get there you will need to island-hop toward the village of Eticoga on the west coast, a good base from which to enter the park.
The vegetation is mainly palm groves and light woodland, with significant areas of mangrove and mud flats exposed at low tide. The park's inhabitants include rare saltwater species of hippo and crocodile, and the area is particularly good for birds. This is also one of the largest green and Ridley turtle-nesting sites on the west African coast.
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Dakar To Ghana
- The Gambia, Togo, Senegal, Dakar, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, World
- Tours › Overland
by Intrepid
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Fortaleza d'Amura
Off the southern end of Av Amilcar Cabral are the narrow streets of the old Portuguese quarter, with colourful if often crumbling Mediterranean-style buildings. The old neighbourhood is guarded by the Fortaleza d'Amura. Surrounded by imposing stone walls, it's still used by the Guinean military and strictly off-limits to visitors.
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Former Presidential Palace
The former presidential palace dominates Praça dos Heróis Nacionais at the northern end of Av Amilcar Cabral. With a bombed-out roof and shrapnel in its once graceful, neoclassical façade, it's an ever-present reminder of the country's devastating civil war.
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Centro Artistico Juvenil
Not only a great place to shop (prices are actually marked and there is no pressure to buy!), this is also a fine introduction to the arts and crafts of the Guinea-Bissau's many ethnicities. Purchases help young trainees learn traditional artisanship.
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Gelataria Baiana
Serving espresso, drinks and baked goods on an outdoor terrace in the city's most attractive praça (park or square), Baiana is a favourite of politicians, artists and expats alike.
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X Club
For late-night partying, this club caters to everyone from idealistic UN workers to shady businessmen on the prowl. Décor is Euro-trendy and there are two free snooker tables.
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Bambu 2000
On weekends, this more rustic locale overflows with locals willing to drop a few thousand CFA to dance till dawn.
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Bate Papo
At night, this upmarket place has the best pizza in town, and in the morning, it has good pastries and coffee.
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Restaurant Magui
The charming Magui serves up spot-on Senegalese dishes in her simple eatery above the now-defunct cinema.
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Papa Louca Fast Food
A decent option for 'fast food' such as shwarmas, hamburgers and pizza that is popular with expats.
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Restaurant Asa Branca
Asa Branca serves traditional Portuguese fare and is particularly noted for its seafood.
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