Guinea-Bissau: Getting there & around

Guinea-Bissau's only airport with regularly scheduled flights is 8km (5mi) from Bissau. The principal airline that flies in and out of Bissau is TAP Air Portugal; regional airlines include Air Senegal and TACV (Cape Verde's airline). Bargain airline Air Luxor also serves Bissau. Departure tax is sometimes included in the price of your ticket. Taxis and minibuses take visitors from the airport to the centre of Bissau.

If you're travelling overland into Guinea-Bissau, there are several border crossings to choose from. You can cross to/from Guinea at Kandika and Saréboïdo, between Gabú and Koundara; crossings at Quebo and Boké open in the summer. Bush taxis will take you through these border crossings, or there's an old truck that goes from Gabú to Boké every few days.

Travelling to/from Senegal you can cross between Tanaf and Farim, and near Pirada, north of Gabú. The busiest crossing is at São Domingos, between Ingore and Ziguinchor, although this region has been dangerous in the past, so double-check the current situation before you go. Bush taxis go between Bissau and Zinguinchor via São Domingos, Ingore and Bula; including the ferry crossings at São Vicente and Joalande the trip can take between four and eight hours.

There are no regularly scheduled internal flights in Guinea-Bissau. Flights go between Bissau and Bubaque Island most days, and a small plane also flies from the capital to Orango Island.

Public transport consists of minibuses and Peugeot 504 bush taxis, which operate on main roads, and trucks ( kandongas ), which take the rural routes. Well-tarred roads connect Bissau with the towns of Gabú, Cacheu and Farim, as well as with the border crossing at São Domingos. In the wet months, canoes might work better than cars on the smaller roads.

Guinea-Bissau has few bridges so pack your sea legs: many journeys involve ferry crossings. Canoas (motorised canoes) in varying states of repair connect Bissau to the islands of Rubane, Bubaque, Galinhas and Bolama.