Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Bissau
You'll land in Bissau after dark and get driven to your hotel for the night.
- Day 2
Bissau
Spend the day walking through Bissau, the island capital and the country's main hub for economics, politics, and culture. Head to the waterfront promenade first, then through the old Portuguese-influenced streets where you'll find the cathedral. The main market is worth a look, and you can stop by the National Assembly building as well.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore waterfront promenade
- Visit old Portuguese-influenced center
- Cathedral visit
- Main market visit
- National Assembly visit
Landmarks/POIs Bissau Cathedral National Assembly of Guinea-Bissau - Day 3
Bissau to Canchungo
Morning brings a children's parade with young people dressed in colorful costumes and masks moving through the town center streets. Later, you'll drive to Canchungo and settle into a lodge there for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Children's parade in Bissau
- Day 4
Canchungo Carnival
Start by checking out Canchungo in the morning, then spend the rest of the day at the carnival where you'll see tons of masked dancer groups, traditional warriors doing ceremonial dances, and fetish priests performing. The musicians and dancers create a pretty intense atmosphere throughout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Canchungo
- Canchungo Carnival
- Masked dancer groups performances
- Fetish priests ceremonial dances
- Traditional warriors performances
- Day 5
Manjago Villages to Cacheu
Drive through tropical rainforest to reach Manjago villages where people collect cashew nuts. You'll learn about the wooden poles called 'Gendiman' and 'Cab Balugan' that represent ancestral spirits. After that, head to Cacheu in the afternoon to catch the carnival celebrations there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tropical rainforest crossing
- Meet cashew nut collectors
- Visit Manjago village
- Learn about Gendiman and Cab Balugan
- Cacheu Carnival
- Day 6
Cacheu to Bissau
Get back to Bissau and check into your hotel, then grab lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, walk along Avenida Amilcar Cabral where masked groups from different regions gather for the parade. You'll see everything from sacred masks and warriors in crocodile skin to contemporary masked performers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Portuguese colonial architecture
- Fort complex visit
- Lunch in local restaurant
- Avenida Amilcar Cabral masked parade
- Day 7
Bissau to Bolama (Bijagos Archipelago)
After breakfast, hop on a 4-day boat tour heading out to the Bijagos archipelago, which has 88 islands spread across West Africa's largest island group with 21 that people actually live on. First stop is Bolama, the former Portuguese Guinea capital where old neo-Palladian buildings are now covered by rainforest. From there you'll go to Rubane and stay in bungalows.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat tour of Bijagos Archipelago
- Tour of Bolama town
Landmarks/POIs Bolama Bijagos Archipelago - Day 8
Canhabaque Island
Spend time on Canhabaque Island walking through forest paths and visiting villages. You'll learn how locals have kept their traditional culture alive, including the 'saya' straw skirts women wear. The area also has a history with sacrificial rituals and secret societies that shaped the community.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Canhabaque Island exploration
- Forest and village walks
- Visit traditional settlements
Optional Activities
- Rest day on the beach
Landmarks/POIs Canhabaque Island - Day 9
Orango Island
After breakfast, take a short boat ride to Orango Island where white sand beaches and blue water meet. Visit the village of Okinka Pampa to understand the matriarchal system here and how women hold status. You can see the queens' cemetery and meet the current king.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Orango Island exploration
- Okinka Pampa village visit
- Learn about matriarchy
- Cemetery of the queens visit
- Meet current king
Landmarks/POIs Orango Island Okinka Pampa - Day 10
Orango National Park
Explore Orango National Park and its untouched landscapes with mangrove forests and swamps. If you're lucky, you might spot saltwater hippos in their natural setting, and you'll definitely see the range of wildlife this protected area supports.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Orango National Park visit
- Mangrove forests exploration
- Wildlife observation
Landmarks/POIs Orango National Park - Day 11
Orango to Bissau
Depending on how the tides work out, you'll boat back toward Bissau. Get to your hotel and have a relaxed afternoon to yourself however you want to spend it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 12
Departure from Bissau
Early morning pickup takes you to the airport for your trip back to Europe, arriving in Germany.
