Genuine Guinea Bissau – Carnaval Tour 08 days and 07 nights 01 – 08 February 2027

Arrival in Bissau at the Osvaldo Vieira international airport.
Transfer to the hotel in the heart of Bissau.

Rest of the day free.

Hotel accommodation Azalai Hotel

Meals: none

Breakfast in the hotel.
Morning departure speedboat to Bolama, which was the capital of Portuguese Guinea until 1936.

Bolama’s buildings are built in a beautiful colonial style, presenting the appearance of a city anchored in time. Silently the indigenous population has taken over the old abandoned colonial buildings.

The surreal atmosphere of this “forgotten city” becomes even more intense at dusk: thousands of oil lamps barely illuminate those places, hidden among the tropical vegetation, and after the visit we continue towards Bubaque.

Arrival in Bubaque.
Hotel accommodation Hotel Casa África.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Early breakfast.
Bubaque Island, the Bissagos Archipelago (Bijágós), Guinea Bissau. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

We depart in the morning, and depending on the tides schedule, we will accompany the Bijágó women in the traditional shellfish activity.

Hike to visit Marcha to see the oldest tabanka (traditional lodge) in the national park. We go along the dry riverbed and cross mangroves with their high roots exposed. A large palm grove announces our arrival at the most important sacred tabanka of Ambuduco on the island. Here we can appreciate the traditional architecture of the Bijágó town and the way of life of its inhabitants.

After the visit we will leave for Orango to visit the hippos. The walk to find the hippos will take about an hour. Imagine, being able to observe a unique animal in the world, whose protection deserved the creation, more than 25 years ago (in 1996), of the Orango National Park – Guinea Bissau. The saltwater or marine hippopotamus, which alternates its life between mangroves, rivers and lagoons.

After the visit, we will return to Bubaque overnight at the Hotel Casa África.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast.
Departure in the morning and depending on the tide schedule, we will go to the island of Soga where we can see the animist rituals related to female initiations on the island. Soga is a very local island, we will see the elders and chat with them about life of the Bijágós people.

Return to Bubaque.

Overnight Hotel Casa África.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Soga animist rituals related to female initiations: this may not happen during the Carnival, will depend on the local community.

Breakfast.
Departure in the morning and depending on the tides schedule, we will go to the island of Canhabaque.
A 1 hour trek between the towns of Bijágo and the dreamy beaches of Canhabaque Island.

After the visit, return to Bubaque.

Overnight Hotel Casa África.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast. Early departure to Bissau and transfer to the hotel.

We will enjoy the carnival festivities in the city of Bissau. Carnival is a Western Christian festival that takes place before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March. Carnival usually involves a public festival or a combined parade. People wear costumes, masks of everyday individuality, and experience a high sense of social unity.

This will be the only confirmed day for carnival activities, a full day and night.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Bande market and the old district of Bissau, the National Museum, the Mercado (Central Market), The old colonial centre of Bissau Velho, and Porto Pidjiguiti.

After the visit, we will visit the carnival and return to the hotel.

Overnight Hotel Azalai Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early breakfast for an early departure.

Today we depart for Quinhamel, 35 kilometers from Bissau, to visit the village of Pepel, famous for being the guardian of the secrets of magic and traditional medicines.

After the visit, we travel back to Bissau and to our hotel.

Overnight at Azalai Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast.

Free morning until it is time for your airport transfer.

Safe delivery to airport 2 hours before your flight.

Meals: Breakfast