- 10 Days
- Jan-May
- Availability: 15
- Minimum Group: 5
Guinea Bissau Adventure & Culture
Descriptions
The Guinea-Bissau Carnival is a unique and colorful event that showcases the diverse cultural heritage of the country. The carnival typically takes place in February and lasts for four days, with the main celebrations occurring in the capital city of Bissau and on the Bijagos archipelago. During the carnival, various ethnic groups and communities come together to showcase their music, dance, and costumes, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
Visitors to the carnival can expect to see a wide variety of traditional costumes and performances, including drumming, singing, and dancing. The event is also an opportunity to experience the local food, drink, and crafts of the area. If you’re planning to visit Guinea-Bissau, it’s worth considering timing your trip to coincide with the carnival, as it offers a one-of-a-kind insight into the country’s customs and traditions.
Included
- Meet and greet and airport transfers
- Double accommodation in BB
- Overland transportation all inclusive
- English-speaking guide
- All visits and excursions as mentioned in the program
Excluded
- Visas, flights and travel insurance
- Meals and beverage
- Unforeseen circumstances including Force Majeure
- Others
From
€ 3,260
/ pp
*Indicative price
Send us an enquiry
Popular Spots
- Picturesque city of Bafata
- Bassarel Kingdom
- The small city of Cacheu
- Quinhamel
- Orango National Park
- Bubaque archipelago
- Bissagos Islands
Memorable Moments.
Bijagos Culture
One memorable moment from the Guinea-Bissau carnival is the coming together of various ethnic groups and communities from the Bijagos archipelago to showcase their culture and traditions. This is a unique opportunity to see the diverse heritage of the country on display and learn about different customs and practices.
Guinea-Bissau carnival
Another memorable moment is the vibrant display of music, dance, and costumes at the carnival. The event is a celebration of the country’s Afro-Portuguese heritage and offers an unforgettable glimpse into the traditional music and dance of Guinea-Bissau. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of colorful and elaborate costumes, and experience the energy and excitement of the performances.
Trip Schedule.
Bissau Dunia Hotel
Bissau Dunia HotelUpon arrival at the Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, our representative will welcome you and provide airport assistance if needed. You will then be transferred to the Dunia Hotel, located about 10 km away from the airport. The transfer time can vary from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic. Once you check in to the hotel, a member of the Azalai Hotel Group, we will have a briefing to finalize the itinerary for your trip. Dinner and overnight stay.
Bissau – Bafata Triton Hotel
We will depart early in the morning for a 3-hour drive to the picturesque city of Bafata in the east-central part of the country. The road to Bafata, like many in the country, is degraded and leads to Gabu and the border with Senegal. Bafata is known as the birthplace of Amilcar Lopes Cabral, a prominent Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean pan-Africanist and anti-colonial leader.
Bafata – Cacheu – Canchungo & Bassarel Kingdom Case Preira
This day we will embark on the journey to the northwest of the country, starting with an early morning drive to the Bassarel Kingdom. Our first stop will be the small city of Cacheu, located about 100 km from Bissau. With a population of less than 200,000, Cacheu is a historic city that is a journey back in time as it was a hotspot for the slave trade. The city has a lot to offer including the fortress built in 1588, the Shrine of Our Lady Of The Nativity, the slavery memorial, the Cacheu River Mangrove National Park for birdwatchers and much more.
Canchungo – Quinhamel Cupedo Hotel
On this day, we will drive to Quinhamel, a traditional village located just 37 km from the city of Bissau. The road, one of the few well-maintained roads in the country, leads to the capital and offers a panoramic view and spectacular landscape of the area’s flora, including thick vegetation of mangroves, Balonahs (swamps), and Cashew trees. The 43,000 people living in the area are spread out in clusters of rustic villages along the road, made up of various ethnic groups including the Balanta, the Mancanha, the Manjaco, the Fula, the Mandinga, the Bijagó, and the Beafadas.
Quinhamel – Orango Island Orango Park Hotel
Early in the morning, we will drive to the pier and embark on a breathtaking voyage to Orango Island, which we expect to reach in the early afternoon after a 4-5 hour boat ride over a total distance of 60 km. Being the largest Island of the archipelago, Orango boasts long stretches of pristine white sandy beaches with crystal waters, ideal for beach walks and relaxation. The island is also a paradise for birdwatchers, and the adjacent mangrove forest is a safe habitat for saltwater hippopotamuses and other marine wildlife including crocodiles, dolphins, and water birds.
Orango – Rubane Island Ponta Anchaca
After enjoying breakfast, we will depart the hotel and embark on a boat ride to the Orango National Park, an ideal habitat for flocks of hippos. The park is teeming with diverse wildlife, including crocodiles, turtles, antelopes, monkeys, dolphins and manatees, among many others. The island is the largest in terms of landmass and the most remote from the mainland, with a population of 2,500. The society is semi-matriarchal, with a powerful queen, Kanyimpa, as the ruler. All kings are descendants of her and her rule is unquestioned, with her decisions being final.
Rubane Island – Bubaque – Tubane Ponta Anchaca
On these days, we will visit the world-renowned Island of Bubaque, one of the most visited islands in the archipelago. Bubaque is known for its array of amenities such as hotels, bars, and restaurants, which contribute to its appealing atmosphere. Many Europeans visit Bubaque during the Easter weekend to attend the three-day festival, where local and modern music are on display. The harbour and the adjacent market are the most lively places in the city, but like other post-colonial cities in Africa, Bubaque is marked by chaotic shantytowns, poorly maintained roads, and some Portuguese colonial relics.
Rubane Island – Bubaque – Tubane Ponta Anchaca
On this day, we will leave Rubane Island and head to Bissau via Baloma. Baloma is the closest of the 88 islands that form the Bissagos Islands, it boasts a port and a town that link the mainland to the Bijagos Islands. Famous for its mangrove and cashew trees, the colonial British Island of Baloma served as the capital of Portuguese Guinea until 1941, when it was replaced by Bissau. With a population of approximately 7,000 people, Baloma is a Unesco World Heritage site full of history portrayed by numerous colonial relics in the form of architecture, forts, landmarks, and other infrastructures. Visitors can explore the island’s rich history, culture and its unique natural beauty.
