adventure trip to guinea Bissau bijagos island

Guinea-Bissau’s Bijagos Islands make up Africa’s most numerous yet least well-known coastal archipelago. With untouched beaches, tropical forests, turquoise waters, saltwater hippos, pygmy cows and traditional beliefs, the Bjiagos is a unique paradise that is very much off the radar. Located 48km (30mi) off the Guinea-Bissau coast, the 12,950-sq-km (5,000-sq-mi) Bijagos (often spelled Bissagos) archipelago encompasses 88 islands and islets. Less than a quarter are inhabited year-round, with some islands, like João Vieira, welcoming seasonal inhabitants to cultivate rice and palm oil, while others, such as Poilão, are deemed sacred, with staying overnight strictly forbidden.