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Voykit pocket guide · Guinea-Bissau
Bolama
Spend one night on a Bijagós island-hopping trip: the colonial ruins are worth a half-day walk, but the island has few services and no beach within town.
Bolama was the capital of Portuguese Guinea until 1941, and its abandoned colonial buildings — crumbling government palaces, churches and mansions — give it an eerie, atmospheric feel. The island has a handful of beaches a few km from town, basic lodging and a couple of bars. Most travellers stop for one night between Bissau and other Bijagós islands.
- Country
- Guinea-Bissau
- Best months
- Nov–May (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (rainy season; some lodges close, pirogue crossings rougher)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- XOF
- Money
- Currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with other West African states and pegged to the euro.
- Daily spend
- Budget CFA 15,000–25,000 excl. bed · Mid CFA 25,000–40,000 excl. bed · High CFA 40,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange and MTN (check operator names after rebrands) sell SIMs in Bissau; passport needed.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire 118 · Ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · Power cuts common; generators at lodges.
- Tipping
- Lodge staff: Tip box at the end, €5–10 a day per party.; Boat crew: €5–10 per trip.
- Water
- Bottled only.
- Toilets
- Basic outside hotels.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pirogue Bissau–Bolama one way | CFA 3,500 (2023; check) |
| Double room at Ga-Moria Hotel | CFA 13,000 (2023; check) |
| Beer at the harbour bar | CFA 1,000–2,000 |
| Goat meat with bread | CFA 2,000–4,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OXB · Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (Bissau)
- About 3 h by pirogue from Bissau's Pidjiguiti harbour to Bolama; check
Typical fares
- Pirogue Bissau–Bolama
- about CFA 3,500, about 3 h (check)
- Motorbike rental per day
- about CFA 5,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the main streets to see the ruins. To reach the beaches, rent a bike or motorbike in town (ask at your hotel) — it's a few km. Tides matter: go at high tide.
See and do
Known for
- Decaying colonial architecture
- Former capital of Portuguese Guinea
- Quiet island life
- Pirogue trips across the Geba estuary
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bissau | Pirogue from Bolama harbour to Bissau's Pidjiguiti harbour, about 3 h | About 3 h |
| Orango Island | Arrange a pirogue transfer through your lodge; no scheduled service | Check |
Sleep
- Near the harbour
- NGO Prodepa and Hotel Samaritana are a short walk from the pier; Ga-Moria Hotel is also nearby.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Olaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Obrigaduoh-bree-gah-doo |
| How much? | Kantu?kan-too |
| Where is the boat? | Undi ki barco?oon-dee kee bar-koo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and long hello; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Sacred places: Ask guides first; avoid: Walking into sacred groves
- Photos: Ask; avoid: Officials or soldiers
Scams and watch-outs
- Pirogues from Bissau leave from Pidjiguiti harbour; the ride takes about 3 h and costs CFA 3,500 (2023 price; check).
- Restaurants are scarce; order meals in advance at your hotel or eat at the harbour bar (goat meat with bread).
- The road from Fulacunda to São João is very poor; a better road was under construction in 2023 (check).
- No ATM on the island; bring enough CFA from Bissau.
Bolama is very safe; the main risks are the poor road from Fulacunda to São João (no night driving) and the lack of medical facilities. Bring a basic first-aid kit and enough cash.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bolama yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Decaying colonial architecture
- Former capital of Portuguese Guinea
- Quiet island life
- Pirogue trips across the Geba estuary
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bolama, revision 4771511 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4771511
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bolama). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.