Major city · 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.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- XOF
- Best months
- Nov–May (dry season)
- avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season; some lodges close, pirogue crossings rougher)
- Airport
- OXB
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Guinea-Bissau ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Guinea-Bissau government sources before booking.
- Guinea-Bissau ↗Political instability occurs; avoid gatherings and check your government's advice before and during the trip.
- Guinea-Bissau ↗A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of all arriving travellers; carry the original with your passport.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Bolama117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bolama, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with other West African states and pegged to the euro.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckOrange and MTN (check operator names after rebrands) sell SIMs in Bissau; passport needed.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Tap waterBottled only.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- TippingLodge staff: Tip box at the end, €5–10 (≈ US$6–12) a day per party.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- SafetyBolama is very safe; the main risks are the poor road from Fulacunda to São João (no night driving) and the lack of medical facilities.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsBasic outside hotels.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysLodges close in the rains; government offices close early.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckOXB Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (Bissau) (About 3 h by pirogue from Bissau's Pidjiguiti harbour to Bolama; check).
- Getting aroundWalk the main streets to see the ruins.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- BeerBeer at the harbour barCheckCFA 1,000–2,000
- Budget bedHotel Samaritana double room, a night, per roomXOF 10,000
- Mid-range bedNGO Prodepa double room, a night, per roomXOF 20,000
- High-end bedNGO Prodepa double room, a night, per roomXOF 30,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget XOF 15,000 · Mid XOF 25,000 · High XOF 40,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- OXB Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (Bissau) (About 3 h by pirogue from Bissau's Pidjiguiti harbour to Bolama; check)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Apr
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
May
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Best: Nov–May. Avoid: Jun–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Mar (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C) low), wettest Aug (21 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bolama: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
0 rd
Mar
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Apr
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
0 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
3 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
21 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
Dec
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting 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.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 3 h
Pirogue from Bolama harbour to Bissau's Pidjiguiti harbour, about 3 h
Return trip; check departure times at the harbour.
Orango Island
cautionDoor to door: Check
Arrange a pirogue transfer through your lodge; no scheduled service
Saltwater hippos; best visited with a guide from a lodge.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near the harbour
NGO Prodepa and Hotel Samaritana are a short walk from the pier; Ga-Moria Hotel is also nearby.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- CFA 15,000–25,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- CFA 25,000–40,000 excl. bed
- High
- CFA 40,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| NGO Prodepa double room1 × 1 night × XOF 20,000 | XOF 20,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × XOF 25,000 | XOF 50,000 |
| Pirogue Bissau–Bolama one way2 × XOF 3,500 · 2023 price; check | XOF 7,000 |
| Motorbike rental for a day2 × XOF 5,000 · Check | XOF 10,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | XOF 8,700 |
| Trip total≈ XOF 47,900 per person per day, bed included | XOF 95,700 |
Check
2026 estimate in CFA francs; pirogue fares and meals are cash only.
Prices of common things
| Pirogue Bissau–Bolama one wayFrom Pidjiguiti harbour | CFA 3,500 (2023; check) |
| Double room at Ga-Moria Hotel | CFA 13,000 (2023; check) |
| Beer at the harbour barCheck | CFA 1,000–2,000 |
| Goat meat with breadCheck | CFA 2,000–4,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BolamaBolama
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Leva-m na kel adris, pur favorTake me to this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Ambulance119
Embassy
Most embassies are in Bissau; check your government's travel advice for the nearest consulate.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Pirogue Bissau–Bolama: about CFA 3,500, about 3 h (check)
- Motorbike rental per day: about CFA 5,000 (check)
Say or show
- Ola — Hello (oh-lah)
- Obrigadu — Thank you (oh-bree-gah-doo)
- Kantu? — How much? (kan-too)
- Undi ki barco? — Where is the boat? (oon-dee kee bar-koo)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bolama. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–May (dry season) · avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season; some lodges close, pirogue crossings rougher) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for each ruin cluster (governor's palace, cathedral, old hospital) with verified opening status.
- Eat pages for the harbour bar and Prodepa restaurant with last-order times.
- Pirogue schedule page with tide-dependent departures and phone numbers for boat owners.
Sources
Ask about Bolama
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