Bijagós Islands

The Bijagós Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Guinea‑Bissau comprised of dozens of inhabited islands and many smaller islets, forming an important cultural and ecological unit. The group is noted for traditional Bijagó culture and coastal ecosystems.

Island visits focus on wildlife viewing in mangroves and tidal flats, beach and lagoon environments, and encounters with Bijagó communities and their ritual and craft traditions. Boat travel between islands is the standard mode of access and the pattern of village life is strongly maritime.

The Bijagós have long maintained distinctive social and spiritual customs adapted to the archipelago environment, and the islands have experienced colonial contact and post‑colonial administrative changes while retaining strong local governance. Cultural continuity is a key reason for international attention.

The archipelago lies in the Atlantic off Guinea‑Bissau’s coast in the Bolama region, scattered across the coastal shelf and reachable by boat from regional ports.

• Local culture: The islands are inhabited by the Bijagó people, whose traditional livelihoods include fishing, boatbuilding and seasonal harvesting of marine resources.