Guinea Bissau Travel Insurance

Orango is one of the Bijagós Islands, located 60 km off the coast of mainland Guinea Bissau. At 272.5 km² it is the largest island in the archipelago and undoubtedly one of the jewels of the Bijagós Islands.

Galumphing hippos drift in and out of the brackish lagoons of Orango. In fact, wildlife lovers visit this small landmass in the Atlantic to see the rare salt-water creatures in their natural habitat. There are a lot of local guides here that operate wetland safaris out into the waterways and mangroves to see them. The island also has a series of sparkling white beaches, a single, community-run hotel, and a clutch of curious local tribes with long-held traditions.

Bissau is the capital city of Guinea Bissau. Also, Bissau is located on the Geba River estuary, off the Atlantic Ocean, and is Guinea Bissau’s largest city, major port, and administrative and military center.

This is where the pink-hued palaces of old Iberian governors still line the dusty streets. Make sure to not miss the grand Presidential Palace, now left empty following the destruction of Guinea Bissau’s civil war. Closer to the sea the jetties of Pidjiguiti buzz with life; fishermen haul the daily catch and piragua boats wait to depart for the sun-kissed Bijagós Islands. The nightlife booms after dark with the beats of gumbe and West African kizomba.

Varela is a small community located just a stone’s throw away from Susana, very close to the border with Senegal, in the north of Guinea-Bissau, and is a destination that can either be essential or ignored on a trip to Guinea-Bissau.

It is not easy to get to Varela. The “road” is made up of holes surrounded by some asphalt, sand and dirt – and was in a deplorable state. But the worst thing is the dust, lots of dust. At a certain point, close to the town of Susana, we pass through a mangrove forest and, soon after, we enter the Cacheu River Mangroves Natural Park, at which point the traveler can begin to sigh with relief and think about arrival in Varela.