Bubaque · Guinea-Bissau
Getting to the lodge is part of the adventure: a little planning is needed. A well-prepared traveller can fully enjoy the archipelago. These rules may change: before departure, check your country’s official travel advice.
Information checked on 10 October 2026. Before departure, consult the official travel advice and latest alerts.
France Diplomatie ↗
Recommended
CFA 30,000 (≈ €46)
Approximately 1 hr 30 min
Shared with other guests and arranged with the lodge in advance. Departure times depend on tides, flight arrivals and navigation conditions.
CFA 250,000 (≈ €381)
Approximately 1 hr 30 min
A private transfer offering greater comfort and flexibility. The lodge arranges the departure time according to tides, weather and navigation conditions.
CFA 2,500–10,000
Approximately 6 hr
Advertised departures from Bissau are on Tuesdays, returning on Wednesdays, and Fridays, returning on Sundays. Tickets are sold at the port; facilities are basic and places are limited. Reconfirm the timetable before departure.
€120 / person*
Approximately 30 min
For the Bubaque → Bissau route. Book directly with Air Bijagos; the airline must confirm the fare for your dates. Please read the fare note below.
On request, for the whole aircraft
Depends on the flight
A private flight between Bissau and Bubaque, arranged directly with Air Bijagos. Request a charter quote with your dates, preferred times and number of travellers.
As part of your tailor-made stay, we organise your airport welcome and transfer to the lodge.
Air Bijagos connects Bissau and Bubaque by scheduled flight or private transfer, and offers scenic flights over the archipelago.
Availability, group conditions, baggage, taxes and the final price must be confirmed with Air Bijagos.
Approximately 30 min
€120 / person*
Depends on the flight
On request, for the whole aircraft
30 min
€150 per person
60 min
€220 per person
90 min
€270 per person
Air Bijagos · Telephone and WhatsApp: +245 95 749 83 89
airbijagos.com ↗
Confirm availability, group conditions, baggage allowances, taxes and the final price with Air Bijagos. For Bubaque → Bissau, the €120 reference fare appears on the airline’s homepage, while its routes page currently lists fares from €160 per seat. Ask for the applicable fare for your dates before booking.
Choose your international flights to Bissau according to your dates and departure airport. Send us your flight times before booking your transfer: we will organise your airport welcome and onward journey to the lodge around tides and navigation conditions.
An entry visa is required. In France, applications are made through the Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in Paris. Check with the embassy for the entry conditions and passport validity required for your nationality.
Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory and must be given at an approved centre. A certificate for a first vaccination becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Malaria is present: protect yourself against mosquitoes and ask your doctor about preventive treatment. Consult a travel health doctor a few weeks before leaving. Only drink bottled water or water that has been made safe to drink.
Insurance covering medical expenses and medical repatriation is essential. The country has no emergency service equipped for serious accidents, and the nearest air ambulance is in Dakar, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes away by air.
This flight time is not a guaranteed evacuation timeframe.
The lodge is open from October to the end of May, during the dry season, the best time to discover the archipelago. To see turtles on Poilão, the ideal period is from October to mid-February.
The islands operate on cash only, in CFA francs. There are no ATMs in the archipelago: bring enough cash before leaving Bissau. Exchanging euros for CFA francs may be possible locally, but cannot be guaranteed.
Electricity at the lodge comes from solar panels, supplemented by a generator that powers the air conditioning. The rooms have a fan and air conditioning. The sockets are the same as in France: French travellers do not need an adapter. Wifi is provided through Starlink.
Your safety is part of our planning. Your transfers and excursions take place with our boats and our local team, who know the tides and islands. You have a contact available on WhatsApp at every stage. We monitor local developments and keep you informed before departure. Before leaving, consult your country’s travel advice and, if you are French, register with Ariane.
Orango and João Vieira-Poilão are national parks managed by IBAP, the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas. For a visit, allow for park entry from CFA 20,000 per person; an IBAP guide, CFA 15,000; and boat hire, approximately CFA 320,000 shared between the participants. The larger the group, the lower the cost per person: we give you the exact total in your stay proposal.
Some places are sacred and reserved for initiated members of the community, including the island of Poilão: never enter without your guide’s permission. Always ask before photographing a person, a child or a ceremony. Dress appropriately in villages. Do not give money or sweets to children: if you would like to help, we can direct you to the village school.
Local shops are very basic, selling snacks, water, rice and everyday drinks. Bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, toiletries and personal items, as well as your medicines in their original packaging with the prescription. Shampoo and shower gel are provided at the lodge.
Here, life follows nature, the tides and a different rhythm. Stay flexible and enjoy the experience to the full. We look forward to welcoming you to Cajou Lodge.
Before you go
Yes, an entry visa is required for Guinea-Bissau. From France, apply to the Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in Paris. Check the passport validity required for your nationality.
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and malaria is present: ask your travel doctor for preventive treatment. Recommendations are published by the WHO.
The islands work in cash only, in CFA francs, with no cash machines: bring enough cash before leaving Bissau. Your tailor-made stay with Cajou Lodge is priced in advance in euros.
At your pace, around your wishes
A few dates, a few wishes. Together, let’s shape your stay in the Bijagos.
CAJOU LODGE · BIJAGOS
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