Guinea-Bissau operates with minimal paved roads. The 2016 World Bank infrastructure assessment recorded 2,755 kilometers of classified roads, of which approximately 600 kilometers were paved. The main paved route connects Bissau to Bafatá, continuing partially toward Gabú. Rainy season travel renders most unpaved roads impassable from June through October. The road from Bissau to Cacheu remains unpaved and requires four-wheel drive vehicles during wet months. Travelers report journey times between Bissau and Gabú ranging from six to ten hours depending on road conditions, covering roughly 215 kilometers.
Shared taxis called tocas operate between major towns. These vehicles depart when full, typically carrying seven passengers. Fares from Bissau to Bafatá cost between 2,000 and 3,000 West African CFA francs as of 2023. Bush taxis to Gabú range from 4,000 to 6,000 CFA francs. No fixed schedules exist. Passengers wait at designated departure points until the vehicle fills. Luggage fees apply separately.
Public transport within Bissau consists of shared minibuses and motorcycle taxis called Jakarta motos. Minibus fares within the capital cost 100 to 200 CFA francs per journey. Jakarta moto rides range from 300 to 1,000 CFA francs depending on distance. No metered taxis operate in Guinea-Bissau. Private taxi fares require negotiation before departure. Day hire of a private vehicle with driver in Bissau costs between 25,000 and 40,000 CFA francs.
Reaching the Bijagós Islands requires maritime transport. The ferry Buba connects Bissau to Bubaque Island when operational. This service experiences frequent mechanical failures and schedule disruptions. When running, the ferry departs Bissau on Tuesday and Friday mornings, returning from Bubaque on Wednesday and Saturday. The crossing takes five to seven hours. Fare costs approximately 5,000 CFA francs. Private motorized canoes called canoas travel between islands and to the mainland. These journeys depend on weather and tide conditions. A private canoe from Bissau to Bubaque costs between 15,000 and 30,000 CFA francs per person when shared among passengers.
Domestic air service ceased operations in 2018. TransAir previously flew between Bissau and Bubaque but suspended all flights. Chartered flights to airstrips on Bubaque or Orango Island require arrangement through tour operators, with costs exceeding 500,000 CFA francs for small aircraft.
Bicycle rental exists informally in Bissau and Bubaque through guesthouses and local contacts. Daily rates range from 2,000 to 5,000 CFA francs. No organized rental agencies operate. Road conditions limit cycling to dry season months and paved sections within Bissau.
International entry occurs almost exclusively through Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau. TAP Air Portugal operates four weekly flights from Lisbon. Royal Air Maroc connects through Casablanca three times weekly. ASKY Airlines provides service via Lomé twice weekly. The land border with Senegal at São Domingos sees regular crosser traffic, accessible by shared taxi from Bissau for approximately 3,000 CFA francs. The border with Guinea-Conakry at Buruntuma experiences less traffic and requires private vehicle hire. Border crossings close at sunset.
Guinea-Bissau experiences distinct dry and wet seasons governed by West African monsoon patterns. The dry season extends from November through May. The wet season spans June through October, with peak rainfall in July and August. The Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia records average annual precipitation of 2,024 millimeters in Bissau, with less than 10 millimeters falling during December through April combined.
Travel infrastructure operates most reliably from December through April. Unpaved roads become impassable during wet months. Ferry services to the Bijagós Islands cancel frequently due to rough seas between June and September. The Fortaleza de Cacheu remains accessible year-round due to its location in Cacheu town, but surrounding mangrove areas flood extensively during rainy months.
Temperatures vary minimally throughout the year. Bissau records average daily highs between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius across all months. Average lows range from 21 degrees in January to 24 degrees in May. Harmattan winds from the Sahara affect Guinea-Bissau from December through February, reducing humidity and creating hazy conditions. Visibility drops during peak harmattan periods in January.
The Bijagós Islands see reduced tourism services from June through October. Many island guesthouses close during these months. Orango National Park remains officially open but boat access becomes unreliable. Sea turtle nesting on João Vieira and Poilão occurs from June through October, coinciding with the wettest months. Organized turtle watching tours operate despite weather challenges, departing from Bubaque when conditions permit.