Bubaque

Bubaque is the main island of the Bijagós archipelago and the only one with anything approaching a town, a few streets of low buildings, a market, some guesthouses and the pier where the ferry from Bissau comes in. Everything in the archipelago is arranged from here. Beaches run down the southern end and the island is forested inland with palm and cashew. The island holds a few thousand people, which makes it easily the most populated in the archipelago.

What's there

• The town - the archipelago's only real settlement.
• The ferry pier - the link to Bissau and the rest of the islands.
• The southern beaches - the sand at the far end of the island.
• The interior - palm and cashew forest across the island.

When to go

November to May is the dry season and the practical window. The rains from June to October make travel very difficult. Ferries are irregular in any season.

Good to know

The ferry from Bissau is slow, crowded and irregular; getting stuck is normal. Accommodation is basic guesthouses. Power is intermittent and supplies limited.

Nearby

Rubane is north, and Canhabaque is east.

Key facts