Tristao Islands
A mangrove island group in the far northwest, a Ramsar wetland on the border.
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The Tristao islands sit at Guinea's northwestern corner where the Rio Nunez estuary meets the border with Guinea-Bissau, a group of low islands in dense mangrove designated a Ramsar wetland, with fishing villages on the larger ones and channels running between. Manatees are recorded in the water and the mangrove is a nursery for the whole coastal fishery. Access is by boat and needs arranging. The islands were designated under the Ramsar convention in the 1990s along with the Rio Kapatchez wetland further south. Together they protect a substantial part of Guinea's remaining mangrove.
What you actually see
- The mangrove channels - the network running between the islands.
- The fishing villages - the settlements on the larger islands.
- The Ramsar wetland - protection covering the whole island group.
- The border estuary - the water dividing Guinea from Guinea-Bissau.
When to go
November to April is the dry season and boats run more reliably. Tide governs the channels. The rains from May make access difficult.
Honest expectations
Access is by boat arranged locally with no scheduled service. There is no accommodation beyond village arrangements. Mosquitoes in the mangrove are severe.
Nearby
Kamsar is southeast, and Guinea-Bissau is north.
What to pack for Tristao Islands
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.