Guinea-Bissau is a tropical country on West Africa’s Atlantic coast that’s known for national parks and wildlife. The port city of Bissau is the capital. Here, you can find plenty of old buildings steeped in history, as well as an interesting museum which displays objects collected from different ethnic groups around the country. Guinea-Bissau’s greatest asset, though, is the Bijagós archipelago, which floats just off the coast. Its main island, Bubaque, forms part of the Orango Islands National Park, where you can find turtle nesting sites and rare saltwater hippos lazing in lagoons. Bordering Senegal in the north is Varela, a laid-back beach town well off the beaten path. To reach it, you’ll have to cross rugged terrain from the town of São Domingos, but the rewards make the trip worthwhile, with white sands, crystalline water and pine forests lying in wait. Further north you’ll find Lagoas de Cufada Natural Park, a wetland region of creeks and thick mangroves, while hiking trails abound in Cantanhez Forest National Park, near the country’s southern tip. Accommodation is quite limited to hotels in Bissau, though there are a handful of others, plus a few eco-lodges, found on the islands.
