Bijagos Archipelago, tidal islands and protected waters off Bissau
Published on 09/14/2026 at 06:03 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Bijagos Archipelago off Bissau in Guinea-Bissau is a broad scatter of low-lying islands set in shallow Atlantic waters, shaped by tides that expose and cover mudflats and sandbanks each day. Across this offshore world, mangrove forests, palm groves and villages of the Bijagó people share space with rich wildlife in an area recognised as both a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a natural World Heritage Site.
A tidal landscape of islands, mudflats and mangroves
The Bijagos Archipelago consists of a group of islands and islets lying off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, formed from the ancient delta of the Rio Geba and Rio Grande.ancient delta of the Rio Geba and Grande The island group extends across wide shallow waters, where intertidal zones of mudflats and sandbanks emerge at low tide and vanish beneath incoming water, creating a landscape that changes in appearance within a single day.intertidal zones of mudflats and sandbanks
Across the archipelago there is a high diversity of ecosystems, including mangroves, coastal savanna, palm forests, dry and semi-dry forests, secondary and degraded forests, sand banks and aquatic zones.high diversity of ecosystems The Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve, which covers the wider archipelago, spans more than 1,046,950 ha of marine and terrestrial habitats where shallow channels thread between wooded islands and open sandbars.Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve surface
UNESCO protection and ecological richness
The Bijagos Archipelago was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1996, recognising the coexistence of conservation and traditional island life across the Bolama-Bijagós region.declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1996 At the international level, the archipelago is also recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, a status that highlights its role in supporting migratory waterbirds and other wildlife.recognised as a Ramsar Site
In 2025, the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a natural site, covering a large part of the archipelago’s intertidal and marine habitats.Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago This World Heritage Site includes protected areas such as João Vieira and Poilão Marine National Park and Orango Islands National Park, with the remaining islands forming a buffer zone designated under the Biosphere Reserve to help safeguard the wider seascape.
Wildlife, island culture and visiting the Bijagos
The ecological richness of the Bijagos Archipelago is reflected in its wildlife. The shallow channels, mangroves and sandbanks provide feeding and resting areas for migratory shorebirds moving along the East Atlantic Flyway, making the archipelago one of the main wintering areas for these species.wintering area across the East Atlantic Flyway Green turtles nest on offshore beaches, and mammals such as manatees, dolphins and hippos are recorded in the wider protected area.exceptional biodiversity including turtles and mammals
Within this environment, the Bijagó people maintain communities on several islands, living in settlements that are integrated into the archipelago’s coastal and forested landscapes.Bijagós Islands and Bijagó people For visitors, the combination of tidal channels, sandy strands and mangrove-lined shores creates a setting where travel between islands generally takes place by boat across shallow Atlantic waters, with journeys shaped by the timing of the tides.
Visiting Bijagos Archipelago: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Bijagos Archipelago lies off the coast near Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, reached from the mainland by boat services that cross shallow Atlantic channels between the city and the islands.
- On many islands, movement away from landing points involves walking on sand, mudflats or simple paths, and some approaches pass through mangrove areas where the ground can be uneven.
- The official language is Portuguese and the currency is the West African CFA franc.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Bijagos Archipelago
Where is the Bijagos Archipelago?
The Bijagos Archipelago is a group of islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, lying offshore from Bissau.
What can travellers expect on a visit?
Travellers encounter low-lying islands separated by tidal channels, with mangrove forests, palm groves, sandy strands and villages linked by boat routes across shallow waters.
What makes the Bijagos Archipelago distinctive?
The combination of a tidal island landscape, recognised UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage status, alongside rich wildlife and island communities, gives the Bijagos a distinctive character.
