TRAVEL INFO

Provinces
Guinea-Bissau is divided into 3 geographic provinces and 8 regions. The coastal lowlands are covered by mangrove swamps, the interior plain is heavily forested and the northeastern, which comprises of part of the Fonta Djallon Plateau.

Getting there
By air: Airlines from Europe serving Guinea-Bissau include Portugal's TAP, Air Luxor and French company through Dakar (Senegal), Air Bissau. The main airport is Bissau. There is no large choice for flights between Guinea-Bissau and other western African destinations, except to Senegal, Gambia, Cape-Verde and Guinea Conakry.
By road: Most travellers heading overland to Guinea-Bissau take the northern route via Gabti, Koundara and Labe. Getting between Bissau and Gabi is easy as well as between Conakry and Koundara.
By sea: It may be posssible to find a freighter in Bissau heading for Dakar or Conakry. All international shipping is controlled by an organization called Guinea. The ofice is in Bissau, near the port.

Getting around
By air: There are no internal flights on the mainland.
By road: The main roads between Bissau and the towns of Gabu, Cacheu and Farim, and to the border at Sao Domingos are all tarred and in good condition.
By sea (and lakes): From Bissau port there are ferries once a week to Babaque Island (80 km to the south-west), twice a week to Bolama (40 km to the south), once a week to Cation, on the coast near the southern border with Guinea, and every morning (except Sunday) to Enxude - just across the bay from Bissau. They all leave from the port in Bissau.

Weather
Rainy seasons lasts from June to November. Best time to visit is December and January.

Telephone
The international dialling code is 00 245. Outgoing international calls must go through the operator. Telex facilities are available at the main post office in Bissau.
There are currently two mobile telecommunication providers active in Guinea Bissau - Areeba and Guinea Telecom. They offer prepayment cards (2000 CFA = 3 Eur), which can be used for international calls as well.

Post
Airmail can take 6-8 days. Ordinary mail takes 6-8 weeks.

Documents and permissions
International driving permit is recommended.
Passport and visa are required. Visa is not required for the nationalities from ECOWAS countries. Visa applications should be made to the Guinea Bissau embassies or consulates. Passport must be valid for 6 months.

Health
Recommended immunization: hepatitis B, malaria, meningitis, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever.
Compulsory vaccination: yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas.

Languages
African languages, Crioulo and Portuguese are spoken in Guinea-Bissau.

Credit cards
Credit cards are virtually useless except in Bissau. Credit card can be arranged on card cash advances.

Business hours
Offices are open from 7.30 to 14.00.
Banks are open from 7.30 to 14.30.
Shops are open from 7.30-12.30 and 14.30-18.30 Monday to Friday (weekly days off: Saturday and Sunday)

Public holidays
Fixed dates: New years day (January 1), Death of Amilcar Cabral (January 20), International Women's Day (March 8), Worker's day (May 1), Assassination of Pidjiguiti (August 3), National Day (September 24), Movement of Readjustment (November 14), Christmas day (December 25)
Variable dates: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, ashura, Ramadan, Tabaski

Accomodation
Hotel accommodation is limited and difficult to obtain at short notice. Reservations should be made well in advance, preferably through business contact. Hotel tariffs are liable to changes at short notice, therefore confirmation of booking is recommended.

Currency
Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Foreign currency import is unlimited, but amounts should be declared. Export is allowed up to declared amount.

City Transport
Taxis and 'toka toka' are available in Bissau and serve all main towns. For transport to other cities are available 'toka toka' or 'candongas'.

Driving
International Driving Permit is recommended and temporary licence is available from local authorities on presentation of UK licence.

Prohibited items
List of prohibited items includes:

• weapons
• silencers
• ammunitions
• toy guns and explosives, including tear gas
• plants, seeds, bulbs, fresh fruit and vegetables (unless a permit is obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture stating plants are free from disease)
• pornographic material
• drugs

Firearms require a certificate to be issued by Guinea-Bissau Firearms Bureau for import.

Pets
Import permit must be obtained from the Veterinary Department at the Ministry of agriculture, Bissau prior to shipping. Up to date Vaccination Certificate from the country of origin must be provided on arrival. Dogs and cats are exempt from Value Added Tax but are dutiable. Birds and bird eggs are prohibited.

More info:

Contact GBI LDA