Things to do in Guinea-Bissau

Glide silently in a pirogue through the mangroves and lagoons of Orango Island to observe the rare saltwater hippos that wallow and graze at the water's edge.

Stroll the broad, mossy avenues of the former colonial capital, where grand but crumbling Portuguese buildings stand as silent relics of a bygone era.

Visit the main island of the Bijagós to see day-to-day rhythms of fishing, rice farming and matriarchal society, far removed from modern bustle.

Dive into the country's largest market, where stacks of wax-print fabrics, aromatic spices and glistening fresh seafood create a sensory overload.

Explore the old Portuguese fort that houses the mausoleum of independence hero Amílcar Cabral, a sobering cornerstone of national memory.

Feel the irresistible beat of Guinea-Bissau's national music at Centro Cultural Brasil-Guinea-Bissau, where local bands blend traditional percussion with modern grooves.

Paddle silently along narrow creeks threading the vast Cacheu River Natural Park, home to flamingos, pelicans and troops of colobus monkeys in the canopy.

Join a supervised night visit during nesting season to see green turtles haul themselves ashore and bury their eggs on this protected, uninhabited Bijagós islet.

Scan freshwater lagoons and savannah woodland for African fish eagles, crowned cranes and huge flocks of migratory waterbirds in this Ramsar-protected wetland.

Journey to the northern coast near Senegal to find empty white-sand beaches, a ruined Portuguese fort and a tiny fishing village lost in time.

Slip through a water maze of emerald mangroves, spotting kingfishers and herons, on a guided pirogue trip around the pristine islands of this marine sanctuary.

Pull up a plastic chair at a family-run eatery in the old quarter and dip into a steaming bowl of peanut-stew perfection, the nation's signature comfort food.

Join the February street party as masked dancers, drum troupes and elaborate floats transform the capital's main thoroughfare into a whirl of colour and sound.

See intricate Bijagó masks, ceremonial stools and traditional musical instruments that narrate the country's diverse ethnic heritage in a quiet colonial building.

Cross the iconic colonial-era span over the Geba River as the sky turns orange, watching fishermen in pirogues cast their nets in the golden light.

Trek to this thunderous cascade near Bafatá, where the river plunges over a rocky ledge into clear pools – the perfect adventure stop during the dry season.

Sample freshly shucked oysters harvested by the women of the Bijagós mangroves, served simply with lime at a no-frills waterside bar.

Explore the heavy-walled fortress and the haunting memorial that remembers the millions of enslaved Africans who passed through this former slave-trade hub.

Paddle among half-submerged trees in the rainy season, listening to chimpanzee calls echo across this little-visited savannah-forest mosaic in the east.

Grab a paper bag of hot, golden-fried pastries from a street vendor and munch while watching pirogues bob in the Geba River – a cheap, delicious moment.

Sleep aboard a simple vessel and wake to new islands each day, combining wildlife watching, village visits and snorkeling in one of West Africa's last wild archipelagos.

Step onto a forgotten curve of sand on this uninhabited speck in the Orango group, where only nesting terns and gentle waves intrude on the silence.

Stand ringside in a dusty village clearing as Fula wrestlers, covered in dust and talismans, grapple and throw each other in this explosive traditional sport.

Climb the sandstone escarpment where Amílcar Cabral launched the liberation struggle, peering into caves used by freedom fighters and soaking in vast savannah views.

Time your visit for the dry-season initiation rituals, when elaborately carved wooden masks emerge to embody spirits in a powerful, rarely-seen animist spectacle.