Africa
Island archipelagos, mangroves and a slow, unhurried pace.
Guinea-Bissau is small and quiet, with a coastline of mangroves, estuaries and islands. Its highlight is the Bijagós Archipelago, a UNESCO biosphere reserve where hippos swim in salt water, turtles nest on remote beaches and island communities keep strong traditions. Bissau, the capital, has a colonial old town, Bissau Velho, and a lively carnival.
Travel is simple and slow: boats to the islands, shared minibuses on the mainland and basic lodgings. Fresh seafood, rice dishes and cashew fruit from the country's biggest crop are part of daily life. The dry season from November to May is the best time to visit; the rains from June to October make many roads difficult.
January, February, March, December.