How to move around the Country?

Toca-toca, transporte mixto, ferry... I explain everything to you so that you can move around the country serenely!

TOCA-TOCA (Minibus Bissau)

The toca-toca are vans that look like those in Senegal for those who know. Apart from areas where stopping is prohibited (Banks and administrative places) and downtown/praça, each building is a potential stop to take you anywhere. The single fare is 150 XOF no matter where you take it to the terminus indicated on the bodywork (The starting point is MATADUR, behind the National Assembly for all lines).

They are vehicles from another age, no belts and wooden or metal benches for seats. The assistant (Ajudante) sits at the back, helps with charging the fee, client's ups and downs and announces the stops. It taps on the bodywork to warn the driver where to stop.

ATTENTION!

I know that what I am about to ask you is difficult to put in place when the time comes, but I beg you, do it!

Drivers, to earn more money, have the unfortunate tendency to board more passengers than there are seats. When this happens in vans late at night and outside of Bissau, I can accept it since users are not sure that there will be a next van passage. But in broad daylight and in the capital, this is unacceptable!

These "illegal" passengers are forced to kneel so that the traffic police do not stop the vehicle. As soon as you witness this situation, GO DOWN without paying!

They will try to put pressure on you to make you pay but by threatening to call the police they will have to let you off. When you do your scene in the van, the other passengers may not agree with you because they are not aware of this notion of security (God protect them right?) and only see the time you are making them lose. Personally, I like to say to them "If you want to play with death, that's your problem. Remember we don't have hospitals that are worth it, if this toca-toca has an accident, you will die, but without me". Half will start praying to ward off the spell, the other half will tell you that nothing will happen. The 2 or 3 people who agree with you usually don't have the courage to speak loud enough to unite.

More seriously, follow my recommendations above and hold on!

It is out of the question that you die in an old carcass without any security because of people who play with the lives of others for a few extra CFA francs!!! It is common to see overturned vehicles on the side of the road. Take care!

I'm working on an interactive map listing the toca-toca lines and stops. this deserves a separate article!

EDIT : By some bad luck I have lost the entire work of the interactive map! Several weeks of work. I really want to cry!

Taxis

Taxis are collective. The driver will take up to 4 customers who go to the same area.

When hailing taxis, announce your destination and before getting in, always ask "i kanto?" (How much is it?) Because understanding that you are not from the area, the drivers very quickly tend to increase their prices. I will put you the standard price list soon so that you have an idea and not be fooled. In general, as soon as you signal to refuse, the drivers negotiate.

It is still common to find seats without belts. I was hypocrite to say in the french version that you should wait until you find a taxi with seat belt. Unfortunatly, no one is using them even when they are functional.

You have returned to Guinea-Bissau to have a positive impact on the country, this means demanding safer transport.

Transportes mixto

These are collective vehicles ranging from "7-seaters" to vans such as toca-toca

They serve all cities in the country.

A tariffs grid exist somewhere... I need to find it!

Boats for the Islands

A Spanish company (ConsulMar) has signed a contract with the Bissau-Guinean State to provide the maritime transport service to the islands.

Obviously the boats have already had several lives before arriving at our place (but properly repainted they look like new!) .

Only the most economically profitable island is served: Bubaque, as well as the crossing to Enxudé, on the other bank of the Geba river. Bolama was served until mid-November 2018.

The population of the other islands must content themselves with canoes.

Do you see the business opportunity ???

Official site