João Vieira and Poilão Marine National Park

The national park encompasses six islands with extensive marine areas covering 49,500 hectares, featuring shallow zones, seagrass beds, mudflats, and mangrove forests.

Following negotiations with local populations in the 1990s and turtle tagging initiatives starting in 1994, the national park received official designation in August 2000.

The island of Poilão maintains its status as a sacred site, where local communities have traditionally abstained from collecting turtle eggs through generations.

Access to the park requires arrangements through tour operators, and visitors should plan accommodations and supplies due to the remote location and limited infrastructure.

The park hosts Africa's largest turtle breeding grounds, with over 40,000 green sea turtle nests recorded in 2014 on Poilão island alone.

Location: Bolama region

Inception: August 1, 2000

GPS coordinates: 10.95063,-15.71182

Latest update: March 10, 2025 15:17