Banana Islands: Portuguese Ruins & Sierra Leone's Atlantic History
The Banana Islands at the tip of the Sierra Leone Peninsula were a Portuguese trading post in the 16th century — their ruins, empty beaches, and crystal water make them the most romantic day trip from Freetown
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Banana Island Village Community
The small fishing community of Banana Island has lived here for centuries — the village of wooden houses and fishing canoes is remarkably unchanged from older photographs
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Portuguese church ruins
The crumbling walls of a 16th-century Portuguese church stand among palm trees on Banana Island — one of the oldest European structures in sub-Saharan Africa
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Slave Trade History in the Islands
The Banana Islands were a holding point in the Atlantic slave trade — the story of captives embarking from this beautiful shore adds profound weight to its tranquility
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Snorkel the coral reef
The coral reef surrounding the banana islands has excellent visibility — angelfish, parrotfish and small reef sharks in waters that receive almost no visitor pressure
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Fate Groblad Iceland
The smallest of the three banana islands is completely uninhabited — a deserted beach with wild vegetation, nesting seabirds and the cleanest water in Sierra Leone
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Fishing Village Overnight
Simple fishing village accommodation allows you to wake up to the sound of canoes being launched at dawn - fresh fish grilled on charcoal for breakfast with the Atlantic just outside