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Middle Africa

Equatorial GuineaTravel guide

Explore Equatorial Guinea visa rulesCommon scams in Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a small country in Central Africa. It includes a mainland area between Cameroon and Gabon, Bioko Island and Annobón Island. Tourist services are limited, prices are high and the government tightly controls the country.

Why go

  1. Explore a former Spanish colony where Spanish is still the most useful language.

  2. Visit the country's many beaches, including those in Malabo and Bata.

  3. See Ciudad de la Paz, a city built in the mainland jungle that became the capital in 2026.

Best time to go: For drier weather, visit Bioko from December to March or the mainland in July and August.

Getting there

By air

  • Malabo International Airport (SSG) is the main international entry point.
  • Air France flies from Paris, and Ethiopian Airlines flies from Addis Ababa.
  • Ceiba operates regional and domestic flights. It is banned from flying in the European Union.

By land

  • The mainland can be reached from Gabon by paved roads and from Cameroon. Malabo is on Bioko Island and cannot be reached by car from the mainland.
  • The Campo crossing is often closed.
  • Officials at Kye-Ossi and Ebebiyin may refuse entry if they consider your reason for visiting insufficient. Travellers who are not white may also be refused entry.

By sea

  • Viteoca runs a ferry between Tiko, near Douala in Cameroon, and Malabo. Departures are irregular, roughly once a month.
  • Informal speedboats run between Cogo on the mainland and Cocobeach in Gabon.

Customs

  • Electronic visas cost US$75 and are processed in 72 hours. They are valid only for arrival by air at Malabo airport.
  • For entry by land or sea, apply for an ordinary visa at an Equatorial Guinean embassy or consulate. Fees are generally around US$200, with higher charges for faster service.
  • An ordinary visa application generally requires a passport valid for more than six months and proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Getting around

  • Road travel

    Many roads are newly built, especially those linking important cities. Drive on the right. Police may demand bribes for made-up traffic offences.

  • Domestic flights

    Ceiba operates domestic flights.

What to see and do

  • Beaches

    The country has many beaches, including those in Malabo and Bata. Wear shoes because of rubbish and harmful bugs in the sand.

  • Ciudad de la Paz

    This city was built deep in the mainland jungle and became the capital in 2026.

  • Malabo and Bioko

    New buildings and other development projects are especially visible on Bioko and around Malabo.

Food and drink

  • Hotel Sofitel coffee shop

    French food across from the Cathedral along the north coast in Malabo.

  • Hotel Bahia restaurant

    A restaurant popular with local people and foreign residents.

  • Pizza Place

    Pizza and pasta in Malabo.

  • Restaurante Bantu

    Chinese food.

  • La Luna

    Moroccan and European food.

  • Local dishes

    Try smoked beef with black pepper or roast duck with cheese and onion leaf.

Money

Central African CFA franc (XAF), also written FCFA

  • Ecobank cash machines accept Mastercard and Visa cards for withdrawals.
  • The currency is also used in five other Central African countries.
  • The Central African CFA franc can be exchanged at equal value with the West African CFA franc.
  • The fixed rate is €1 to 655.957 CFA francs.

Typical costs

  • A decent hotel room with few facilities costs €100–400.
  • A simple lunch in a clean restaurant with air conditioning costs at least €30, excluding drinks.

Language

  • Spanish is an official language and the most useful language for visitors.
  • French and Portuguese are official languages, but neither is widely spoken or understood.
  • Fang and Igbo are widely spoken.
  • Some people on Bioko speak English, but few people elsewhere do, even in the capital.

Staying safe

  • The government tightly controls the country, and police may question or harass tourists about their visit.
  • Security forces sometimes demand bribes.
  • Border officials may refuse entry because of your stated reason for visiting or your ethnicity.
  • Wear shoes on beaches in Malabo and Bata because of rubbish and harmful bugs in the sand. The advice to wear shoes also applies to carpeted areas.
1 common scams in Equatorial Guinea, and how to avoid them

Local customs

Do

  • Local people are described as very welcoming.
  • Be aware of the country's close historical ties with Spain. Many local people are familiar with Spanish culture.

Staying healthy

  • Drink only bottled water. Clean drinking water sources are not available.
  • Take care with washed fruit and vegetables, ice cubes and drinks made with added water, including coffee, tea and lemonade.
  • Ask your doctor about medicine to prevent malaria. The most common malaria parasite in the country is resistant to chloroquine.
  • Wear shoes on beaches and in carpeted areas because of rubbish and harmful bugs.

Where to stay

  • There is a wide choice of hotels in Malabo and on the mainland.
  • Rooms can be expensive despite having very few facilities.
  • Bring towels, soap and shampoo, as your hotel may not provide them.

Outdoor adventures in Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea offers mainland wildlife, quiet nature spots and beaches on the mainland and Bioko Island. Tourist facilities are limited, and the dry months differ between Bioko and the mainland.

  • Monte Alén National Park

    WildlifeRío Muni

    July–August is the mainland dry season.

    Visit the national park in the centre of the mainland for wildlife watching. Transport and guide arrangements are not specified.

    • Drink only bottled water.
    • Ask your doctor about malaria prevention tablets before travelling.

  • Mbini and the beaches outside Bata

    BeacheRío Muninear Bata

    July–August is the mainland dry season.

    Head outside Bata for undeveloped white sand beaches. The beaches at Mbini, about 50 km south of Bata, are particularly recommended. Transport options are not specified.

    • Wear shoes on Bata's beaches because of discarded rubbish and unsafe sand bugs.
    • Drink only bottled water.

  • Malabo beaches

    BeacheBiokonear Malabo

    December–March are Bioko's driest months.

    Visit the beaches in Malabo. Specific beach names and transport options are not specified.

    • Wear shoes because of discarded rubbish and unsafe sand bugs.
    • Drink only bottled water.

  • Complejo Bome nature preserve

    More to doRío Muninear Bata

    July–August is the mainland dry season.

    Visit Complejo Bome in Hess, Bome-Antiguo, Bata. Transport and guide arrangements are not specified.

    • Drink only bottled water.
    • Ask your doctor about malaria prevention tablets before travelling.

Airports, metros and trains in Equatorial Guinea

Airports with scheduled flights

  • BSGBata International AirportBataMain international airport
  • OCSCorisco International AirportCorisco IslandMain international airport
  • SSGMalabo International AirportMalaboMain international airport

People and safety in Equatorial Guinea

Religion

Most people are Christian. Mostly one faith.

  • Christian89%
  • Muslim10%
  • No religion5%
  • Folk religions2%
  • Other<1%

LGBT+ travellers

Legal

  • Same-sex marriage is not recognised.
  • Some laws protect against discrimination.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 9 of 198 countries can visit Equatorial Guinea easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required8
  • Visa on arrival1
  • eVisa187
  • Visa required2

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Africa6 of 53 countries
  • Asia2 of 50 countries
  • Americas1 of 35 countries
  • Europe0 of 46 countries
  • Oceania0 of 14 countries

Questions

When is the driest time to visit?

Bioko is driest from December to March. The mainland is dry in July and August.

Can I get by with English?

Few people speak English, although there is an English-speaking population on Bioko. Spanish is the most useful language.

Can I withdraw cash with my bank card?

Ecobank cash machines accept Mastercard and Visa cards.

How expensive are hotels and meals?

A decent room with few facilities costs €100–400. A simple restaurant lunch costs at least €30 without drinks.

Can I drink tap water?

Drink only bottled water. Take care with ice, washed produce and drinks made with added water.

Where can I find hospital care?

La Paz Hospitals are in Bata and Malabo. The United States embassy identifies them as the country's only hospitals with standards comparable to those in a developed country.

What should I wear on the beach?

Wear shoes, especially on beaches in Malabo and Bata. Rubbish and harmful bugs in the sand are concerns.

What are the roads like?

Many roads are newly built, especially around important cities. Drive on the right, and be aware that police may demand bribes for made-up traffic offences.

What electricity supply does the country use?

The supply is 220 volts at 50 hertz. Europlug and Type E plugs are used.

What should I pack for my hotel stay?

Bring towels, soap and shampoo. Even expensive rooms may not provide these basics.

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