Equatorial Guinea Travel Guide — Visas, Climate & Attractions

Equatorial Guinea Travel GuideAfrica's only Spanish-speaking country and one of its most overlooked — a volcanic island of extraordinary biodiversity, dense rainforest sheltering drills and Bioko island monkeys, black sand beaches, and the faded colonial grandeur of Malabo perched on the rim of a crater lake.Key Facts

Capital: Malabo (Bioko Island)

Currency: XAF (CFA Franc)

Language: Spanish, French, Portuguese

Time Zone: UTC+1

Top Places to Visit

Bioko Island Primate Forests — The rainforests of Bioko harbour one of the world's most extraordinary concentrations of endemic and near-endemic primates — drill, black colobus, red-eared guenon, and Preuss's monkey in the same forest.

Malabo — A strikingly situated capital perched on the rim of a volcanic crater lake — the Plaza de España, the colonial-era cathedral, and streets of faded Spanish architecture.

Gran Caldera de Luba — A protected volcanic crater reserve on Bioko's south coast — the richest part of the island for wildlife, with leatherback turtle beaches and dense primate habitat.

Pico Basile — A 3,011m dormant volcano above Malabo — a challenging half-day or full-day hike through montane and cloud forest to extraordinary Gulf of Guinea panoramas.

Moraka and Ureka Beaches — The remote southern beaches of Bioko where leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles nest between October and March — among the most important eastern Atlantic turtle sites.

Local Food

Grilled Gulf of Guinea Seafood — Fresh prawns, barracuda, and grouper from the Gulf of Guinea, grilled over charcoal at Malabo's beachside restaurants — some of the finest and freshest seafood in Central Africa.

Mbanga Soup — A rich palm nut and smoked fish stew that is the foundation of Bubi and Fang traditional cooking — served with boiled plantain or rice.

Pollo en Salsa and Rice — Chicken slow-cooked in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce — the Spanish colonial culinary legacy expressed through local spices and local chicken, found in Malabo's restaurants.

Brochettes and Plantain — Spiced meat or fish skewers grilled at roadside braziers alongside fried sweet plantain — the universal street food of both Malabo and Bata.

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