Malabo & Bioko

Equatorial Guinea's capital on Bioko's northern coast, its old town dotted with Spanish colonial buildings and a cathedral; explore the island's south for nesting turtles on Ureca's beaches, the rainforest of Pico Basilé and the lakes of the Moka plateau.

Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea, located on the northern coast of Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea, about 40 km from the coast of Cameroon. Bioko is a volcanic island of about 2,000 km²; in the north rises the 3,011 m Pico Basilé, while the south is home to the Moka plateau and the Gran Caldera de Luba, covered in some of the best-preserved rainforest in West Africa. In the city: see Santa Isabel Cathedral, Independence Square and colonial buildings in Malabo's old town, browse the central market, watch the sunset along the seafront promenade in the evening, or swim at Sipopo beach on the eastern outskirts. Around the island: drive south to go up Pico Basilé, pass through the Moka plateau to visit Lake Biao and the Iladyi waterfalls; on the west coast lie the town of Luba and the white sands of Arena Blanca beach, while Ureca at the southern tip is a remote haven of nesting turtles and pristine rainforest, usually requiring an overnight stay. The climate is hot, humid and rainy; the dry season from December to February is the best time to travel, coinciding with the peak turtle nesting season at Ureca and the butterfly season at Arena Blanca. Getting there: Malabo International Airport has flights to Madrid, Addis Ababa, Douala and elsewhere; on the island you'll need to hire a car with driver, and there are checkpoints on the roads in the south. Allow 4–5 days. Note: visas must be arranged in advance; permits are required for travel outside the city, climbing Pico Basilé and entering protected areas, so it's best to arrange things through a local tour operator. Photographing the presidential palace, military, police or government facilities is strictly prohibited. Prices are high, and cash is mainly in Central African CFA francs.

Top sights

• Cathedral of Santa Isabel – A neo-Gothic twin-towered cathedral completed in 1916, a landmark of Malabo and the principal Catholic cathedral of Equatorial Guinea.
• Pico Basilé – The highest peak on Bioko Island at 3,011 metres, with a road reaching almost to the summit, passing through cloud forest and offering view…
• Moka & Lake Biaó – A cool highland at about 1,300 metres in the south of the island, with Bubi villages, pastures, and the crater lakes Lake Biao and Lake Lor…
• Ureca Beach – A black-sand beach at the southernmost tip of Bioko Island where four species of sea turtle nest, surrounded by the island's most pristine…
• Independence Square & Old Town – A palm-lined square in front of the cathedral, surrounded by colonial-era houses with colourful wooden balconies. It is Malabo's most walka…
• Paseo Marítimo – A seafront promenade built along Malabo's northern shore, ideal for watching the sunset over the bay. On clear days you can make out the vo…
• Mercado Central – Malabo's largest traditional market, piled high with tropical fruit, smoked fish, cassava and African wax-print fabrics. It offers a direct…
• Sipopo Beach – A new resort district east of Malabo, lined with beach hotels, a conference centre and artificial islands. It is the most convenient swimmi…
• Malabo National Park – A large urban park on Malabo's western edge, with a lake, walking trails and play facilities. It is a green space where residents stroll an…
• Iladyi Waterfalls – A waterfall in the rainforest near Moca, dropping about 240 metres. From a viewpoint or a downhill hike, you can see a white ribbon plungin…
• Arena Blanca – A rare white-sand beach near Luba, where thousands of butterflies gather on the sand in the dry season. It is a weekend getaway for Malabo…
• Luba – Bioko's second-largest town, with a bay harbour and a quiet colonial-era church. It is a convenient base on the southwest coast.
• Gran Caldera de Luba – A vast crater about 5 km across in southern Bioko. Its primeval rainforest is home to endangered primates such as the drill.

Where to eat

• La Luna – A seaside restaurant opposite Malabo port, consistently ranked first in listings; its signature dishes are garlic prawn…
• Restaurante Imagine – An upscale European-fusion restaurant in Malabo II, serving seafood paella as well as local dishes such as ndolé; often…
• Kalytero – A waterfront café-bar on the seafront boulevard with air conditioning, serving Spanish tapas and Latin American snacks…

Itineraries

• Bioko Island Loop from Malabo – Based in Malabo, take daily excursions to see volcanoes, black sand beaches, and misty highlands.