Equatorial Guinea

Understand

For visitors, Equatorial Guinea is infamous for its high prices and hard-to-get visas for most. This is nominally a police state, akin to Turkmenistan and North Korea (minus the minders and organized persecution of its inhabitants). As a result, tourist infrastructure is sparse and it is not a high priority for the government. You are likely to face harassment by police forces curious of what you are doing in the country as a "tourist". Since the oil companies operating here are mostly American, Americans may receive marginally better treatment compared to other nationalities (e.g. visa-free entry, less suspicion by police). Since the discovery of oil, Equatorial Guinea has—at least on paper—one of the highest per-capita incomes on the planet. Despite this, income and day-to-day life for many Equatorial Guineans has improved little, due to the endemic corruption siphoning off oil revenue into the hands of a small wealthy elite. However, there has been progress, and new infrastructure and modernization projects are under construction or even finished, especially on Bioko and around Malabo. A new city called Ciudad de la Paz (City of Peace) has been built deep in the jungles of the mainland, officially becoming the capital in 2026. In spite of the impressive-looking new infrastructure, few Equatorial Guineans have access to it, and while the government throws billions of dollars at new construction, less than half the country's population (of fewer than 700,000) have access to clean drinking water.

History

In the Río Muni region, there is believed to have been a widespread pygmy population, of whom only isolated pockets remain in the north. Bantu migrations between the 17th and 19th centuries brought the coastal tribes and later the Fang. The Portuguese explorer Fer

See

There are lots of beaches. Take the precautions listed in the 'Stay Safe' category.

Eat

There are several good places to eat, particularly in Malabo. The coffee shop at Hotel Sofitel (across from the Cathedral along the north coast) offers French cuisine. Hotel Bahia's main restaurant is also a favorite destination for locals and expats. For pizza and pasta, the Pizza Place is the best place in the city. For Asian cuisine, Restaurante Bantu offers Chinese cuisine. For Moroccan and European food, try La Luna. Try Equatorial Guinean cuisine such as smoked beef with a black pepper. There is also a roast duck with cheese and onion leaf.

Drink

Ebebiyin is known for its many bars. Wine is available, and the locally produced beer, Guineana, is very good.

Buy

Money

The currency is the Central African CFA franc, denoted FCFA (ISO currency code: XAF). It's also used by five other Central African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs. You can withdraw money with a Mastercard or Visa card at any Ecobank ATM in Equatorial Guinea.

Costs Everything is extremely expensive in Equatorial Guinea. A decent room with very limited amenities (bring necessities such as towels, soap and shampoo as the hotel may not have any) will be €100-400. A simple lunch will cost at least €30 (without drinks such as wine, beer or soft drinks) in a clean, air-conditioned restaurant.

Getting there

Obtaining a visa for Equatorial Guinea has historically been notoriously expensive and difficult. Tourism is not a priority of the government, and visitors without obvious business or family reasons are viewed with grave suspicion.

Visa requirements Citizens of Barbados, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Turkey, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Gabon do not require a visa to visit the country.

Visa application requirements The e-Visa program, launched 2023, makes entry into the country much more straightforward. e-Visas are available to all nationalities, cost US$75 and are processed in 72 hours. However, they are only valid for entry by air at Malabo airport. If you're travelling overland or by sea, you will need to apply for an ordinary Equatoguinean visa at an official Equatoguinean consulate or embassy. Although regulations and exact prices vary from place to place, you are generally looking at a fee of around US$200 (more for express service) and will need to submit the following with your application:

A valid passport. Your passport should have a validity longer than six months. Proof you haven't been convicted of any major crimes. The document should not be older than three months, and must be submitted in either English, French, or Spanish. Proof you have been vaccinated against yellow fever. This is a must. A letter from your bank confirming you have at least $2,000 in your bank account. This is only required if you plan on applying for a tourist visa. A letter of invitation from the local authorities. The letter must not be older than three months and it must be apostilled by the government. This can be very difficult to obtain and is arguably the main deterrent for obtaining a visa to visit the country. Some consulates and

Sleep

Due to the influx of foreign workers and foreign investment in Malabo and on the continent, there is an ample choice of hotels.

Stay safe

Photography Previously, a permit from the Ministry of Information and Tourism was required for photography. Although the law has changed, law enforcement authorities may use this as a reason to target, intimidate, extort, threaten, or even arrest tourists. As obvious as it may sound, do not walk around with a camera on your neck, and do not photograph airports, government buildings, or anything of military or strategic value.

Authorities The police are known to be aggressive, truculent, and confrontational. Extortion by them is not uncommon.

Politics Equatorial Guinea is an authoritarian country that does not tolerate or permit dissent. It is unwise to criticise or show any kind of disrespect to Teodoro Obiang or the Equatoguinean government. A comment heard by the wrong person can land you in serious trouble with the authorities. Be very skeptical if someone tries to start a political conversation. Always ask yourself, "What's in it for them?" Since most Equatoguineans know that discussing politics is taboo, there's always some ulterior motive you don't know about.

Extreme weather Equatorial Guinea is equatorial, its weather conditions are very tropical and normally very hot. It is b