Why Travel Logistics Are a Bit Tricky Here
For many years, travel to Equatorial Guinea was considered extremely difficult except for citizens of the USA who had visa-free access to the country. Since 2019, a new e-visa system has been introduced which has ended the visa-free regime for Americans, however it has opened up the country for everyone else.
Regardless of the easier visa, logistics for sightseeing in Equatorial Guinea are still not easy and tourism infrastructure is something to still be desired. That doesn’t mean there isn’t cool things to see here, it just means that seeing them will most likely require a guide and/or some level of Spanish. We have expanded our tours to include Equatorial Guinea and are more excited than ever to be adding more African tour departures which you can
see here.
Visa Requirements for Tourists (As of 2025)
Nearly everyone will be eligible for the E-visa with some minor exceptions. The following neighbouring countries do not require a visa at all and can visit with just the use of a national ID card. They are:
- Chad;
- Gabon;
- Central African Republic (CAR);
- Cameroon; and
- Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
Outside of this region the following three countries also do not require a visa. They are:
- Turkey;
- Tunisia; and
- Barbados
In addition, citizens of the UAE are also eligible for visa on arrival or use of the E-visa system as well.
How to apply?
The system is quite straight forward. But first you will need a proof of a hotel booking in Equatorial Guinea, proof of a flight booking and you will need to write a letter as to why you want to visit the country. You will then apply through the E-visa website which is run by a third party. Here is the link to the correct website: https://equatorialguinea-evisa.com/
The third-party website works quite well. They will even check your documents and communicate with you via email if you require any other additional information.
The cost of the visa is USD $75.
Once the documents have been submitted via the third-party website, it usually takes about 3-5 days to hear back if the visa has been approved.
Anyone who joins a Saiga tour will receive visa assistance for their trip to Equatorial Guinea.
Booking Flights to Equatorial Guinea
The main entry point for tourists arriving into the country will be Malabo International Airport. There are also international flights that arrive to Bata, mainly from Gabon, however these are few and far between.
Flight routes to Malabo are usually that numerous, but the most common airports to transit through will be Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines, Casablanca on Royal Air Maroc, Ari France via Paris, Frankfurt with Lufthansa. Local African airlines Asky and Afrijet also operate services from Togo and Cameroon/Gabon respectively. Combining a trip to Equatorial Guinea with a trip to Cameroon is a great way to find cheaper flights as flights to Douala are usually cheaper than Malabo. There are several flights a day from Douala to Malabo.
If you are savvy enough you can sometimes find cheapish routes to Malabo, however Malabo in general is not the cheapest airport to fly into as is the case with many places in Africa.
Best Times to Travel
Equatorial Guinea has being on the equator means that whenever you visit it will be hot and humid. The rainy season extends from March to October with the wettest times of year being May and June and then again in September October.
We think the best time to travel to Equatorial Guinea is all year round as either way you are going to wet and sticky. We have lined up our group tours with some cool relatively unknown local festivals such as the ‘Mother of Languages Festival’ in February. Check out our itinerary here.
With hot stinky humid weather like this you’ll be wanting to pack shorts, flip-flops and loose-fitting clothing. Oh and of course don’t forget to bring a swimsuit as you will have plenty of opportunity to cool off at one of the beautiful beaches!
Packing and Travel Tips for Group Tours
Cash is king in Equatorial Guinea. ATMs here work with foreign cards; however we recommend bringing cash to exchange, especially euros as the exchange rate here is way better for the Central African Franc than neighbouring countries. Read our guide here on exchanging money in Central Africa.
Sim cards are available for purchase in Malabo. It is very straight forwards with two services offered by Orang and Muni. The only think you will need to bring is cash and your passport. Read here on our guide to getting a sim card in Malabo.
One thing to watch out for in Equatorial Guinea is photography. It is illegal to take photos of any government buildings, and this is taken very seriously and could even get you arrested. Going with a group and a guide is a great way to make sure you stay out of trouble when taking pictures. Photography otherwise is fine!
Malabo is surprisingly international and is easy enough to get by with English, however if you are travelling solo, it is a good idea to know some basic Spanish. If you really want to get a positive reaction from the local people, then picking up a few phrases in Fang (the most common local language on the mainland) will get some smiles for sure. The main local African language on the island of Bioko is called Bubi.
Why Group Travel Simplifies Everything
We will handle all the horrible bureaucracy while you travel around the country which will include navigating military checkpoints, helping you book domestic fligths and all the other fun travel logistics that are usually much more difficult in this part of the world.
Our local guides and Saiga guides are extremely knowledgeable on the history, the culture and peoples of Equatorial Guinea and will also be able to help you answer any questions you might have.
Most importantly, our guides know the best spots for you to fill your belly or have a drink throughout the country. They are also very well-travelled in the region and can give you tips for your any travel you are continuing in the region.
Having a walking translator is also a handy thing to have.
Come with us!
Equatorial Guinea has a reputation as a difficult travel destination, however if you book one of our
group tours,
we will handle the difficult logistics for you! If you are wanting to read further on travel logistics to Equatorial Guinea, then check out our
Equatorial Guinea destination guide
here.
To sign up to one of our Equatorial Guinea group tours send us an email to [email protected].
