Malabo Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
capital of Equatorial Guinea
About Malabo
The city was founded by the British in 1827, who leased the island from Spain during the colonial period. Named Port Clarence, it was used as a naval station in the effort to suppress the slave trade. Many newly freed slaves were also settled there, prior to the establishment of Sierra Leone as a colony for freed slaves. While many of them later relocated to Sierra Leone, some of their descendants, called Fernandinos, can still be found in Malabo and the surrounding area, where they constitute a distinct ethnic group, speaking their own Afro-Portuguese pidgin dialect. When the island reverted to complete Spanish control, Malabo was renamed Santa Isabel. It was chosen to replace the mainland town of Bata as the capital of the country in 1969, and was renamed Malabo in 1973 as part of Presid
Top Attractions in Malabo
Explore the best things to see and do in Malabo:
- ★Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program
- ★Ilachi Waterfall
- ★Old Town
- ★St. Elisabeth's Cathedral
- ★Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial
Where to Eat in Malabo
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Aviator Pub & Café
- 🍴L'Attelier
Where to Stay in Malabo
- 🏨Bisila Palace Hotel
- 🏨Hotel Bahia
- 🏨Ibis Malabo
- 🏨Mango Suites
- 🏨Sofitel Malabo Sipopo Le Golf
Malabo Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: