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Voykit pocket guide · Equatorial Guinea
Ciudad de la Paz
Skip unless you have a specific reason (government business, curiosity about the new capital). The city is a planned ghost town with few services and almost no travellers; a half-day stop is enough.
Ciudad de la Paz, formerly Djibloho or Oyala, became Equatorial Guinea's capital in January 2026, replacing Malabo. Built for 200,000 people, it has about 2,000 residents and is often called a luxury ghost town. The main draw is the sheer strangeness of a modern, empty city in the jungle. Most visitors come for a few hours on the way between Bata and Mongomo.
- Country
- Equatorial Guinea
- Best months
- Jul–Aug (driest), Dec–Jan (slightly drier)
- Avoid
- Sep–Jun (heavy rain, though travel is possible year-round)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- XAF
- Money
- Currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), pegged to the euro. Foreign cards work in few places; bring euros in cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget XAF 15,000–25,000 · Mid XAF 40,000–70,000 · High XAF 100,000+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- GETESA (Muni) and GECOMSA (Orange-backed) sell SIMs with passport registration (check operator names).
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 115
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 50 Hz · European round pins; power is fairly reliable in Malabo.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10%.; Driver per day: 5,000 XAF.
- Water
- Drink bottled water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city centre | XAF 15,000–25,000 |
| Grand Hotel Djibloho room | From €113 (≈ XAF 74,000) |
| Meal at hotel restaurant | XAF 10,000–20,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | XAF 500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GEM · President Obiang Nguema International Airport
- About 35 km (22 mi) away in Mengomeyén; flights from Malabo and Bata (check schedules)About 22 mi (35 km) away in Mengomeyén; flights from Malabo and Bata (check schedules)
Typical fares
- Airport → city centre
- XAF 15,000–25,000 by taxi
- City centre → Mongomo
- XAF 20,000–35,000 by taxi
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
No public transport within the city; you need a hired car or taxi from the airport or from Bata. Roads are paved and empty.
See and do
Known for
- New capital (proclaimed 2026)
- Planned city, mostly empty
- Grand Hotel Djibloho
- Proximity to Mongomo basilica
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mongomo | Car or taxi east on the main road, about 70 km (43 mi)Car or taxi east on the main road, about 43 mi (70 km) | About 1–1.5 h |
| Bata | Car or taxi west, about 150 km (93 mi) (check road conditions)Car or taxi west, about 93 mi (150 km) (check road conditions) | About 2.5–3 h |
| Acalayong | Car south, then ferry to Libreville (Gabon) | About 3–4 h to the border |
Sleep
- Grand Hotel Djibloho area
- The only notable hotel, about 5 km (3.1 mi) from the city centre; 5-star, 380 rooms, often empty.The only notable hotel, about 3.1 mi (5 km) from the city centre; 5-star, 380 rooms, often empty.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is…? | ¿Dónde está…?DON-deh es-TAH |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Officials: Patience and politeness; avoid: Arguing at checkpoints
- Photos: Ask; avoid anything official; avoid: Street photography near government sites
- Dress: Smart-casual; avoid: Beachwear in town
Scams and watch-outs
- The city has almost no shops, restaurants or services outside the hotel.
- Fuel stations are scarce; fill up in Bata or Mongomo before arriving.
- Checkpoints on the roads; carry your passport and visa at all times.
Ciudad de la Paz is safe in terms of crime, but the main risks are road accidents (empty roads invite speeding) and the lack of services. Checkpoints are routine; always carry your passport and visa.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ciudad de la Paz yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- New capital (proclaimed 2026)
- Planned city, mostly empty
- Grand Hotel Djibloho
- Proximity to Mongomo basilica
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ciudad de la Paz, revision 5232073 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5232073
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ciudad-de-la-paz). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.