Ureca Beach on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea is one of the most incredible places in the world. As measured by rainfall, Ureca Beach is also one of the wettest places on earth. This beach is known for the San Antonio de Ureca waterfalls as well. You can find many of them along the beach.
To visit Ureca Beach, you’ll first need a visa to Equatorial Guinea (if you are not an American or Chinese passport holder). Tourism in Equatorial Guinea is very limited and restricted, but not impossible.
Equatorial Guinea: One of the Least Visited Countries on Earth
Equatorial Guinea is one of the least visited countries in the world. For many travelers around the world, the country imposes a very strict visa requirement that largely excludes tourism from anywhere. Getting the exact number of annual visitors to Equatorial Guinea can be tricky given the country’s limited state capacity and lack of transparency, however some estimates put it at less than 1,000 visitors a year.
Because tourism is so low, the country’s natural beauty is astounding. It is a lush volcanic landscape with black sand beaches and unique tropical wildlife. It is safe to say Equatorial Guinea is one of the most untouched and memorable countries I’ve ever visited.
One of the most impressive memories from the two months I spent there is from Ureca Beach, a remote and untouched corner of the island where it is nearly always raining. Ureca Beach, sometimes spelled Ureka, is a black sand beach where several waterfalls and a river collide with the ocean on the southeast side of Bioko Island.
What’s special about Ureca Beach?
Ureca Beach has an average annual rainfall of 411.42 inches (10,450 mm), frequently placing it in the top 10 wettest places on earth. In fact, it usually cracks top 5 lists of the wettest places on earth.
In addition to being an extreme place to visit both due to the extremely low tourism in Equatorial Guinea and the high level of rainfall, Ureca Beach is known for being a refuge for nesting leatherback and green sea turtles. While these species’ are found across many oceans and climates, they are very particular about breeding and nesting. Leatherback sea turtles’ conservation status is considered vulnerable and green sea turtles are endangered, making this nesting site incredibly important.
The Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP), a collaborative research and environmental program between the National University of Equatorial Guinea and Drexel University, monitors the well-being of these turtles. You may notice their logo on a few signs in the area.
Where is Ureca Beach?
Ureca Beach can be found just beyond the village of San Antonio de Ureca on Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea. The island belongs to Equatorial Guinea and is home to their capital city Malabo. Ureca Beach is located on the southern end of the island.
Getting There
A new road was built connecting the village of Ureca to the main vehicle routes on Bioko. This road connects near Luba. There is little to no traffic on the new road as this area of the island is sparsely populated. It is roughly an hour and a half drive from Malabo.
Once you get to the end of the road you’ll find yourself in a large, empty parking lot. There is a small hut with some benches and tables next to the lot. This is a good spot to escape the rain and have some food.
You may encounter a check point at the junction between Luba and the new road. That said, military and police checkpoints are relatively common in the country.
At a check point you would need to present your visa, passport, and any other necessary documents. When I visited in 2018, it was also necessary to have approval from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to travel internally. This came with a small fee and was arranged after arriving to Malabo.
What to Expect
As you might already realize, you should expect to get wet. It rains almost every day in some capacity. This can range from misting to downpouring. The “dry” season is from November to March, although it still rains during this time.
Depending on the tides, you can walk all the way to Punta de Santiago along the black sand. You may have to ford a few streams, but if the tide is low enough, you can explore this untouched beach and find many more waterfalls along the way.
There is limited information about this corner of Bioko, so be prepared to explore. Not being entirely sure what to expect made it even more gratifying in my experience. Around each bend or past each stream there were more waterfalls and stretches of absolutely smooth, flawless sand.
You can swim in the pools at the base of the waterfalls and in the slow-moving river. Members of my group and I swam at the base of the waterfall picture below. The water is cool, but refreshing.
Finally (and best of all in my opinion), you’ll likely be the only person or group of people there.
General Tips
Bring a waterproof bag. If you want to take pictures, bring a waterproof camera or phone case. People say this a lot about waterproofing devices in rainy or wet places, but I really mean it. I left all of my electronics and my backpack behind in the car when I saw how wet it really was here. I did not have a waterproof case. All the pictures I have are either from the very start before the devices were left locked away, or from the one person in my group who had a waterproof case.
Don’t wear heavy shoes like hiking boats or shoes you care a lot about. The best shoes to wear here are either flip flops to easily remove and go barefoot or water shoes.
Wear lightweight, quick dry fabrics. You may even prefer to wear a swimsuit. I brought a rain jacket but eventually gave up on it as I was thoroughly soaked after fording the first stream. “Fording” sometimes meant swimming.
Bring your own food and water. There are zero services here, to include bathrooms. Apply the principles of pack in-pack out to make as minimal an impact on the habitat as you can.
Equatorial Guinea was a Spanish colony, so the predominate language is Spanish, however given the remoteness and isolated quality of the island, the language is a unique dialect that combines influences from indigenous groups that speak Fang, Bube, and Combe. French and Portuguese also influence the local dialect, creating a language referred to as Equatoguinean Spanish. Knowing Spanish will be helpful for your visit to the country.
Is it safe to visit Equatorial Guinea?
Travel to and within Equatorial Guinea can be tricky to say the least. Please consult your country’s recommendations and regulations, as well as the most up to date laws in Equatorial Guinea for a safe trip.
Violent crime is rare, but political unrest can occur as there is deeply rooted corruption and sharp inequality in the country. I felt safe as a woman in Equatorial Guinea, however the city and countryside exist in a relatively heightened security state. It is true that I rarely went places alone, however I think it would be possible if you are in fact a solo traveler.
While safety may mostly concern issues of crime, there are some risks to your health in Equatorial Guinea. You should be aware of the possibility of illness. Proof of yellow fever and polio vaccines are required. Malaria and Dengue are prevalent. I took a daily pill to help prevent malaria. Luckily, I did not get sick at all while in the country for two months.
The unique and preserved beauty in Equatorial Guinea make it an incredible place to see. Although this preservation is due to largely closed borders, restrictive policy, and government corruption, traveling Equatorial Guinea is truly a once in a lifetime experience (and I don’t say that lightly).
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