Arena Blanca

Arena Blanca on Bioko's eastern coast is one of the few pale sand beaches on an island whose shoreline is mostly black volcanic rock and dark sand, a curve of shore backed by palms and forest with the water shallow and calm. It is the beach Malabo drives out to at weekends. Simple facilities operate on the sand and a fee is collected at the access track. The name simply means white sand, which on Bioko is descriptive enough to serve as a proper name. The island's volcanic origin means most of its other beaches are grey or black.

What you actually see

• The pale sand - a rare light beach on a volcanic island.
• The palm and forest backing - the vegetation running to the shore.
• The calm water - sheltered conditions on the eastern side.
• The weekend use - the capital's beach of choice.

When to go

December to February is the drier season. The rains from March make the track difficult. Weekends bring crowds from Malabo.

Honest expectations

It gets busy and littered at weekends. Facilities are basic and a fee is collected. The track down is rough after rain.

Nearby

Rebola is inland, and Malabo is northwest.