The white sand
Under palms.
ColleBlanche — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ColleBlanche — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ColleBlanche — CC BY-SA 4.0
Arena Blanca, «white sand», is a beach on the west coast of Bioko island near the town of Luba. It is one of the island's best-known beaches because its sand is pale, unlike most of Bioko's dark volcanic shores. Malabo residents come at weekends, and the area is known for swarms of butterflies in the dry season. Bioko lies 32 km off the coast of Cameroon and is the fourth largest island in Africa, known for centuries as Fernando Pó. A small fishing village lives on the beach, its people heading out in dugout canoes carved from tree trunks. The Luba area is one of the island's quietest. You see a broad stretch of pale sand shaded by palm trees, with long wooden canoes painted blue and green lying on it. Calm water lies in front, with small houses and thick trees behind. On the horizon clouds sit above the island's green mountains. It is about 8 km from Luba in a straight line and about 33 km from Malabo. A simple beach restaurant sometimes operates. Swim with care, respect the fishing village and ask before photographing people.
Under palms.
Blue and green.
In the dry season.
Near Luba, west coast of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea
Unlike most of the island's dark volcanic shores.
In the dry season, December to February.