Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Equatorial Guinea, or should I carry local cash?
Talking to other travelers at Bata Airport, everyone agreed cards usually won't fly for taxis. The local taxis run on cash and smiles. If you’re staying near Playa Santiago or popular hotels, some taxis might say they accept cards, but it’s typically a bluff or they add fees. Best to have enough cash on hand for hassle-free rides.
Honestly, Equatorial Guinea taxis are a cash-only game. Even when I was picked up from the Sofitel Hotel, the driver wanted cash. Credit card terminals are not common, and transaction fees would be crazy anyway. I suggest withdrawing cash at reliable ATMs like those from Banco Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial well before taxi trips.
I stayed near the Malabo Cathedral and found that most taxis wouldn’t take cards. Even Uber isn’t a thing here, so cash was the only way to go. Local currency is a must-you’ll need CFA francs, and smaller bills help since drivers often don’t have change for bigger notes.
In Malabo and Bata, taxi drivers mostly expect cash payments in Central African CFA francs. Card acceptance is very rare outside of certain hotel taxis or airport transfers. I tried using my Visa card near the Malabo airport but the driver preferred cash. If you visit, bring enough cash because taxis rarely take cards, and local ATMs can be unreliable.