Benguela Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Benguela is a city in Central Angola.

Founded by Portuguese general Manuel Cerveira Pereira in 1617. Benguela was long the centre of the slave trade to Brazil and Cuba.

Map of Benguela

• -12.60888913.4036111 Benguela Airport (BUG  ^IATA Aeroporto de Benguela - 17 de Setembro). Benguela's airport is borderline defunct, with all commercial passenger flights routed through nearby Catumbela airport  
• -12.47952813.4872782 Catumbela Airport (CBT  ^IATA) (to the north right between Benguela and Lobito.). with regular service from Luanda and Lubango.  

By road, it is about a seven-hour drive from Luanda, once you clear Luanda's traffic.

Travelling by rail is once again an option, but trains are infrequent and slow. There are daily commuter trains from nearby Lobito and at least a once-weekly overnight train from Huambo, with connections from Luao next to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• -12.577313.41183 Benguela railway station, Rue 31 de Janeiro. (updated May 2023)

• -12.58448413.4070354 Huambo Expresso bus terminal, R. Domingos do Ó (south-east of city center). Huambo Expresso: 7 buses to Luanda daily (11 000 Kz, 11-12 hr as of June 2024), Lubango (9000 Kz, 7-8 hr). (updated Jul 2024)
• -12.58711713.4101225 Macon bus terminal, R. Celestino Madeira (south-east of city center). Macon: 7 buses to Luanda daily (11 000 Kz, 11-12 as of June 2024), Lubango (9000 Kz, 7-8 hr). (updated Jul 2024)

There are some pretty colonial buildings in Benguela. A few are pictured in this article.

There are several beautiful beaches around Benguela, including one right in the city center! The best beach resort hotel, though, is in Lobito. The beaches outside the city are close by and easy to reach by car, either your own or a hired taxi. They're really beautiful too, with the bluest water, the whitest sand, and most are flanked by dramatic cliffs. But remember that tourist facilities are limited and beaches are not well-maintained. A visit with high expectations of a tropical paradise vacation risks disappointment.

• -12.621713.23911 Baia Azul (Baia Farta). This is the most famous beach in Angola. If postcards were a thing in this country, this would crop up frequently. It is named for its exceptionally blue waters. There are only a few restaurants, and few people as well — it's a nice, quiet retreat. There is at least one hotel here (see Hotel Duas Faces below). (updated Dec 2016)
• -12.602213.2652 Caotinha Beach. This is a series of little beach inlets just south of Benguela, some of which are totally deserted. You can hike from one to the next. (updated Dec 2016)
• -12.578513.39473 Praia Morena. This is the city's main beach, right near the center. On holidays it can get extremely crowded, but it's usually empty. It's a fairly narrow stretch of sand between the road and the ocean, but the water is and sand are both nice. (updated Dec 2016)

• -12.58284713.4031361 Espaço Gourmet, R. Domingos do Ó 14. Buffet paid by weight. (updated Jul 2024)
• -12.57534913.4067182 Restaurante Cassanga, R. Dr. João Omelas. Buffet paid by weight. (updated Jul 2024)

• -12.57770213.4088741 Praia Morena Hotel, R. José Estevan, 25, ☏ +244 916 076 902. 3-star hotel. Modern rooms, pool, bar, restaurant, hairdresser, sporadic slow Wi-Fi. Double en-suite w/ breakfast 32 000 Kz. (updated Aug 2015)

• -12.624613.23282 Hotel Duas Faces (Baia Azul), ☏ +244 922 508 508. An attractive boutique hotel at Baia Azul with ocean views, parking, and an on-site restaurant. It's not right on the beach. 19,000-38,000. (updated Dec 2016)

• Caotinha is on a peninsula west of Benguela.
• Lobito is 33 kilometres north of Benguela.