Calabar: A Five-Day City Experience Itinerary

  • Day 1: Calabar Museum of Cultural History
    10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Marina Resort Calabar

    The Calabar Museum of Cultural History is an outstanding place to begin your journey to Calabar. It has a large collection of artifacts and historical materials that show the diverse history and culture of Calabar. You'll learn about the Efik, Ejagham, and other tribes that inhabit the region of southern Nigeria. The museum is closed on Mondays.

  • Day 2: Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort
    25 minutes (12.3 miles) from United Cement Company Calabar

    Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort is a comprehensive development that includes a vast array of facilities, including a water park, a cinema, a casino, and several restaurants. It's a perfect option for an enjoyable and peaceful day out with friends, couples, or family. Since it's a large commercial facility, amusement park rides and some restaurants remain open every day of the week, while others may be open during specific days and hours. You should consult Tinapa's official website for more information and details.

  • Day 3: Cross River National Park
    30 minutes (21.5 miles) from Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort

    The Cross River National Park is particularly famous for its gorillas and chimpanzees. It's composed of two protected areas: Oban Hills and Okwangwo Division. The park offers a variety of remarkable tours, including hikes through scenic woods, wildlife viewings, waterfall gazing and bird watching. You should get ready for a walk, carry food and drinks, and wear hiking or tennis shoes. Cross River National Park is open every day except for the last Wednesday of each month

  • Day 4: Duke Town Church
    40 minutes (14.8 miles) from Cross River National Park

    Duke Town Church is located in Duke Town, which is the old colonial settlement in Calabar. The church has a rich history dating back to 1838 when it was constructed by missionaries. The structure of the church is unique, with a rustic flair and a well-manicured courtyard. The church is open on Sundays and during other worship days. The church is closed on Saturdays.

  • Day 5: Marina Resort Calabar
    10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Duke Town Church

    To complete a five-day trip to Calabar, you should visit Marina Resort Calabar on the final day. It's one of the most beautiful outdoor facilities in the area, lined with palm trees, and breathtaking ocean views. With an enormous swimming pool and tennis courts, it’s a perfect retreat for a solo traveler or family. A fee is required to use the facilities at Marina Resort Calabar.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Calabar Museum of Cultural History (2 hours, 500 NGN)
  • Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort (4 hours, 4,000 NGN)
  • Cross River National Park (6 hours, 1,000 NGN)
  • Duke Town Church (1 hour, free admission)
  • Marina Resort Calabar (3 hours, 2,000 NGN)
  • Total Estimated Costs (16 hours, 7,500 NGN)

Transportation

Public transportation services in Calabar aren't very extensive. Taxis or car-hire facilities are good transportation options for getting around. Taxis charge higher fares for visitors; it is best to agree on a price before starting your trip or search out a taxi driver's assistance willing to offer the cheapest fares. Uber and Bolt services are also available to travel around the area. Total transportation costs depend on the length of time you use taxis or ride-hailing services.

Useful Tips

Adding or subtracting one day from the itinerary is feasible. In general, a tourist may end up spending another day in Calabar due to its many intriguing tourist encounters. The city offers night tours that are affordable, so visitors should try that as well. Visitors should also take their time to taste Calabar's signature dishes in restaurants like 'Food Temple' and 'The Pearl Cafe'.

Airports

Margaret Ekpo International Airport (CBQ) is the closest airport to Calabar, located approximately 6.2 miles from the city centre. There are no direct flights from London yet. It usually takes about 10 hours to get to Calabar with one or two stops/transfers, depending on the airline and the plane.

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