Overview

São Tomé Island is a true hidden gem in Africa and a paradise island like no other. Situated in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of West Africa, the island is a former Portuguese colony and the second smallest country in Africa. São Tomé and Príncipe is one of those travel destinations not many people have even heard of so it’s a perfect choice for someone who wants to get off the beaten path but still prefers a laidback and easy destination.

The island of São Tomé is the larger of the two islands. (Pincipe island is only a short 35-minute flight from its sister island). It offers a true authentic vacation filled with exploration of jungle trekking and island lifestyle immersion.

The island is thick with emerald-colored rainforests, surrounded by golden sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Here you will find a laid-back natural rhythm of life and a palpable Portuguese influence. The friendly locals will embrace you with their hospitality. Visitors come here to experience the beautiful fusion of Portuguese and West African influence and the vibrant culture of traditional music, dance, and talented artists. And although São Tomé island is small, there’s a surprising number of fun things to do!

Things to See and Do

Visit the Obô National Park: This beautiful reserve on the interior of the island takes up about a third of the land. It’s a hot, wet wilderness of jungle-covered mountains surging over 6,600 feet out of the Atlantic where you’ll find over 700 plant species and 143 different bird species, some of which are endemic to the islands. Explore the cascading waterfalls and dramatic volcanic landscapes.

One of the best things to see is the Pico Cão Grande, a needle-shaped volcanic that reaches 1,214 feet above tropical forest and is the most recognizable landmark of the island. It is also possible to climb up to this peak (it takes two days with an overnight stay at the top), but most visitors prefer to see this specially-shaped hill from a viewpoint. You can find a few of these on the island. The most famous one is on the way from the city of São Tomé to Porto Alegre, in the south of the island.

There are several circular walks, with one of the most popular being to Lagoa Amelia – a four-to-five-hour trek to a volcanic crater with breathtaking views of the lagoon. Plus, you can do multi-day hikes with overnight stays in rocas (old cocoa plantation houses).

Discover the São Tomé Beaches: São Tomé is surrounded by beautiful beaches waiting to be discovered. Long stretches of soft sand, leaning coconut palms, and often not a soul in sight. Days are spent in warm waters, swimming in discovered rock pools or snorkeling in bays.

The two most famous beaches of São Tomé are located at the southernmost tip of the island: Praia Piscina and Praia Jalé. From Porto Alegre it takes about thirty minutes on a rather bad road to Praia Piscina. To go from Piscina to Jalé takes maybe another five to ten minutes. Both beaches are gorgeous, although you will find many other beautiful beaches on the island as well. If you’re looking for something closer to town, we would recommend Praia Micondo or Praia dos Tamarindos. Both are closer to São Tomé town.

Just offshore are coral reefs with a large diversity of sea life. Diving and snorkeling are the ideal ways to explore the underwater side of this paradise, during which you can come face-to-face with dolphins, large green turtles, and a wide array of colorful fish. Experienced and daring divers can even explore underwater caves.

In the nearby fishing village of Morro Peixe, stop in to see the turtles at the refuge run by Hipólito Lima. This was once a part of the local cuisine, now turtles disembarking to lay their eggs on São Tomé’s shores are protected. Lima organizes beach patrols and shelters eggs and hatchings from predatory dogs and falcons. Visitors can help release young turtles into the sea.

São Tomé is famous for its cacao production and it’s impossible to visit the island and not learn more about cacao beans and the production. This is also where the best chocolate in the world is made, be sure to visit the Claudio Carallo chocolate factory for a taste! While the plantation itself is located in Príncipe, there is a chocolate factory in the capital city where tours and chocolate tasting are organized. It’s a popular thing to do on the island.

Roças

Roças are plantations that belonged to a Portuguese landlord and produced sugar cane, coffee or cocoa. The largest plantations could employ several thousand people and were therefore almost small villages with their own church, hospital or even train tracks. These are part of the cultural heritage of the country and there are 250 of them all over the island. Today, the roças are abandoned and many have fell into decline and dereliction, but workers’ cooperatives and small businesses are maintaining or reviving production of some. They are still accessible for tourists and a must-see when visiting the island.

Among the few human-made sights on the islands is Fort São Sebastião. Built in 1575, the fort was refurbished in 2006 and is now the São Tomé National Museum. The fort is breathtaking at night. This is a must visit to tour during your visit of one of the islands' colonial-era plantations - roças - which lie in many different states, from centuries-old buildings slowly being overgrown by rainforest to lovingly refurbished ones operating as bed-and-breakfasts. One of the more easily accessible, Monte Café, has a coffee museum set and, since it is in the mountains, is cool and inviting. The Sao Tome market is, like many in the region, a bustling, colorful experience while photographers will love the city's quaint colonial-style architecture.

Local Cuisine

Fish is a staple of the São Toméan diet, often served with breadfruit and mashed, cooked bananas. There is a huge variety of fish including flying fish at certain times of year. Sea snails are also very common. Fresh tropical fruits are always available on the island. And many of the hotels in the capital offer European-style fares.

There is no drinking age in São Tomé and Príncipe. Beer can be easily be found throughout the island, local brands include Creolla and Rosema. Island, palm wine is available and can be found from vendors along the road at very inexpensive prices. In the capital, whiskey and other spirits are popular. Wine, especially Portuguese venho verde, is popular and served with many fish dishes.

History

The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited before they were discovered by Portuguese and they then started a settlement there in 1493. The cultivation of sugar started and slaves were imported from the African mainland. Later on, in the early 19th century, coffee and cocoa were also introduced and soon plantations, so-called roças, that were owned by Portuguese landlords were everywhere in the country.

When traveling to São Tomé and Príncipe, you will most likely visit many of these roças and learn more about the history and coffee and cocoa farming. Cocoa is still the most important crop in the country. São Tomé and Príncipe achieved its independence from Portugal in 1975.