The best hikes on São Tomé, from Lagoa Amélia to the 2,024 m Pico de São Tomé: start points, times, difficulty, best season and what to pack, from a local agency on the island.
What are the best hikes on São Tomé? The three classics are all in Obô Natural Park, the protected rainforest that covers the centre and south of the island. Lagoa Amélia, a volcanic crater at around 1,400 m, is a 5-hour return hike from Bom Sucesso. Pico de São Tomé, the country's highest point at 2,024 m, is a tough full-day climb or a two-day trek. The walk to the foot of Pico Cão Grande takes 1 to 2 hours. The best time to hike is the dry season, the gravana, from June to September. Go with a local guide on all of them: the trails aren't waymarked and the forest changes fast after rain.
We're a local agency based in São Tomé and we walk these trails with our guests all year round. This guide puts together what we know about each hike: where it starts, how long it takes, how hard it is and when to go.
On the Obô trails, a local guide knows every plant and every shortcut. Photo: Príncipe Collection
São Tomé hikes at a glance
- Lagoa Amélia · Start: Bom Sucesso (about 1,150 m) · Time: about 5 hrs return · Difficulty: moderate · Highlights: cloud forest, endemic birds, crater
- Pico de São Tomé · Start: north of the island, near Ponta Figo · Time: 10 hrs in a day, or 2 days · Difficulty: hard · Highlights: the country's summit, 2,024 m
- Foot of Pico Cão Grande · Start: southern road · Time: 1 to 2 hrs · Difficulty: easy to moderate · Highlights: the 663 m volcanic plug up close
- Cocoa Route · Start: central cocoa estates · Time: about 4 hrs · Difficulty: easy · Highlights: cocoa trees, old plantations
- Malanza River · Start: south, near Ilhéu das Rolas · Time: about 2 hrs · Difficulty: easy · Highlights: mangroves and birdlife
Times are a guide only. After two days of rain, the same trail can take a good deal longer.
Obô Natural Park: where the trails are
Obô Natural Park was created in 2006 and protects around 195 km² of rainforest on São Tomé, from the central massif down to the south coast. Much of the wildlife found nowhere else on Earth lives here: around 95 of the island's 700 plant species are endemic, and there are 16 endemic bird species. On the trail, that means giant begonias, tree ferns, wild orchids and birdsong you won't hear anywhere else.
The gateway to the highlands is Bom Sucesso, home to the park office and botanical garden, about an hour and a half by road from the capital.
Lagoa Amélia: Obô's most popular hike
If you only have one day for the forest, this is the hike we'd choose. You set off from the botanical garden at Bom Sucesso, at around 1,150 m, and climb through montane forest to the Lagoa Amélia crater at around 1,400 m. There's no open water any more: the crater floor is covered by a floating mat of vegetation, and you walk across it carefully, right behind your guide.
- Time: about 5 hours return.
- Ascent: about 400 m up and the same down.
- Terrain: mud, roots and natural steps, mostly in the shade. No scrambling.
- Who it suits: anyone who walks fairly regularly.
- Combine with: the botanical garden and lunch at Roça Monte Café, a highland coffee estate where you can taste the coffee grown there.
Rivers and waterfalls run alongside many of São Tomé's forest trails. Photo: Príncipe Collection
Pico de São Tomé: climbing the highest peak
At 2,024 m, Pico de São Tomé is the highest point in the archipelago. It's a long, demanding climb through thick forest, finishing with root scrambles where you'll use your hands. A concrete survey pillar from 1916 marks the top and, with luck, you'll get a view over the island before the cloud rolls in.
- In one day: from the north of the island, near Ponta Figo, at about 370 m. Expect around 9 km each way, more than 1,600 m of ascent and close to 10 hours on your feet.
- Over two days: with a night camping on the mountain, the pace is gentler and you have a better chance of a clear summit in the morning.
- Who it suits: fit hikers used to long days.
Pico de São Tomé isn't part of our 8-day trek. If you'd like to add it, get in touch and we'll arrange the guide, transport and camp.
Pico Cão Grande: the walk to the base
Cão Grande, a 663 m volcanic needle in the south of the island, can only be climbed as a technical rock route. There is, however, a 1 to 2-hour return walk to near its base, plus several viewpoints along the southern road. We cover it in detail in our Pico Cão Grande guide.
Pico Cão Grande rises straight out of the Obô rainforest in southern São Tomé. Photo: Príncipe Collection
Featured trip
Sao Tome Trekking: 8 Days of Rainforest and Cocoa Trails
Authentic 8-day hiking trip, level 2/3: Obô primary rainforest, Lagoa Amélia, the empty southern beaches and the Equator on foot · specialist guide throughout · from 2 participants
Waterfalls, cocoa estates and the south
- Cocoa Route: about 4 hours through cocoa trees and estate paths to Roça Santa Luzia, where you follow the cocoa from harvest to drying.
- Northern estate paths to Neves: about 4 hours along old service tracks, past abandoned plantations, down to the fishing village.
- São Nicolau waterfall: a short stop on the road up to Bom Sucesso, easy to add to the Lagoa Amélia day.
- Malanza River and mangroves: about 2 hours along the river in the south, followed by a boat trip through the mangroves.
- Equator monument: a short climb on Ilhéu das Rolas to stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Best time for hiking in São Tomé
The gravana, from June to September, is the dry season and the best time for the trails: less mud, firmer ground and clearer skies. January and February, the gravanita, are a second good window and a great way to escape the British winter. The rest of the year brings regular showers, mostly in the afternoon. You can still hike, but forest trails get slippery and slower. Our best time to visit São Tomé and Príncipe guide goes through the year month by month.
What to pack for hiking
- Broken-in walking boots with good grip.
- Walking poles, which really help on muddy descents.
- A light waterproof and quick-dry clothing.
- A daypack with 2 litres of water per person: the heat and humidity make you drink more than usual.
- Insect repellent and sun cream.
- A head torch if you're climbing Pico de São Tomé.
Guides and safety
The Obô trails aren't waymarked and many paths cross. We always recommend a local guide who knows the ground, the plants and the weather. São Tomé's forest is home to the black cobra, the islands' only venomous snake; it's shy and rarely seen, but it's another reason to wear closed boots and stay on the path. Make sure your travel insurance covers medical evacuation, as the nearest hospital is in the capital.
Getting there from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK. The usual route is via Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal, from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and other UK airports; allow a full day of travel. British citizens can visit visa-free for tourist stays of up to 15 days; check the latest FCDO travel advice before you go.
São Tomé hiking FAQs
Do I need a guide to hike in São Tomé?
It isn't always compulsory, but it's strongly recommended. The trails aren't waymarked and change with the rain.
What is the easiest walk in Obô Natural Park?
The Bom Sucesso botanical garden and the São Nicolau waterfall. For a proper but manageable hike, Lagoa Amélia.
How long does it take to climb Pico de São Tomé?
Close to 10 hours return in a single day, or two days with a night camping on the mountain.
How high is Pico de São Tomé?
2,024 m. It's the highest point in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Can you climb Pico Cão Grande?
Only as a technical rock climb. With a guide, you can walk to near its base.
When is the best time for trekking in São Tomé?
The gravana, from June to September, and the gravanita, in January and February.
São Tomé trekking: 8 days with a guide
To link the best trails in one trip, our 8-day São Tomé trekking holiday takes in Lagoa Amélia, the Cocoa Route, the southern beaches, the Malanza River and Ilhéu das Rolas. It's graded 2/3, with daily stages of 2½ to 5 hours, a specialist hiking guide from start to finish and groups of 2 to 12, from €1,450 per person excluding flights. As a local agency, we look after everything from the moment you land in São Tomé.
Sources: Obô Natural Park (area and endemic species); trip reports from Pico de São Tomé; our guides' experience on the ground.