Small-group tours, honeymoons and tailor-made trips to the last paradise in the Atlantic, with official São Tomé guides and a Vamos Fugir coordinator.
São Tomé and Príncipe
Two volcanic islands covered in Atlantic rainforest, a 6h30 direct flight from Lisbon with no time difference — and still one of the least visited countries in the world. Here life is lived without hurry: leve leve.
São Tomé and Príncipe is a small country of two volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea, right on the equator: rainforest that runs down to the sea, old cocoa plantations (roças), almost deserted beaches and people who live at the «leve-leve» pace. It is around 6 to 7 hours' flight from Lisbon, Portuguese is spoken and it is one of the least visited destinations in Africa. In this guide we tell you what to see, when to go, how to get there and how much it costs, from the experience of a team that runs trips to the islands every month.
Where the archipelago is
The archipelago lies off the coast of Gabon, in the Gulf of Guinea. It has two main islands — São Tomé, the larger one, home to the capital, and Príncipe Island to the north — and several islets, such as Ilhéu das Rolas, which the equator runs through. In total the islands cover just over 1,000 km², so it is easy to see a lot in a few days.
What to see in São Tomé and Príncipe
Ilhéu das Rolas and the Equator Marker
At the southern tip of São Tomé, a short boat crossing takes you to Ilhéu das Rolas, where the Equator Marker shows the line between the two hemispheres. Read our guide to Ilhéu das Rolas.
Cocoa and coffee plantations
The roças are the old colonial plantations and tell the story of the country. Roça Agostinho Neto, Monte Café and Roça São João dos Angolares, where chef João Carlos Silva serves a signature lunch, are must-see stops. Learn more about São Tomé cocoa.
Pico Cão Grande and Obô Natural Park
The volcanic needle of Pico Cão Grande rises sheer from the middle of the forest and is the country's best-known image. Around it, Obô Natural Park protects most of the islands' endemic birds and plants.
Beaches of São Tomé
Lagoa Azul is great for snorkelling, Praia Piscina has a natural pool among the rocks and Praia Jalé, in the south, is one of the beaches where sea turtles come to nest. See how to get to Lagoa Azul.
São Nicolau Waterfall and Boca do Inferno
São Nicolau Waterfall, in the hills, and Boca do Inferno, where the sea crashes hard between the coastal rocks, are less than an hour from the capital and combine well in a single day.
Every place in detail in our article what to see in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Príncipe Island, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Príncipe Island is smaller, calmer and almost entirely covered in forest. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, such as Banana Beach. At Roça Sundy, in 1919, observations of a solar eclipse helped confirm Einstein's theory of relativity. You reach Príncipe on a short domestic flight of under an hour. Discover Príncipe Island.
When to go: climate and best season
It is warm all year, with temperatures between 25 and 30 °C. The gravana, from June to September, is the dry and cooler season: the best time for hiking and whale watching. From December to February there is a shorter dry season, good for the beach and for Christmas. The rest of the year is wetter, but tropical showers are usually short and the landscapes turn greener. Month by month in our article on the best time to visit.
How to get there: flights from Lisbon
From Portugal there are TAP Air Portugal and STP Airways flights from Lisbon to São Tomé, taking around 6 to 7 hours; some flights stop in Accra. On our group trips the flight from Lisbon is included. Airlines, schedules and prices in our guide to flights to São Tomé.
How much the trip costs
It depends on how you travel. A fly & drive with a 4x4 and booked accommodation starts at €800 per person. Our 8-day group trips with flights from Lisbon start at €2,350 per person, including accommodation, guide, transfers and excursions. On arrival you only pay the tourist tax of €2.10 per person per night. See all prices in how much a trip costs.
Where to stay: roças, eco-lodges and hotels
There are restored roças where you sleep surrounded by history, eco-lodges by the sea and comfortable hotels in São Tomé city. On our trips we choose places with character and good service. Suggestions and prices in our guide on where to stay.
Practical information before you travel
- Visa: Portuguese and European Union citizens are exempt from a visa for stays of up to 15 days. Check the current rules before you travel.
- Vaccinations: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory. Book a travel health appointment before the trip. More in vaccinations for São Tomé.
- Currency: the dobra (STN). Euros in cash are accepted almost everywhere; cards and cash machines are rare, so bring euros.
- Language: Portuguese is the official language.
- Safety: it is not a violent country. Life happens by day: shops close around 8 pm and the streets are quiet at night.
- Travel insurance: it is not included in our trips and we always recommend insurance with medical assistance and repatriation.
Organised trips to São Tomé and Príncipe
We run trips in groups of up to 12, with official São Tomé guides and a Vamos Fugir coordinator from the first day to the last:
- São Tomé 8 days: Undiscovered Paradise, with flights from Lisbon
- De Lés a Lés, both islands
- Honeymoon on both islands
- Christmas on the equator
- Trekking in the cocoa forest
- Fly & drive by 4x4, at your own pace
Have a different date or idea? Ask us for a quote and we will design the trip with you.
