Cocoa Route Tour: Roça Agostinho Neto, Anambó and Santa Catarina
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Full day (about 8 hours)
A full day along the north and west coast of São Tomé: Roça Agostinho Neto, the Discoveries landmark at Anambó, Neves, the Santa Catarina Tunnel and cocoa plantations.
The trip
In the early 20th century São Tomé was the world's largest cocoa producer. The Cocoa Route runs along the north and west coast of the island through the plantations that made that history: the monumental Roça Agostinho Neto, the Discoveries landmark at Anambó, where the Portuguese navigators landed in 1470, the fishing town of Neves and the famous Santa Catarina Tunnel, carved into the rock by the sea.
Along the way you taste freshly opened cocoa and chocolate made in São Tomé.
Book now, pay later: send your request with the date and number of people, we confirm availability and only then send you the payment details.
Itinerary
Day by day
- 1Lagoa AzulDay 1 · Beach
- 2NevesDay 1 · Town
- 3Santa CatarinaDay 1 · Town
- 4Roça Agostinho NetoDay 1 · Plantation (roça)
Day 1
Cocoa Route: plantations, Lagoa Azul, Anambó, Neves and Santa Catarina
Day 1
Cocoa Route: plantations, Lagoa Azul, Anambó, Neves and Santa Catarina
08:30 · Pick-up at your accommodation. We head north along the coast road, between baobabs and savannah.
09:15 · Roça Agostinho Neto. Formerly Roça Rio do Ouro, one of the largest in the country. Visit to the colonial hospital, the main avenue and the workers' houses, with the story of cocoa and contract labour.
10:00 · Lagoa Azul. Stop at the bay of crystal-clear water for photos and a swim.
10:30 · The Discoveries landmark at Anambó. The pillar marks the spot where, according to tradition, João de Santarém and Pêro Escobar reached the island in 1470.
11:15 · Neves. Through the island's second-largest town, home of Rosema beer and a fishing port.
12:00 · Santa Catarina Tunnel. The road tunnel carved into the cliff, one of the most photographed spots in São Tomé, with the ocean a few metres away.
13:00 · Lunch. São Tomé cuisine at a plantation or restaurant on the west coast.
14:30 · Cocoa plantation and tasting. Visit to a working roça to see how the beans are fermented and dried, and taste cocoa and chocolate.
16:30 · Return to your accommodation.
What's included
- Accredited local guide (Portuguese-speaking)
- Transport in a 4x4 vehicle with driver
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in the São Tomé city area
- Water during the excursion
- Third-party liability insurance
- Guided visit to Roça Agostinho Neto
- Cocoa and chocolate tasting
- Lunch of São Tomé cuisine (without drinks)
What's not included
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tips (optional)
- Anything not listed as included
The Cocoa Route in São Tomé
The roças are the former colonial plantations of São Tomé and Príncipe: real villages with a main house, hospital, warehouses and workers' quarters. Today many are in ruins, others produce organic cocoa again and some have become places to stay. Visiting them is the best way to understand the country's history, from the cocoa boom to independence in 1975.
Roça Agostinho Neto
The most visited roça on the island. The huge hospital, the avenue of workers' houses and the chapel show the scale these plantations once reached.
The Discoveries landmark at Anambó
On Anambó beach a stone pillar marks the arrival of the Portuguese on the island in December 1470. From here you see the coast where São Tomé's history began.
Santa Catarina Tunnel
The west coast road passes through the rock in a small tunnel by the sea. It is one of the most shared images of São Tomé.
Who the Cocoa Route is for
For anyone who wants to understand São Tomé's history: the plantations, cocoa and the arrival of the Portuguese, in one full-day excursion.
Why book this excursion with us
- A local guide who tells the story of the roças without filters.
- Lunch and cocoa tasting included.
- Private group, with photo stops wherever you like.
- A travel agency specialised in São Tomé and Príncipe since 2015.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes and a hat.
- Swimwear: there are beaches along the way.
- Small euro notes to buy chocolate.
Frequently asked questions
All your questions answered
A former colonial cocoa or coffee plantation, organised like a small village. Some still produce cocoa and others have been turned into hotels.
On the west coast of São Tomé island, past the town of Neves, about 1 hour 30 minutes by car from the capital.
Yes, you taste fresh cocoa and São Tomé chocolate at a working plantation.
Send your request with the date and number of people. You pay nothing now: we confirm and only then send you the payment details.