Ilhéu das Rolas Day Trip: Equator Monument and Beaches
A full day in the south of São Tomé: boat crossing from Ponta Baleia, the Equator monument with one foot in each hemisphere, Praia Café and the fishing village.
The trip
This Ilhéu das Rolas day trip takes you to the only place in the country where the Equator line crosses dry land. You drive down the east coast of São Tomé to Ponta Baleia, cross by boat in 15 minutes and walk up to the Equator monument for the photo with one foot in each hemisphere.
Then there is time to swim at Praia Café, meet the island's fishing village and have freshly caught fish for lunch, before heading back along the southern road with a stop at Boca do Inferno.
Book now, pay later: send us your date and group size, we confirm availability and only then send the payment details.
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1
Ilhéu das Rolas: boat, Equator monument and Praia Café
7:30 am · Hotel pick-up. Drive south along the coast road, with short stops at the Santana viewpoint and Boca do Inferno.
9:30 am · Ponta Baleia and boat crossing. At Porto Alegre, on the southern tip of the island, you board the boat to Ilhéu das Rolas. The crossing takes about 15 minutes.
10:00 am · Equator monument. A short walk (about 20 minutes) through the island to the monument marking latitude 0°, with sea views and, on clear days, Pico Cão Grande in the distance.
11:00 am · Village and Praia Café. A walk through the fishing community and free time at Praia Café, with clear water for swimming and snorkelling.
1:00 pm · Lunch. Grilled fish, plantain and seasonal fruit at a local restaurant on the island.
3:00 pm · Return. Boat back to Ponta Baleia and drive back to the city, arriving at your hotel around 5:00 pm.
What's included
- Friendly licensed local guide (speaks Portuguese)
- 4x4 vehicle with driver
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in the São Tomé city area
- Water during the tour
- Third-party liability insurance
- Return boat Ponta Baleia – Ilhéu das Rolas
- Guided visit to the Equator monument and the village
- Grilled fish lunch (drinks not included)
What's not included
- Day pass or resort services on the island
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tips (optional)
- Anything not listed as included
How to get to Ilhéu das Rolas
Ilhéu das Rolas lies about 2 km off the southern tip of São Tomé island. From the capital it is around 70 km of winding road, roughly 2 hours by car. Boats leave from Ponta Baleia, next to Porto Alegre, and the crossing takes 15 minutes. That is why the easiest way to see the island in one day is an organised tour with the transfer and the boat already arranged.
The Equator monument
The monument stands where the Equator crosses the island. On the tiled world map you can put one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern one, a photo very few countries can offer.
What else to see on the island
- Praia Café: the main beach, with calm water that is good for snorkelling.
- The local community: around 200 people live from fishing on the island.
- Sea turtles: from November to March they nest on the southern beaches.
Best time to go
The tour runs all year round. In the gravana dry season (June to September) there is less rain but the sea can be rougher on the crossing; from December to February the sea is usually calmer.
Ilhéu das Rolas tour: how it works
It is a full-day private tour: pick-up at your hotel, a drive through the south of the island, the boat, a guided visit and lunch, all arranged by us.
Why book with us
- A local guide with you from the first to the last minute.
- Boat, lunch and transport included: nothing to haggle over at the pier.
- Private group, with timings adjusted to the tide and the weather.
- Specialists in São Tomé and Príncipe since 2015.
Read our full Ilhéu das Rolas guide and the article Ilhéu das Rolas: what to do and how to get there.
Frequently asked questions
All your questions answered
About 2 hours by car from São Tomé city to Ponta Baleia, plus 15 minutes by boat.
Yes, that is exactly what this tour does: we leave at 7:30 am and are back around 5:00 pm. If you prefer a slower pace, we recommend spending a night in the south.
Yes. The boat carries life jackets and the crossing is short. If the sea is too rough, we move your date at no cost.
Yes. The walk to the Equator monument is short and easy. Just tell us the children's ages when you send your booking request.
Our guides are São Toméans, born and raised on the islands, and Portuguese is their language. A few also get by in English, French or Spanish, but we can't promise one in your language. What we can promise is a guide who will put their whole heart into showing you every corner, with gestures, smiles and plenty of goodwill. Here, language is rarely a barrier: the warmth of the island speaks for itself.