Sao Tome and Principe Holidays: 11 Days Across Both Islands with a Local Guide

It depends on your nationality. EU citizens, including Portuguese nationals, are exempt from a visa for stays of up to 2 weeks. UK and other nationalities should check current requirements with the São Tomé and Príncipe consulate before booking, as rules vary. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.

It isn't mandatory if you're travelling directly from a country where the disease isn't endemic, such as Portugal or the UK. It's recommended to check with a travel health clinic before your trip — other vaccines such as typhoid and hepatitis A are commonly advised for São Tomé and Príncipe.

TAP only operates a fully direct flight to São Tomé on Saturdays; on other days, your outbound or return flight may include a roughly 30-minute technical stop in Accra, capital of Ghana, with no need to leave the aircraft.

Yes — we organise this circuit for couples on honeymoon too, with the option to personalise certain moments of the trip on request (let us know when booking). The Príncipe Island extension, with the Bom Bom Resort, is especially popular among newlyweds looking for a São Tomé and Príncipe honeymoon.

Yes, this circuit is designed for solo travel as well as couples, families, groups of friends or companies — you'll always have personal guide support throughout the whole trip.

Many operators resell the destination from a catalogue, with a local partner doing the work on the ground. This trip is run directly by Jaca Voyage, an agency based in São Tomé, with an on-site guide throughout and a direct partnership with HBD Príncipe Collection for the Príncipe extension. International flights are not included: you choose the flight you prefer and we take care of the rest.

The inter-island flights use small aircraft, so the limit is 15kg per person in hold luggage, plus 8kg in a cabin bag.

Yes, there's a tourist tax of €2.10 per person, per night, paid directly at the airport on arrival — it isn't included in the package price.

It depends what you're after. June to September is the dry season (high season), with less rain and pleasant temperatures — but it's also the season of the "Gravana," a period of increased cloud cover that can dull the beaches and the turquoise colour of the water. If you prefer clearer seas and greener landscapes, October to March (low season, with more rain) tends to offer more turquoise water, plus it's when sea turtles come ashore on the southern beaches to nest (mainly November to March) and there are fewer tourists around. June to September is also the best window for whale watching off the southern coast. There's no single right answer — both seasons work well for this circuit, depending on what matters most to you on the trip.

Yes. São Tomé and Príncipe is considered one of the safest and most relaxed destinations in Africa for tourists, with low crime and a welcoming population. As with any destination, normal travel precautions apply — and on this circuit you'll always have your guide's personal support, which adds extra peace of mind, especially if this is your first trip to Africa.

From €3,100 per person in a double room, without international flights. It includes the domestic flight to Príncipe, 10 nights of accommodation, half board, an on-site guide, a 4x4 with driver and the listed excursions.

The direct TAP flight between Lisbon and São Tomé takes around 6h45. TAP only flies directly on Saturdays; on other days of the week, the trip may include a roughly 30-minute technical stop in Accra, capital of Ghana, with no need to leave the aircraft.

It is very complete: the inter-island flight, all hotels, an on-site guide, a 4x4 with driver and half board are included. International flights, drinks with meals and the tourist tax paid on arrival are not.

Yes — it's one of the most authentic, least crowded destinations in Africa, with practically empty beaches, untouched equatorial rainforest and a culture shaped by its colonial-era roças. Travellers who've been usually describe it as the kind of trip you recommend with your eyes wide open: demanding in terms of flight time, but deeply rewarding in experience.

The domestic flight between São Tomé and Príncipe, all hotels, an on-site guide throughout, a 4x4 with driver, 5 guided excursions, the boat to Rolas Islet and half board. See the full list under "What's included".

A typical local meal costs under €15 per person: grilled octopus, peixe-azeite or croaker, massada with grouper, arroz à moda da terra (rice the local way) or tuna. Grouper (cherne), the island’s most prized fish, costs over €15 per person. These are the everyday dishes, as Sao Tome cooking is mostly fresh fish. Meat is available too, but most of it is imported: if it matters to you, let us know in advance and we will arrange it.

Drinks are not included on our tours, except on a few special trips such as Christmas or the New Year’s Eve dinner. They are cheap: the local Rosema beer costs about 25 dobras (around €1) in many places, and 75 dobras or more in hotels, just over €3.