São Tomé and Príncipe Circuit — 8 Days

Our local guide will meet you at São Tomé airport and take you straight to the hotel: your São Tomé and Príncipe circuit begins the moment you land. On this first day, the guide will help you exchange currency: euros for São Tomé dobras. You'll have our guide's support in person throughout the whole circuit — you'll never be on your own in a destination that's still largely unknown. Overnight at Hotel Roça Santa Luzia, a former colonial plantation (roça) converted into a boutique hotel deep in the rainforest. Dinner included.

This route reveals another side of São Tomé: the island's breadbasket. The Coffee Route climbs to 800 metres above sea level, where you'll find roças, coffee plantations and a wide variety of fruit and vegetables that supply the whole island. We wake up at Roça Santa Luzia, a world apart: a place of great beauty in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by an idyllic, incomparable garden. Departure for the day's first excursion at 10:00am. Before long we reach Cidade da Trindade, with its market, church, town hall and a street layout well suited to this hard-working town. We'll visit Roça Monte Café (the museum visit is not included). Lunch included at the Almada Negreiros Museum, in the former Roça Saudade, birthplace of the artist and poet. On the way back, a visit to Cascata Milagrosa, one of the most photographed spots on the Coffee Route. Dinner and overnight included.

A real whirlwind of emotions. We'll cross the island heading south, also known as the Coconut Route or Tropical Route: a day full of surprises as we discover the island's southern side, with must-see stops at the world's largest open-air laundry, Roça Água Izé, Boca do Inferno, and the Pico Cão Grande viewpoint. After breakfast, our first stop is the world's largest open-air laundry: at the mouth of the Abade River, hundreds of women wash clothes by hand, in a scene that feels like stepping back in time. We'll learn the story of a visionary from São Tomé who brought dignity to this nation at Roça Água Izé, leaving an invaluable legacy for today's society. Next, we'll sip coconut water at the geological site of Boca do Inferno, a mandatory stop in this area. We continue the adventure enjoying the jungle and volcanic landscapes, with a highlight stop at the Pico Cão Grande viewpoint and the Malanza River. Here you'll find the true meaning of São Tomé's paradise beaches. Arrival at Eco Resort Inhame (lunch not included). Overnight at Ecolodge Inhame with dinner included. Useful note: Hotel Inhame is the only hotel in the south with the minimum comfort standards — an eco-resort integrated into nature that respects the ecosystem. There's no hairdryer at this hotel, and hot water in the shower is only available from 6pm to 9pm. The bungalows are simple, but sit just 20 metres from a sea with temperatures of 27-29°C. Enjoy and unplug.

Paradise and the Equator Marker, following in the footsteps of Admiral Gago Coutinho. Get ready, because today we're heading to Ilhéu das Rolas, one of the main reasons travellers from all over Europe choose this São Tomé and Príncipe circuit. After breakfast, we cross by boat to this small island, following the island's unhurried "leve leve" pace, sailing a little further south under the warm waters of the Gulf of Guinea. This day is dedicated entirely to discovering Ilhéu das Rolas. We'll have the chance to stand in both of the Earth's hemispheres at once, visiting the Equator Marker, built at the request of Admiral Gago Coutinho. At the scheduled time, we return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Ecolodge Inhame. There's the option to have lunch on Ilhéu das Rolas itself, at a simple local restaurant with a delicious menu of grilled fish and octopus. Booking is required 1 day in advance; the menu costs approximately €10 to €12 (check with your guide).

Breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Today you have a free day to set your own pace within the circuit. Very close to the hotel you'll find idyllic beaches like the famous "praia-piscina" (pool beach). Enjoy this day at your own pace — the greatest luxury in a destination that still hasn't been overrun by mass tourism.

We begin the journey back to the capital with stops at other points of interest. Today's highlight is the Cauê River viewpoint: at one of the area's most fascinating spots, we visit a hidden beach where the water reflects the imposing Pico Cão Grande. Nearby, after passing through a large palm plantation, we find the Ribeira Peixe waterfall, next to the fishermen's beach: an unforgettable photo opportunity. At lunchtime, we pass through the town of Angolares to reach the roça of chef João Carlos Silva, known for the TV programme "Na Roça com os Tachos". Get ready for a festival of flavours at this delicious gourmet lunch, also included in our expedition. We continue on to the city. Overnight at Hotel Omali.

Deep, magical north, and the Blue Lagoon. In the past, São Tomé was known worldwide as the Chocolate Island. We'll visit a cocoa cooperative to learn the whole production process, right up until the cocoa is ready to be turned into chocolate: fermentation, cleaning and drying, including the manual, bean-by-bean sorting work done by the women of the cooperative. This visit costs €4 per person. We continue along the Baobab Route, known here as Micondó: get ready, because we'll see roças, beaches and idyllic landscapes. Breakfast at the hotel. We'll pass through the town of Guadalupe to reach the district of Lembá. After the visit to the cocoa cooperative, we continue on to the famous Blue Lagoon, with free time for a swim. A stop on the way back at this incredible lagoon. We'll also visit Praia dos Tamarindos. Lunch included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, a visit to the town of Morro Peixe and the famous Roça Agostinho Neto, a setting beautifully portrayed in the novel "Equador" by Miguel Sousa Tavares — recommended reading for anyone who wants to experience this trip in fiction too. Return to the hotel. Overnight, with dinner not included, at a pleasant restaurant in town.

Last day on these wonderful islands, dedicated to discovering the city of São Tomé and its surroundings, the final point of your São Tomé and Príncipe circuit. Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the São Sebastião Museum, the old fort that once protected the city. We'll also take a panoramic drive along the main avenues and a short walk to get a feel for the city's rhythm: the bustle of its streets, local shops, and points of interest such as Independence Square, the Matriz church and the Palace. You'll have the chance to buy local handicrafts. Lunch not included. Return to the hotel and, at the scheduled time, transfer to the airport for your return flight, booked independently.