São Tomé and Príncipe Tour
3 Islands 9 Days
The trip
Before you book this Sao Tome and Principe tour
First-time travellers usually ask about required vaccinations, how much money to bring and where to stay. If you would rather stay on Sao Tome island alone, without the Principe extension, there is an 8-day circuit. For the full picture, start with the destination guide.
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1
São Tomé and Príncipe Trip: departure from Lisbon with TAP flights included
Check-in at Lisbon Airport at the scheduled time. Boarding formalities for the scheduled flight to São Tomé and Príncipe, with TAP flights included in the package. Welcome by our local guide and immediate transfer to the hotel. Our guide helps with your first currency exchange — euros for dobras. Personal guide support throughout the whole trip. Overnight at Roça Santa Luzia. Dinner included.
Day 2
Coffee Route in São Tomé: plantations, coffee and interior landscapes
This tour introduces you to another side of São Tomé: the island's breadbasket. We climb to 800 metres above sea level, through plantations, coffee estates and a wide variety of vegetable crops that supply the whole island. Wake up at Roça Santa Luzia — a world apart, a place of quiet good taste set in the forest, surrounded by an idyllic, incomparable garden. Departure for the day's first tour at 10am. We soon reach Trindade, with its market, church, town hall and a whole structure built for this hard-working community. We visit Roça Monte Café (museum visit not included). Lunch included at the Almada Negreiros Museum, at the former Roça Saudade, birthplace of the artist and poet. Return via the Cascata Milagrosa waterfall. Dinner and overnight included.
Day 3
South São Tomé Paradise Beaches Route
A genuine whirlwind of a day. We cross the island south — also known as the Coconut Route or Tropical Route — a day full of surprises, including the world's largest open-air laundry, Roça Água Izé, the Boca do Inferno blowhole and Pico Cão Grande. After breakfast, first stop at the world's largest open-air laundry: at the mouth of the Abade river, hundreds of women wash clothes by hand, an incredible step back in time. We learn the story of a visionary São Toméan who dignified this nation, leaving an immeasurable legacy, near Roça Água Izé. Next, fresh coconut water at the geological formation of Boca do Inferno, a must-see stop. We continue through grand forest and volcanic landscapes, with the Pico Cão Grande viewpoint and the Malanza river as highlights — this is where paradise truly reveals itself. 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 set within nature, respectful of the ecosystem. There's no hairdryer, and hot water is available only from 6pm to 9pm. Don't judge too soon: the bungalows are simple, but sit just 20 metres from a sea of 27, 28, 29 degrees. Relax and switch off.
Day 4
Ilhéu das Rolas in São Tomé: the Equator Line marker, in the footsteps of Gago Coutinho
Paradise and the Equator Line marker, in the footsteps of Admiral Gago Coutinho. Pinch yourself — yes, we're going to Ilhéu das Rolas! After breakfast, a boat crossing to this small islet, at the island's own unhurried "leve leve" pace, sailing a little further south under the warm waters of the Gulf of Guinea. This day is entirely dedicated to exploring Ilhéu das Rolas. You'll get the chance to stand in both hemispheres of the Earth at the same time, at the Equator Line marker built at the request of Admiral Gago Coutinho. At the scheduled time, we return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Ecolodge Inhame. It's possible to have lunch on Ilhéu das Rolas itself, at a simple local restaurant with a delicious menu based on grilled fish and octopus. Booking 1 day in advance is required; the menu costs around €10–12 (ask your guide).
Day 5
São Tomé Gastronomic Route: lunch at the roça with Chef João Carlos Silva
We begin the return to the capital, with stops at further points of interest. A highlight is the Cauê river viewpoint — one of the most striking spots on the island, overlooking a hidden beach where the water reflects the imposing Pico Cão Grande. Very close by, through a grand palm plantation, we find the Ribeira Peixe waterfall, next to a fishermen's beach — an unforgettable photo stop. At lunchtime, we cross the town of Angolares to reach the roça of Chef João Carlos Silva, the well-known cook from the TV show "Na Roça com os Tachos." Get ready for a festival of flavours at this delicious gourmet lunch, also included in this fantastic expedition. We continue on to the city. Overnight at Hotel Omali.
Day 6
Príncipe Island Extension — Bom Bom, As Good As It Sounds
Time to pack for the next stage of this elegant experience, in the land of princes and princesses. One excursion per day is included during your stay on Príncipe Island — usually at 9am, weather and sea conditions permitting. In case of adverse conditions, some excursions may be postponed or moved to the afternoon. Our agency holds a seal of guarantee and commitment to travellers, and in line with sustainable tourism, we run incredible excursions with the team from Grupo HBD Príncipe Collection. Here you'll understand why this island is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Trails, waterfalls, beaches, plantations and rivers are all part of the daily excursions in this paradise — which is why our trips are recommended for all ages. Breakfast and hotel departure at 7am for boarding formalities on the scheduled STP Airways flight, departing at 9am — just 35 minutes separate these two wonderful islands. Arrival on Príncipe Island and transfer to the Bom Bom Resort. Dinner and overnight included.
Day 7
Príncipe Island: Nova Estrela Viewpoint, Terreiro Velho and Sundy Praia
This island is remarkably beautiful, and every excursion is designed to show it to you from north to south (the order of tours, activities and excursions may change). Breakfast at the hotel and morning discovery of the island: Nova Estrela Viewpoint, Terreiro Velho and the Roça Abade community. In the afternoon, we head to Sundy Praia to enjoy its facilities. Dinner and overnight included.
Day 8
Príncipe Island – São Tomé – Return
A true whirlwind of tenderness, joy and a sense of accomplishment. Discovering this place and sharing this adventure with the travel companions you love most is genuinely transformative. Breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your return flight time to São Tomé, with a technical stop in Accra, capital of Ghana (no need to leave the aircraft — the stop lasts around 30 minutes), there may still be time for one more activity on the island. Either way, this is an idyllic paradise that deserves to be lived consciously right up to the last moment. At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport and scheduled flight to São Tomé, connecting to the TAP international flight.
Day 9
Arrival in Lisbon
A different kind of homecoming. Coming home carries with it a lingering smile — a shiver that always comes back when reliving the memories of this adventure across these wonderful islands. After a pleasant overnight flight, arrival in Lisbon is scheduled for 5:30am.
What's included
- TAP flights with taxes included, 1 x 23kg hold bag and 1 x 8kg cabin bag per person, return
- Domestic inter-island flight (São Tomé–Príncipe)
- Local agency guide, with personal support throughout the whole trip
- Modern 4x4 vehicle, with insurance and driver included
- 5 guided excursions: city and Monte Café visit, South Paradise Beaches Route, Ilhéu das Rolas discovery
- Further excursions provided: Bobo Forro Market, Porto Alegre and Vila Malanza, Angolares and its viewpoints
- Boat crossing from São Tomé to Ilhéu das Rolas
- Príncipe Island: one excursion per day, in the morning, with free afternoons
- Accommodation and breakfast at the planned hotels: Roça Santa Luzia, Ecoresort Inhame, Hotel Omali, Hotel Bom Bom
- Half-board: 17 meals (6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners), including 2 special lunches — at the Almada Negreiros Museum restaurant and the gourmet tasting lunch at Chef João Carlos Silva's roça — and 5 dinners (1 welcome dinner at Roça Santa Luzia, 2 at Inhame Lodge, 2 at Bom Bom Resort)
What's not included
- Anything not specifically listed as included
- Drinks with meals
- Tourist tax of €2.10 per person, per night, paid on arrival at the airport (applied in most countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe)
Frequently asked questions
All your questions answered
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.
Unlike many operators who resell the destination from a generic catalogue, São Tomé Complete Circuit is organised by a team working directly on the ground in São Tomé and Príncipe, with a personal guide throughout the trip and a direct partnership with Grupo HBD Príncipe Collection for the Príncipe extension.
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.
The price depends on duration, chosen hotels and whether the Príncipe Island extension is included. Ask us for a personalised quote for the 9-day São Tomé Complete Circuit with TAP flights included — as an agency specialised in this destination, we can usually secure better terms than booking each part of the trip separately.
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's a very complete São Tomé and Príncipe package — TAP flights, the inter-island domestic flight, all hotels, a personal guide throughout the trip, a 4x4 vehicle with driver and half-board meals are all included. We don't include drinks with meals or the local tourist tax, which is paid on arrival — everything is listed transparently in "What's Included," so there are no surprises.
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 9-day package includes TAP flights (international and domestic), all hotels, a personal guide throughout the trip, a 4x4 vehicle with driver, 5 guided excursions, the boat crossing to Ilhéu das Rolas and half-board meals — see the full list under "What's Included" above. It's a truly complete São Tomé and Príncipe tour, with no hidden costs.
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