Complete guide to Príncipe island: 16 things to do, the best beaches, Roça Sundy and Einstein's eclipse, a map by area, how to get there from São Tomé, 3-, 4- and 5-day itineraries, weather by month and where to eat.
What is there to do on Príncipe island? Príncipe is the smaller and wilder of the two islands of São Tomé and Príncipe: deserted beaches such as Praia Banana, historic roças such as Roça Sundy, where Einstein's Theory of Relativity was proven in 1919, rainforest as far as the eye can see and the Baía das Agulhas, best seen from the sea. It has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2012 and has just over 8,000 inhabitants.
Prefer to have everything arranged? Our Príncipe and São Tomé trip includes flights from Lisbon and between the islands, Bom Bom Resort, half board and a guide, 9 days from €2,950.
In this guide we explain what to see on Príncipe island, how to get there from São Tomé, how many days to allow, when to go and how much it costs — drawing on our experience of taking travellers to Príncipe all year round.
▶ Video: things to do on Príncipe island, from beaches to roças, in just over two minutes. Watch the video on YouTube. Footage: Príncipe Collection
Where is Príncipe island
Príncipe island lies in the Gulf of Guinea, about 150 km north-east of São Tomé island and just over 200 km off the coast of Gabon. It covers about 140 km², which makes it easy to get around: one main road links the capital, Santo António, with the roças and the northern beaches, and the south is almost entirely forest protected by Príncipe Natural Park.
Together with São Tomé it forms the country of São Tomé and Príncipe. It is an autonomous region with its own regional government, and lives mainly from farming, fishing and small-scale, careful tourism designed not to spoil what makes the island special.
Why visit Príncipe island
First-time visitors to São Tomé and Príncipe almost always ask us whether it is worth adding Príncipe. The short answer is yes — as long as you have the time. São Tomé island has more variety and more life; Príncipe has more silence, more forest and beaches where you often won't see anyone for hours.
- Almost untouched nature: about half the island is a natural park, and the surrounding sea is part of the Biosphere Reserve.
- Deserted beaches: more than thirty beaches and coves, many reachable only by trail or boat.
- History that changed science: the 1919 eclipse observed at Roça Sundy is one of the landmark moments of modern physics.
- Tourism on a human scale: few places to stay, few visitors and a community that welcomes newcomers.
- Easy to get by: Portuguese is the official language, and local guides speak English, French and Spanish.
A little history of Príncipe island
Santo António, one of the smallest capitals in the world. Photo: Príncipe Collection
Portuguese navigators João de Santarém and Pêro Escobar reached the island around 1471, in the service of trade along the African coast. The uninhabited island was first called Santo Antão and was later renamed Ilha do Príncipe — "Prince's Island" — in honour of the heir to the Portuguese throne, who received the revenue from the sugar produced here.
Between 1753 and 1852, Santo António was the capital of the colony of São Tomé and Príncipe — one reason why the small town has a layout and colonial buildings well beyond what its size would suggest. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, cocoa turned Príncipe into an island of large roças, worked by contract labourers from Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique. That legacy can still be seen today at Roça Sundy, Roça Belo Monte, Roça Paciência and Roça Porto Real.
After independence in 1975, many roças were abandoned and the forest reclaimed its space. Since 1995 Príncipe has been an Autonomous Region, and in 2012 it was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with a clear commitment to small-scale, sustainable tourism.
In July 2026, Roça Sundy and Roça Belo Monte were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, together with four other roças in the country, as "The Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe".
Things to do on Príncipe island: 16 experiences
Hidden coves like this can only be reached by boat or on foot. Photo: Príncipe Collection
1. See Praia Banana from the viewpoint and from the sand
Praia Banana is Príncipe's best-known image: a crescent of golden sand between rocks and palm trees, with calm, clear water. It is worth seeing twice — first from above, from Roça Belo Monte, and then down below for a swim. Access is via a short trail from the road.
2. Visit Roça Sundy and the site of Einstein's eclipse
On 29 May 1919, astronomer Arthur Eddington's expedition photographed a total solar eclipse from Roça Sundy. The measurements showed that starlight bent near the Sun, as Einstein had predicted, confirming the General Theory of Relativity. In 2026 Roça Sundy was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, together with Roça Belo Monte and four other roças in the country. The hotel on the roça is closed for restoration; before you go, check with us whether visits to the grounds and the eclipse plaque are open. The community still lives in the old workers' houses.
3. Go up to Roça Belo Monte
Roça Belo Monte is a restored manor house on a hilltop, with one of the most beautiful views in the archipelago over Praia Banana. Even if you are not staying, you can have lunch or a fruit juice on the veranda before heading down to the beach.
4. Stroll around Santo António, the capital
Santo António is one of the smallest capitals in the world: a handful of streets, colourful colonial houses, the church, the market and the Papagaio river running through town. You can walk it in a morning. In the late afternoon the waterfront is calm and very local — there is no nightlife, and that is exactly the charm.
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5. See Baía das Agulhas by boat
Baía das Agulhas ("Bay of Needles"), on the west coast, is a group of needle-shaped volcanic peaks rising straight out of the forest into the sea. It is the most impressive landscape on Príncipe and is best seen on a boat trip, which usually includes stops for swimming and snorkelling in coves reachable only by sea.
6. Take a boat trip around the island
A boat trip around the island takes in deserted beaches, cliffs, the Mosteiros islets and, to the south-east, Boné de Jóquei islet (Ilhéu Caroço), shaped like a jockey's cap, with dolphins fairly often and, from July to September, humpback whales passing by. It is also the easiest way to reach isolated beaches for a picnic.
7. Hike in Príncipe Natural Park
The south of the island is protected primary forest, with rivers, waterfalls and Pico do Príncipe, the island's highest point at about 950 metres. There are half-day trails through the forest and abandoned roças, always with a local guide — the paths are not signposted and the ground is slippery in the rainy season.
8. Spot endemic birds
Príncipe has several bird species found nowhere else in the world, as well as the grey parrot, which you can hear at dawn in the forest. For birdwatchers, a morning with a specialist local guide is worth every minute.
9. See sea turtles
Between November and March, several species of sea turtle come to nest on Príncipe's beaches. Local conservation projects monitor the nests and, with luck and respect for the rules, you may see a turtle laying eggs or hatchlings heading for the sea. Never use white light or touch the animals.
10. Discover the cocoa roças
Besides Sundy and Belo Monte, there are roças such as Roça Paciência and Roça Terreiro Velho, where some of the cocoa that made the archipelago famous is produced. Visiting a roça is a way to understand the country's history, from the cocoa boom to community life today. We tell that story in our article on São Tomé cocoa.
11. Dive and snorkel
Príncipe's waters are among the cleanest in the Gulf of Guinea. The sheltered coves in the north offer good visibility for snorkelling, and the lodges' dive centres run trips to the dive sites around the island.
12. Do nothing at all
It sounds like a joke, but it isn't: Príncipe lives at the "leve-leve" (easy does it) pace even more than São Tomé. An afternoon on an empty beach, with no phone signal and no schedule, is one of the reasons people who visit Príncipe always want to come back.
13. Taste the chocolate of Roça Terreiro Velho
At Roça Terreiro Velho, producer Claudio Corallo grows some of the cocoa used in one of the world's most award-winning chocolates. When visits are running, you can see the plantations, learn how the beans are fermented and dried, and taste the chocolate where it is born. Always check beforehand whether the roça is receiving visitors on your travel dates.
14. See seabirds at Pedras Tinhosas
South of Príncipe, the Pedras Tinhosas are two rocky outcrops in the open sea where thousands of seabirds nest. Landing is not allowed — access is prohibited to protect the colonies — but a boat trip out to the Tinhosas on a calm day is one of the island's most special outings for nature lovers.
15. See the São Lourenço Festival and the Auto de Floripes
Every year on 15 August, Santo António celebrates São Lourenço with the Auto de Floripes, a street play of medieval Portuguese origin depicting the battle between Christians and Moors, which takes over the whole town for hours. If your trip coincides with these dates, it is a rare chance to see a tradition that disappeared in Portugal but survived on Príncipe.
16. Watch the sunset on an empty beach
On the west coast the sun sets over the sea and the beaches turn golden for a few minutes. There are no beach bars or loud music: just the sound of the waves and, with luck, a fisherman pulling his dugout onto the sand. It is the moment our travellers remember most when they get home.
The best beaches on Príncipe island
Beaches in the north and east of Príncipe island. Map: Vamos Fugir, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Príncipe's beaches are often empty. Photo: Príncipe Collection
- Praia Banana — the most photographed, calm water, ideal for swimming.
- Praia Bom Bom — next to Bom Bom islet, linked to the shore by a wooden walkway.
- Praia Macaco — an isolated cove surrounded by forest.
- Praia Boi — pale sand and almost always deserted.
- Praia Sundy — long and wild, below Roça Sundy.
- Praia Grande — one of the sea turtle nesting beaches.
Many of these beaches are reachable only by trail or boat. Several can have currents, so always ask your guide or accommodation before swimming. See all the beaches in both islands in São Tomé and Príncipe beaches.
Map of Príncipe island: the areas of the island
Map of Príncipe island. Map: Vamos Fugir, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Baía das Agulhas is best seen from the sea. Photo: Príncipe Collection
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Both islands in one trip: São Tomé plus an extension to Principe Island, with the inter-island flight, five guided excursions and a 4x4 with driver included.
To plan your days, it helps to think of Príncipe in four areas. Distances are short, but the roads are slow and many beaches can only be reached on foot or by boat.
Santo António and the east coast
The capital is on the east coast, on a sheltered bay next to the airport. This is where you find the market, the bank, the small shops and the island's few restaurants. Nearby are Roça Sundy to the north and Roça Porto Real to the south.
The north: beaches and lodges
The north is the most visited area: here are Bom Bom, Roça Belo Monte, Praia Banana, Praia Macaco, Praia Boi and Praia Bom Bom. It is the best base for beaches and boat trips, and the sea is usually calmer.
The west coast: Baía das Agulhas
To the west are the cliffs and volcanic peaks of Baía das Agulhas, the most isolated beaches and Sundy Praia. Much of this coast is best seen from the sea.
The south: Príncipe Natural Park
The south is dense forest, rivers, Pico do Príncipe and roças swallowed by vegetation. No road circles the island: you get there on guided trails or by boat, out to Pedras Tinhosas and the south-western coves.
How to get to Príncipe island
Príncipe airport, a few minutes from Santo António. Photo: Príncipe Collection
There are no direct international flights to Príncipe. First you fly to São Tomé — from Lisbon it takes about 6h30; we explain the options in flights to São Tomé and Príncipe and TAP or STP Airways. Then you take a domestic flight from São Tomé to Príncipe, about 35 minutes on a small plane.
- Frequency: there are flights every day except Tuesday, with STP Airways or Afrijet; the flight schedule shapes your itinerary. We explain everything in how to get to Príncipe island.
- Baggage: the allowance is 15 kg per person, much less than on the international flight. Bring a small bag and leave the rest at your hotel in São Tomé.
- Boat: there is a sea link, but it is irregular and uncomfortable. For travellers, flying is the sensible option.
Getting around Príncipe island
There is no regular public transport. The most practical way to get around is with a driver and local guide, arranged by your lodge or agency: they know the roads, the trails and the people on the roças. In Santo António there are motorbike taxis for short trips. Self-drive car hire is uncommon and, with dirt roads and minimal signage, we don't recommend it. To reach the beaches in the west and south, a boat is often faster than the road.
How many days to spend on Príncipe island
Abandoned roças in the southern forest. Photo: Príncipe Collection
Three nights is the minimum that makes sense; four or five is ideal. With fewer, your time goes on flights and transfers. A full trip to both islands needs 9 to 11 days. We go into the itineraries in how many days on Príncipe island and our São Tomé and Príncipe itinerary.
3-day Príncipe island itinerary
- Day 1: flight from São Tomé, Santo António on foot and an afternoon at Praia Bom Bom.
- Day 2: morning at Roça Sundy; afternoon at Praia Banana, going up to Roça Belo Monte for sunset.
- Day 3: a short boat trip along the north coast and the flight back to São Tomé.
4-day Príncipe island itinerary
- Day 1: flight from São Tomé, arrival and an afternoon on the beach by your lodge.
- Day 2: Roça Sundy and the site of the 1919 eclipse, Santo António and sunset over Praia Banana from Roça Belo Monte.
- Day 3: boat trip to Baía das Agulhas, with stops for swimming and snorkelling.
- Day 4: a short forest walk or a free morning, and the flight back to São Tomé.
5-day Príncipe island itinerary
- Day 1: arrival, check-in and beach.
- Day 2: Santo António, Roça Sundy and Roça Belo Monte.
- Day 3: a full day by boat to Baía das Agulhas, with lunch on an isolated beach.
- Day 4: a guided hike in the southern forest, abandoned roças and birdwatching.
- Day 5: a free morning at Praia Macaco or Praia Boi and the flight back.
Domestic flights are not daily, so these itineraries are always adjusted to the days when there is a flight. On our São Tomé and Príncipe Island holiday this is already taken care of.
Nature and wildlife on Príncipe
Between November and March, turtles nest on Príncipe's beaches. Photo: Príncipe Collection
Príncipe's isolation, hundreds of kilometres from the mainland, means plants and animals evolved here that exist nowhere else. There are several endemic birds, orchids and begonias unique to the island, unique bats and reptiles, and a rainforest that, in the south, has never been felled.
At sea, the waters around the island are a migration route for humpback whales from July to September, a nesting ground for sea turtles from November to March and a breeding site for seabirds on Pedras Tinhosas. Its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status requires a balance between conservation and community life — which is why tourism on Príncipe is deliberately small.
For travellers, this comes down to simple rules: don't bring single-use plastic to the beaches, don't touch or feed animals, don't collect shells or coral, and hire island guides, who are the first guardians of this heritage.
Best time to visit Príncipe island
It is warm all year, between 24 and 30 °C. The best time is the gravana, from June to September, the dry and cooler season, good for hiking and whale watching. Between December and February there is a second, drier spell, the gravanita. Príncipe is wetter and greener than São Tomé, so expect showers in any month — they are usually short. Month by month in best time to visit São Tomé and Príncipe.
Príncipe island weather by month
- January and February — gravanita (short dry season): hot, sunnier, occasional showers. Good for beaches and turtles.
- March to May — rains: hot and humid, heavy but short rain. Very green forest and few tourists.
- June to September — gravana (dry season): cooler, less rain, sometimes overcast. Ideal for hiking, whales and the São Lourenço Festival on 15 August.
- October and November — rains: regular rain and rougher seas. For flexible travellers; turtle season begins.
- December — transition: sunnier from the second half of the month. Christmas and New Year.
Where to stay on Príncipe island
The island has few places to stay and all of them have personality: Bom Bom between two beaches, Sundy Praia for luxury in the forest and Roça Belo Monte for the view; Roça Sundy is closed for works, and Santo António has budget guest houses. We compare them all, with nightly prices, in Príncipe island hotels. As rooms are few, book months ahead, especially for the gravana and Christmas.
Where to eat on Príncipe island and what to try
The catch of the day, the basis of Príncipe's cooking. Photo: Príncipe Collection
The choice of restaurants is small. In practice, most meals are eaten at your lodge — which generally serves good food made with island produce — and at a handful of restaurants and eateries in Santo António, where you can eat freshly caught fish at prices far lower than in Europe.
- Calulu: the national dish, a stew of fish or chicken with local leaves and herbs, served with cassava flour or breadfruit.
- Grilled fish: andala, flying fish or croaker, grilled over charcoal with fried plantain.
- Búzio do mato: a large forest snail cooked in a spicy sauce. For the adventurous.
- Fruit: papaya, pineapple, banana, breadfruit, jackfruit and safu, depending on the season.
- Chocolate and coffee: produced on the archipelago's roças and a great souvenir to take home.
A practical tip: in Santo António, let a small restaurant know in the morning if you want lunch or dinner. Food is often cooked to order with the catch of the day, and the result is much better than turning up unannounced.
How much a trip to Príncipe island costs
Príncipe is the most expensive part of a trip to São Tomé and Príncipe: on top of the international flight there is the domestic flight, and accommodation is limited and mid-to-upper range. In practice, adding 3 to 4 nights on Príncipe to a São Tomé trip raises the budget considerably, especially if you choose Sundy Praia. On arrival in São Tomé the only charge is the tourist tax of €2.10 per person per night. We do the maths, with three sample budgets, in how much a trip to Príncipe island costs.
Practical tips for visiting Príncipe
- Money: bring euros in cash. There are even fewer ATMs than on São Tomé and cards are hardly ever accepted.
- Phone signal and internet: weak outside Santo António and the lodges.
- Health: no vaccine is mandatory if you fly in via Lisbon (yellow fever is only required if you arrive from a risk country), and you should bring insect repellent. More in vaccines for São Tomé and Príncipe.
- Safety: Príncipe is very peaceful. Shops close early, around 20:00, and at night the island sleeps.
- Insurance: travel insurance is not included in our trips; we always recommend a policy with medical assistance and repatriation.
- Local guides: for trails, boat trips and roças, always hire island guides — they know the paths and the money stays in the community.
Mistakes to avoid on a trip to Príncipe
- Going for just one or two days. Between flights and transfers, there is little time left.
- Booking the international flight before knowing the domestic flight schedule. The flight to Príncipe sets your dates.
- Bringing a big suitcase. The domestic baggage allowance is small; bring a cabin bag or a backpack.
- Relying on ATMs or cards. Bring enough euros in cash for your days on the island.
- Swimming without asking. Some beaches have strong currents; always ask your guide or lodge.
- Booking late. There are few rooms and they sell out months ahead for the gravana, Christmas and Easter.
FAQ: Príncipe island
Is Príncipe island worth visiting?
Yes, if you have at least three nights. It is the most unspoilt part of the archipelago, with empty beaches, forest and historic roças. With less time, it is better to make the most of São Tomé island.
How do you get from São Tomé to Príncipe?
By plane, on a domestic flight of about 35 minutes. Flights are not daily and the baggage allowance is small.
What is the most beautiful beach on Príncipe?
Praia Banana is the most famous, but Praia Macaco, Praia Boi and Praia Bom Bom are just as beautiful and often empty.
What happened at Roça Sundy in 1919?
Arthur Eddington's expedition photographed a total solar eclipse there that confirmed Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
How many days do you need on Príncipe?
Between three and five nights. Four days let you see the roças, the capital and Praia Banana, and take the boat trip to Baía das Agulhas.
What is the capital of Príncipe island?
Santo António, a small colonial town on the Papagaio river that you can explore on foot in a morning.
Is Príncipe island safe?
Yes. It is a very peaceful island with a small population and no violent crime. The things to watch out for are the sun, the sea, slippery trails and mosquitoes.
Do you need a visa for Príncipe?
Citizens of the EU, Switzerland, the UK and the USA do not need a visa for São Tomé and Príncipe for stays of up to 15 days; other nationalities should check the current rules. Príncipe is part of the same country, so there is no extra control on the domestic flight beyond your ticket and ID.
Are there turtle beaches on Príncipe?
Yes. Between November and March, sea turtles nest on several of the island's beaches, such as Praia Grande. Visits are run with local conservation projects.
Can you get to Príncipe by boat from São Tomé?
There is a sea link, but it is irregular, slow and uncomfortable. For travellers, the domestic flight is the recommended option.
What to bring back from Príncipe?
Chocolate and coffee from the roças, wood and textile crafts, and spices such as pepper and vanilla grown in the archipelago.
What is the difference between São Tomé and Príncipe islands?
São Tomé is bigger, has the country's capital, more roads, more roças to visit and more life. Príncipe is smaller, wilder and calmer, with fewer places to stay and beaches that are almost always empty. Ideally, see both.
A São Tomé and Príncipe trip including Príncipe island
Príncipe is the part of the trip where logistics most easily go wrong: flights that are not daily, few rooms and lodges that sell out early. On our São Tomé and Príncipe Island in 9 days tour we take care of the domestic flights, transfers and nights on both islands, with local guides. Find out more about Príncipe island or talk to our team and we will design the trip with you.
