São Tomé and Príncipe

Equatorial Africa

São Tomé e Príncipe: turismo e guia de viagem

Small-group tours, honeymoons and tailor-made trips to the last paradise in the Atlantic, with official São Tomé guides and a Vamos Fugir coordinator.

Two volcanic islands covered in Atlantic rainforest, a 6h30 direct flight from Lisbon with no time difference — and still one of the least visited countries in the world. Here life is lived without hurry: leve leve.

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Trips

Trips to São Tomé and Príncipe

Climate and seasons

Best time to visit São Tomé and Príncipe

Equatorial and tropical all year round. The difference between the three seasons lies in the sky, the tide and what you can see around you.

When do you want to go?

Dry season "Gravana"Short dry season "Gravanita"Wet season "Green"

What you will see

  • Turtles
  • Monkeys
  • Sunrise/sunset
  • Parrots
  • Flora
  • Diving
Temperature30 °C – 31 °C

Always sunny, with occasional showers: ideal weather for snorkelling, diving and seeing the island in full bloom. It is the sunlight that gives the beaches that turquoise colour. Turtle nesting and hatching season, and a prime time to see whales and dolphins.

The temperature scale is the same in all three panels: the Gravana, despite being the dry season, is the coolest. May falls between seasons, with no fixed pattern of rain or sun.

Before you go

Practical information for travelling to São Tomé and Príncipe

Where to stay in São Tomé and Príncipe: plantations, eco-lodges and small hotels

We stay in charming hotels, eco-lodges in the middle of nature and restored former cocoa and coffee plantations (roças). Whenever possible we choose locally run accommodation, so that the trip benefits the communities we visit.

Comfort varies by area: in São Tomé city there are hotels with full services, while in the north and south of the island we sleep in bungalows surrounded by forest, some without air conditioning and with open-air restaurants. It is part of the experience: less luxury, more nature and more contact with people.

Rooms are double or twin, with private bathroom. If you are travelling alone, ask us about the single room supplement.

How we get around the islands

On São Tomé we travel around the island in a private vehicle (4x4 or minibus) with a local driver. Roads in the north and south are in poor condition in places, so short distances can take longer than expected. It is the country's "leve-leve" pace.

To reach Príncipe island we take a domestic flight of about 35 to 45 minutes. Flight times can change at the last minute, so the programme adapts when necessary. The islets, such as Ilhéu das Rolas, are reached by boat.

What fitness level do you need?

The trip suits anyone with a normal level of fitness. There are easy walks along forest trails, plantations and beaches, lasting 1 to 3 hours.

Heat, humidity and muddy paths after rain make the effort feel greater than in Europe. Some beaches involve a steeper descent and climb. The hardest hikes, such as the climb up Pico de São Tomé, are optional and require good preparation.

São Toméan food: what to eat in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Toméan cuisine is based on fresh fish, seafood, plantain, breadfruit, cassava and tropical fruit. Try calulu (fish or chicken stew with herbs), grilled fish with plantain and coconut sweets.

São Tomé is a land of cocoa and coffee: do not miss a chocolate tasting at a plantation. Vegetarians travel without problems, with advance notice. Always drink bottled water.

Passport and visa for São Tomé and Príncipe

You need a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, with blank pages.

Portuguese and European Union citizens are visa-exempt for short tourist stays (up to 15 days). For longer stays or other nationalities, check the requirements before booking, as they can change.

Also bring your return ticket, your trip booking and your yellow fever vaccination certificate (see "Health advice").

Vaccinations and health for travelling to São Tomé and Príncipe

We recommend the yellow fever vaccine and carrying the International Certificate of Vaccination, which may be requested on arrival. Book a travel health consultation in good time for advice on other vaccinations.

There is a risk of malaria in São Tomé and Príncipe. Talk to your doctor about prophylaxis and protect yourself from bites with repellent and suitable clothing, especially at dawn and dusk.

Travel insurance with medical and repatriation cover is essential: healthcare on the islands is basic.

São Tomé and Príncipe currency: the dobra

The local currency is the dobra (STN), with a fixed exchange rate to the euro: €1 = 24.5 STN. Euros are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops.

There are few ATMs and foreign cards often do not work outside the big hotels. The most practical option is to bring euros in cash (small notes) for personal expenses, meals on your own, tips and crafts.

São Tomé and Príncipe is a small country of two volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea, right on the equator: rainforest that runs down to the sea, old cocoa plantations (roças), almost deserted beaches and people who live at the «leve-leve» pace. It is around 6 to 7 hours' flight from Lisbon, Portuguese is spoken and it is one of the least visited destinations in Africa. In this guide we tell you what to see, when to go, how to get there and how much it costs, from the experience of a team that runs trips to the islands every month.

Where the archipelago is

The archipelago lies off the coast of Gabon, in the Gulf of Guinea. It has two main islands — São Tomé, the larger one, home to the capital, and Príncipe Island to the north — and several islets, such as Ilhéu das Rolas, which the equator runs through. In total the islands cover just over 1,000 km², so it is easy to see a lot in a few days.

What to see in São Tomé and Príncipe

Ilhéu das Rolas and the Equator Marker

At the southern tip of São Tomé, a short boat crossing takes you to Ilhéu das Rolas, where the Equator Marker shows the line between the two hemispheres. Read our guide to Ilhéu das Rolas.

Cocoa and coffee plantations

The roças are the old colonial plantations and tell the story of the country. Roça Agostinho Neto, Monte Café and Roça São João dos Angolares, where chef João Carlos Silva serves a signature lunch, are must-see stops. Learn more about São Tomé cocoa.

Pico Cão Grande and Obô Natural Park

The volcanic needle of Pico Cão Grande rises sheer from the middle of the forest and is the country's best-known image. Around it, Obô Natural Park protects most of the islands' endemic birds and plants.

Beaches of São Tomé

Lagoa Azul is great for snorkelling, Praia Piscina has a natural pool among the rocks and Praia Jalé, in the south, is one of the beaches where sea turtles come to nest. See how to get to Lagoa Azul.

São Nicolau Waterfall and Boca do Inferno

São Nicolau Waterfall, in the hills, and Boca do Inferno, where the sea crashes hard between the coastal rocks, are less than an hour from the capital and combine well in a single day.

Every place in detail in our article what to see in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Príncipe Island, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Príncipe Island is smaller, calmer and almost entirely covered in forest. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, such as Banana Beach. At Roça Sundy, in 1919, observations of a solar eclipse helped confirm Einstein's theory of relativity. You reach Príncipe on a short domestic flight of under an hour. Discover Príncipe Island.

Read our full Príncipe Island travel guide: how to get there, beaches and where to stay.

When to go: climate and best season

It is warm all year, with temperatures between 25 and 30 °C. The gravana, from June to September, is the dry and cooler season: the best time for hiking and whale watching. From December to February there is a shorter dry season, good for the beach and for Christmas. The rest of the year is wetter, but tropical showers are usually short and the landscapes turn greener. Month by month in our article on the best time to visit.

How to get there: flights from Lisbon

From Portugal there are TAP Air Portugal and STP Airways flights from Lisbon to São Tomé, taking around 6 to 7 hours; some flights stop in Accra. On our group trips the flight from Lisbon is included. Airlines, schedules and prices in our guide to flights to São Tomé.

How much the trip costs

It depends on how you travel. A fly & drive with TAP flights, a 4x4 and booked accommodation costs €2,150 per person (it may be cheaper depending on the date and airfare). Our 8-day group trips with flights from Lisbon start at €2,350 per person, including accommodation, guide, transfers and excursions. On arrival you only pay the tourist tax of €2.10 per person per night. See all prices in how much a trip costs.

Where to stay: roças, eco-lodges and hotels

There are restored roças where you sleep surrounded by history, eco-lodges by the sea and comfortable hotels in São Tomé city. On our trips we choose places with character and good service. Suggestions and prices in our guide on where to stay.

Practical information before you travel

  • Visa: Portuguese and European Union citizens are exempt from a visa for stays of up to 15 days. Check the current rules before you travel.
  • Vaccinations: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory. Book a travel health appointment before the trip. More in vaccinations for São Tomé.
  • Currency: the dobra (STN). Euros in cash are accepted almost everywhere; cards and cash machines are rare, so bring euros.
  • Language: Portuguese is the official language.
  • Safety: it is not a violent country. Life happens by day: shops close around 8 pm and the streets are quiet at night.
  • Travel insurance: it is not included in our trips and we always recommend insurance with medical assistance and repatriation.

Organised trips to São Tomé and Príncipe

We run trips in groups of up to 12, with official São Tomé guides and a Vamos Fugir coordinator from the first day to the last:

Have a different date or idea? Ask us for a quote and we will design the trip with you.

Excursions

Excursions in São Tomé and Príncipe