Sao Tome and Principe Holidays with Flights: 9 Days of Plantations, Beaches and Rolas Islet

  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • 9 days / 7 nights
  • 2–12 travelers
  • Flight included

9-day small-group trip around São Tomé with direct flights from Lisbon, half board, the boat crossing to Rolas Islet and lunch by chef João Carlos Silva.

  • Flights
  • 7 nights' accommodation
  • Half board + special lunches
  • Chef's lunch at the Almada Negreiros Museum
  • Boat crossing to Rolas Islet
Sao Tome and Principe holidays with flights from Lisbon: the undiscovered paradise. Two volcanic islands covered in rainforest in the middle of the Gulf of Guinea, a 6h30 direct flight from Lisbon with no time difference, and still one of the least visited countries in the world. These 9-day Sao Tome and Principe holidays are designed for travellers looking for the right balance between ecotourism, comfort and authenticity. You cross São Tomé island from north to south: the historic coffee and cocoa plantations (roças) in the interior, the Paradise Beaches Route in the south with the Boca do Inferno blowhole and the viewpoint over Pico Cão Grande, and the boat crossing to Rolas Islet, where you stand with one foot in each hemisphere, right on the Equator.

Day-by-day itinerary

São Tomé and Príncipe trip itinerary, day by day

Gulf of GuineaEquatorSão Tomé IslandPríncipe Island12345678910111213141516171819
  1. 1Roça Santa LuziaDay 1 · Plantation (roça)
  2. 2TrindadeDay 2 · Town
  3. 3Roça Monte CaféDay 2 · Plantation (roça)
  4. 4Roça Saudade · Casa Museu Almada NegreirosDay 2 · Plantation (roça)
  5. 5Cascata MilagrosaDay 2 · Nature
  6. 6Roça Água IzéDay 3 · Plantation (roça)
  7. 7Boca do InfernoDay 3 · Nature
  8. 8Pico Cão GrandeDay 3 · Nature
Show the other 11 places
  1. 9Rio MalanzaDay 3 · Nature
  2. 10Praia InhameDay 3 · Beach
  3. 11Ilhéu das Rolas · Marco do EquadorDay 4 · Islet
  4. 12Praia PiscinaDay 5 · Beach
  5. 13Cidade de São ToméDay 6 · Town
  6. 14Cascata da Ribeira PeixeDay 6 · Nature
  7. 15São João dos AngolaresDay 6 · Town
  8. 16Lagoa AzulDay 7 · Beach
  9. 17Praia dos TamarindosDay 7 · Beach
  10. 18Morro PeixeDay 7 · Nature
  11. 19Roça Agostinho NetoDay 7 · Plantation (roça)
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Check-in at Lisbon Airport for the scheduled flight to the archipelago. On arrival, you are met by our resident guide and transferred straight to the hotel. On this first day we go with you to change money (Euros into Dobras) and stay on hand throughout the tour. Accommodation: Roça Santa Luzia. Meals: dinner included.

Wake up at Roça Santa Luzia, surrounded by gardens and rainforest. We set off at 10:00 for the centre of the island — São Tomé's breadbasket — climbing to 800 metres, where the farms that feed the whole country are found. We stop in the town of Trindade to see the local market, the church and the town hall, pass through Roça Monte Café (with the option of visiting its museum) and have lunch at the Almada Negreiros Museum, set in the former Roça Saudade. On the way back, a visit to the striking Cascata Milagrosa waterfall. Accommodation: Roça Santa Luzia. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

South along the Coconut Route. Our first stop is the mouth of the Abade river, the largest open-air laundry in the world. We continue to the historic Roça Água Izé to understand the legacy of cocoa growing, then pause at the Boca do Inferno blowhole for a fresh coconut water. The route runs on through volcanic landscapes to the viewpoints over Pico Cão Grande and the Malanza river. We arrive at an eco-resort in the south, set into the forest a few metres from beaches where the sea sits between 27°C and 29°C. Accommodation: Ecolodge Inhame (bungalows). Meals: breakfast and dinner included (lunch at leisure).

After breakfast, a boat crossing over the warm waters of the Gulf of Guinea to Rolas Islet. The day is given to exploring the islet, crossing the Equator line and standing in both hemispheres of the planet at once, at the monument built at the request of Admiral Gago Coutinho. There is the chance to have grilled fish or octopus for lunch at a local restaurant on the islet (booked in advance with your guide). Return by boat at the end of the day. Accommodation: Ecolodge Inhame. Meals: breakfast and dinner included.

A day entirely free, at the islands' own leve-leve pace. From the lodge you can walk to idyllic beaches nearby, such as the well-known Praia Piscina, or simply enjoy the sea and the forest around the eco-resort. Accommodation: Ecolodge Inhame. Meals: breakfast and dinner included.

We begin the journey back to the capital, stopping at the Cauê river viewpoint and at a hidden beach looking out at the towering Pico Cão Grande. The road passes palm plantations and the Ribeira Peixe waterfall beside a fishing beach. At São João dos Angolares we stop at the roça for a gourmet tasting lunch prepared by chef João Carlos Silva, known across Portugal for the television series Na Roça com os Tachos. We then continue to the capital. Accommodation: Hotel Omali. Meals: breakfast and gourmet lunch included.

Exploring the north of the island. We visit a cocoa cooperative in the district of Lembá to follow the whole artisanal process — fermenting, drying and sorting bean by bean, done by the women of the community (local fee of €4 per person). The route carries on along the Baobab Route — São Tomé's micondós — towards the iconic Lagoa Azul for a swim, and on to Praia dos Tamarindos. Lunch at a local restaurant and a visit to the village of Morro Peixe, ending at the historic Roça Agostinho Neto, immortalised in Miguel Sousa Tavares's novel Equador. Accommodation: Hotel Omali. Meals: breakfast and lunch included (dinner at leisure in town).

A final day given to the capital. A guided visit to the São Sebastião Fort Museum and a panoramic tour of the main avenues, Independence Square, the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the local markets for handicrafts. At a time to be agreed, transfer to São Tomé Airport for the flight to Lisbon. Meals: breakfast included.

Arrival at Lisbon Airport early in the morning (around 05:30), where our services on this São Tomé and Príncipe tour come to an end.

What's included

  • Flights
  • 7 nights' accommodation
  • Half board + special lunches
  • Chef's lunch at the Almada Negreiros Museum
  • Gourmet tasting lunch at Roça São João dos Angolares with chef João Carlos Silva
  • All touring and transfers in a 4x4 with a specialist driver-guide
  • Boat crossing to Rolas Islet
  • Visit to the São Sebastião Fort Museum
  • Cultural tour of São Tomé city with chocolate tasting

What's not included

  • Entrance fee at the cocoa cooperative on Day 7 (approx. €4 per person)
  • Lunches on Days 3, 4, 5 and 8
  • Dinner at leisure in town on Day 7
  • Entry to the Monte Café Roça Museum, €3 per person
  • Tips, personal expenses and drinks outside the included meals
  • Tourist tax, paid at the airport on arrival, €2.10 per person per night

Sao Tome and Principe holidays: the highlights you will see

Monte Café plantation and its coffee museum · Roça Saudade and the Almada Negreiros Museum · Milagrosa Waterfall · Água Izé plantation · Boca do Inferno · Pico Cão Grande · Piscina Beach · Rolas Islet and the Equator monument · Lagoa Azul and Tamarindos Beach · the Baobab Route · Roça Agostinho Neto, the setting of the novel "Equador" · São Sebastião Fort and São Tomé city.

Where you will stay: Roça Santa Luzia, Inhame Eco Lodge and Hotel Omali

Two nights at Roça Santa Luzia, a former plantation surrounded by gardens and tropical forest; three nights at Praia Inhame Eco Lodge, in bungalows by the beaches of the south; and two nights at Hotel Omali, facing the sea in São Tomé city.

Food is part of the journey

On top of half board, two special lunches are included: the chef's lunch at the Almada Negreiros Museum and the tasting lunch at Roça São João dos Angolares with chef João Carlos Silva, one of the best tables in Africa, served at the pace of conversation. Along the way you taste São Tomé home cooking, high-altitude coffee and the island's famous chocolate.

How much do Sao Tome and Principe holidays cost with flights?

Many São Tomé tours are sold without flights, and a return ticket from Lisbon can cost €800–900 per person. Here the price includes flights from Lisbon, 7 nights' accommodation, half board, a 4x4 with driver, all excursions and an agency guide from the first to the last day. Groups are small, with a maximum of 12 people, and the trip is confirmed from 2 travellers, with two departures a month all year round. A fixed price with no last-minute surprises: the closest thing to all-inclusive Sao Tome and Principe holidays. Only some lunches, drinks and the tourist tax are not included.

Why book your Sao Tome and Principe holidays with us

  • Flights from Lisbon included: most São Tomé trips are advertised without flights; here they are already in the price.
  • Small group: 12 travellers at most, with an official São Tomé guide and a Vamos Fugir coordinator from the first to the last day.
  • Guaranteed departure from 2 people and two dates a month all year round.
  • Three stays with character: a historic plantation, a beachfront eco lodge in the south and a seafront hotel in the capital.
  • Half board and two special lunches, including the tasting menu by chef João Carlos Silva.
  • Licensed travel agency registered with Turismo de Portugal (RNAVT 4155), with our own team in São Tomé.

Small-group departures in 2027

Two departures a month from January to December 2027, from €2,350 per person including flights. The 13 January 2027 departure is already confirmed. Pick your date in the departure calendar on this page, or ask us for a private date for friends, families or companies.

Want to add Príncipe Island?

This trip covers São Tomé island from north to south. To also visit Príncipe Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, see our São Tomé and Príncipe Island holiday.

Frequently asked questions

São Tomé and Príncipe trip: frequently asked questions

No visa is required for Portuguese and European Union citizens on tourist trips of up to 15 days. You only need a passport valid for at least 6 months from your return date. Tip: if you plan to add the extension to Príncipe Island and go beyond 15 days in total, our team handles the extension process on the islands.

There are no compulsory vaccinations for travellers coming directly from Portugal or Europe. Yellow fever vaccination is only required if you are arriving from a country where the disease is endemic. Travel clinic: a pre-travel appointment is advisable, to review malaria prophylaxis and routine vaccination boosters. On the islands: drink bottled water only and use insect repellent, especially at the end of the day.

The Euro (€) is accepted almost everywhere, but local ATMs do not take foreign cards. It is essential to bring cash in Euros for all personal spending. Local currency: the official currency is the Dobra (STN). On the first day of the tour, your private guide goes with you to change money in safe places. Credit cards: accepted only at the larger hotels, with additional fees. How much cash should I bring for personal spending? We suggest a minimum of around €200 per person per day to cover lunches at leisure and drinks outside the included meals on this tour. There are always small pieces of local craftwork worth buying.

Wi-Fi in the hotels is free but can be unreliable. The most effective way to have data on your phone throughout the tour is a local SIM card. Our guide helps you buy and set one up on the first day.

São Tomé and Príncipe has a pleasant tropical climate all year round, with sea temperatures between 27°C and 29°C. Dry season (gravana): June to September — the best window for walking, forest hikes and exploring the roças. Gravanita: December to February — sunny days with little rain. Wildlife: turtles nest between November and March; whales are seen between July and October.

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.

The trick is to travel light and practical. Pack: Cool cotton or linen clothes and a swimsuit. Comfortable walking shoes and beach sandals. Strong insect repellent and biodegradable sunscreen. A small daypack for excursions and boat trips.

Wi-Fi in the hotels is free but can be unreliable. The most effective way to have internet on your phone throughout the tour is to buy a local SIM card with mobile data. Our guide helps you buy and set it up on the very first day.

São Tomé and Príncipe has a pleasant tropical climate all year, with sea temperatures between 27°C and 29°C. Dry season (Gravana): June to September — ideal for forest hikes and exploring the roças. Gravanita season: December to February — sunny days with little rain. Wildlife: turtle nesting season runs from November to March; whale watching from July to October.

The secret is to travel light and practical. Pack: Cool cotton or linen clothes and a swimsuit. Comfortable walking shoes and beach sandals. Strong insect repellent and biodegradable sunscreen. A small day backpack for excursions and boat trips.

Yes. São Tomé and Príncipe is considered one of the safest countries in Africa, with very welcoming people and Portuguese widely spoken. Throughout the trip you are accompanied by the agency guide and our local team. We only recommend the usual precautions: don't leave valuables in sight and avoid isolated areas at night.

This tour is dedicated to São Tomé island and Ilhéu das Rolas. If you would also like to visit Príncipe Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, we can add an extension of a few days, with a domestic flight of about 35 minutes. Ask us for a quote.

There are two departures a month all year round. The trip is confirmed from 2 participants and groups have a maximum of 12 people, to keep the pace relaxed and stay close to the guide.

Terms and conditions

Your booking is confirmed on payment of the deposit shown on this page, per person. The trip is confirmed with a minimum of 2 participants. Cancellations up to 60 days before departure are free of charge; between 60 and 30 days, 30% of the price; less than 30 days, 60% of the price. Prices per person in a double room.

from
2350€
per person
2BSTP-8D
Adult price
2350€
Child price
1100€
Single supplement
+450€
Book for
1000€

Departure dates

Price per person. Tap a date to book.

Reviews from our travellers

4,9100 reviews on Google

  • Google
    “a Vamos Fugir é uma agência de excelência que nos leva a conhecer a cultura e a gastronomia com rotas bem estruturadas e toda a equipa é fantástica e de uma simpatia incrível é sem dúvida a minha agência de eleição e o Luciano é um ser humano incrível sempre disponível e incansável.”
    Ana Maria A.São Tomé e Príncipe · 2026
  • Google
    “A viagem a São Tomé e Principe na empresa "Vamos Fugir" com o Filipe, foi extraordinária em todos os aspetos. Decorreu num ambiente alegre e divertido. Percorremos a ilha em bons transportes, o que melhorou os percursos por estradas bem degradadas. Os alojamentos tb são bons. O de Inhame é mesmo na natureza, o que nos envolve mais. A alimentação é de excelência. Nunca provei tanta coisa como nestes locais. Os passeios proporcionam o contacto e envolvencia com as pessoas dos locais e vivenciamos muitos dos usos e costumes destas gentes afáveis e acolhedoras. Fujam com o Filipe e nunca mais se esquecerão destas aventuras.”
    Maria de Fátima C.São Tomé e Príncipe · 2026
  • Google
    “Viagem a São Tomé e Príncipe Uma experiência que se iniciou com alguma "cautela", durante a reserva, até ao pagamento final, mas, que acabou da melhor forma possível! Uma viagem FANTÁSTICA, acompanhada por uma equipa de guias, em São Tomé, que recomendo. Pessoas muito simpáticas, sempre disponíveis e bastante profissionais. Já no Príncipe, a equipa do Resort BOM BOM, também foi EXCELENTE. Digamos que foi uma experiência que recomendo vivamente! A Vamos Fugir está de PARABÉNS.”
    Paulo J.São Tomé e Ilha do Príncipe · 2025
  • Google
    “Viagem a São Tomé fantástica, com um grupo maravilhoso, com um acompanhante da agência, "Vamos Fugir", (Luciano) , pessoa fantástica, genuína e com muito amor ao "próximo". A beleza de São Tomé e as pessoas, têm características que mais nenhum povo tem. Já com saudades, gostava de voltar e com a mesma agência. Não dá para explicar, é ir mesmo. Parabéns Luciano ganhaste um grupo de amigos.”
    Maria B.Viagem em grupo a São Tomé · 2025
  • Google
    “A viagem a São Tomé e Príncipe, organizada pela agência de viagens "Vamos Fugir", foi uma experiência inesquecível. As paisagens são deslumbrantes e as praias, com areia dourada e águas cristalinas, são paradisíacas. A biodiversidade é riquíssima, com aves, plantas e paisagens únicas que surpreendem a cada olhar. A simpatia e hospitalidade das pessoas tornam tudo ainda mais especial. Obrigada Luciano, sem a tua presença e simpatia esta viagem não teria tido o mesmo encanto.”
    Teresa D.São Tomé e Príncipe · 2025
  • Google
    “Regressei a São Tomé, a minha ilha, 50 anos depois, para a mostrar à família. Optei por viajar com a "Vamos Fugir?" e foi a melhor decisão. Passar aqui o Natal foi, também, uma excelente opção. Obrigado Luciano pelo profissionalismo e programa. Vou de coração e alma cheios.”
    António S.Natal em São Tomé · 2024
  • Google
    “Sem dúvida, a minha viagem a São Tomé com a agência Vamos Fugir foi uma experiência inesquecível. Este país deslumbra com as suas praias paradisíacas e paisagens deslumbrantes, mas foi através da Vamos Fugir que pude mergulhar profundamente na riqueza do povo, da cultura e da história de São Tomé. A Vamos Fugir não se limitou a proporcionar uma viagem turística, mas também se empenhou em criar um vínculo genuíno com a comunidade local. Tive a oportunidade de conhecer de perto a vida quotidiana, as tradições e as histórias fascinantes do povo são-tomense. Além disso, o compromisso social da Vamos Fugir foi notável. A agência não apenas se preocupou em oferecer experiências enriquecedoras aos viajantes, mas também em contribuir para o desenvolvimento da comunidade local. Tivemos a oportunidade de participar em iniciativas solidárias, permitindo-nos não apenas apreciar a beleza de São Tomé, mas também deixar um impacto positivo. Agradeço à Vamos Fugir por proporcionar não apenas umas férias memoráveis, mas por criar uma ligação autêntica entre os viajantes e este incrível destino africano. São Tomé é realmente um tesouro, e a Vamos Fugir tornou a minha visita não apenas turística, mas uma verdadeira imersão na essência deste país maravilhoso.”
    Eugenia M.São Tomé · 2024
  • Google
    “Estive em São Tomé, de 12 a 19 de Agosto/23, com o Vamos Fugir? e foi sem dúvida nenhuma a melhor experiência de sempre. O Filipe, foi um profissional de excelência. Sempre presente , sempre atento, sempre disponível! Senti-me sempre segura, sempre acompanhada. Desde o primeiro contato com o Vamos Fugir?, percebi que, o que me iram proporcionar, eram experiências . E fui sem medo! E superou todas as minhas expectativas! Os meus parabéns ao Vamos Fugir?, e o meu eterno agradecimento pelas memórias que me proporcionaram e que graças a eles, vão ficar para sempre gravadas nomeu coração. Agora é só aguardar por mais um novo destino e claro, com o Vamos Fugir? 😊 Grata por tudo e um bem haja ao Vamos Fugir? E Vamos Fugir? 😍”
    Carla S.São Tomé, agosto · 2023
from · per person
2350€