Roça Monte Café

You have to drive through the volcanic mountain ranges that rise into the sky in the heart of the island of São Tomé to find the old colonial factories and coffee farms of Monte Café. As you can imagine, the drive itself is worthy of a travelogue: breathtaking views over virgin rainforest, endless valleys of misty forests and sometimes a rusting hovel of tin houses. Once there, you'll enjoy magnificent views over the country's palm-speckled plateaus, as well as an acclaimed coffee museum, which traces the culture, sales and history of the island's main industry.

Ilhéu das Rolas

Resting in the Atlantic like a São Tomé teardrop, a short boat ride from the island's southernmost point, Ilha das Rolas is famous for its stunning white sand beaches and paradisiacal appearance. The sands are invariably totally secluded, cascading down from the jungle-covered coast in a mix of rock-strewn coves and long stretches of ivory-coloured sunbathing. There is also a prestigious hotel complex (perfect for a secluded and romantic tropical stay away from the busiest parts of the archipelago), as well as a monument commemorating the route of the equator, which passes right through the middle of the Rolas.

Trinidad

Trindade is one of the few possible destinations in São Tomé that isn't on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, this small town sits above the capital, atop the peaks of the inland hills. It is surrounded by large tracts of coffee plantations and cocoa fields - the main economic drivers here - which make up the largest district of Me-Zochi. However, what really strikes visitors to the city is the haunted and dilapidated character of the old colonial gables - they stand like ghosts from another era along the bumpy roads.

Hellmouth

The curious geological formations that advance to meet the waves of the Atlantic off the east coast of São Tomé reach their apogee at Boca do Inferno, with its ravishing name. Visitors flock to this spot, located a few kilometres south of the capital, to watch the salty waves crash onto the shore and the currents suck the water into an underground cave, before rising into the sky like a sea geyser. The spectacle is truly unique, made all the more so by the magnificent black rock cliffs and volcanic promontories that advance and emerge from the surrounding coastline.