We here at Pioneer Adventure Travel have a knack for visiting the least visited countries of the world, so it’s no wonder why Sao Tome and Principe, also known as Africa’s “heaven on Earth” has made it to our and your list of countries worth exploring.
This volcanic archipelago is known for its lush rainforests, dramatic coastlines, and rich colonial history. It lays on the Equator line, East of the African continent. With a population of just 210,000 inhabitants, the islands of Sao Tome and Príncipe gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Compared to other African nations, Sao Tome and Principe is considered a more laidback, green and clean country.
The tour takes place on Sao Tome, the larger and more developed of the two islands. You’ll visit the capital, also named São Tomé, Explore the capital city of Sao Tome, a charming town with colonial architecture and a lively market. You’ll also see the most famous and epic landmark of the island, the Pico de Cao Grande, a 663-metre-high skyscraper like volcanic peak located in the middle of Sao Tome.
During your tour, you’ll experience the island to the fullest: abandoned plantations, an empty colonial hospital, unique chocolate, delicious coffee, snorkelling along pristine beaches, and of course that true African laidback island vibe with cold beers and good rum.
Our Sao Tome and Principe tour can be combined with our Angola tour. Make the most out of your visit to this unique part of Africa and combine both!
Friday 14th March – Sao Tome
Morning
- Arrive at your convenience into São Tomé, the capital city of Sao TOme and Príncipe, which has regular flights from Angola, Portugal, and Ghana.
- Angola group members will arrive at 11:30am on TAAG Angola Airlines on flight no. DT510.
Afternoon
- Airport transfer to our hotel, check in, freshen up and relax.
- A pre-tour meeting will be held at the hotel lobby at 4:00pm to discuss the tour details and to meet your fellow travellers and Pioneer Adventure Travel guide.
- We’ll head out to a local restaurant popular with the locals, which serves delicious grilled fish and squid. Thera are also plenty of vegetarian options available.
- For those inclined, we’ll head to an old Portuguese colonial bar which serves amazing rum based cocktails.
- Overnight stay in Sao Tome.
Saturday 15th March – Sao Tome
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel before we head out to discover Sao Tome.
- Visit the Coffee Museum. Coffee plantations began in 1780, with manpower coming from the slave trade, which was abolished in 1836. Sao Tome was one of the world’s largest exporters of coffee and cocoa until 1919, when the pest of Selenothrips rubrocontus destroyed every cocoa plantation at the islands. Before that, cocoa from Sao Tome amounted to almost half of the total value of Portuguese colonial exports! It was by far the most profitable colony in the empire.
- We’ll begin our sightseeing of one of the oldest colonial capitals in Africa, by exploring Independence Square, where we’ll see an impressive monument commemorating independence gained from the Portuguese in 1975.
- Explore the old traditional and new fish markets of Sao Tome. The vibrant markets provided the perfect opportunity to capture daily life.
- Visit the Presidential Palace. This unique pink 19th century Portuguese colonial style structure houses the current president.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a restaurant, which serves delicious local cuisine.
- Stop by the Sao Tome cathedral. The construction of the the first church of Our Lady of Grace was started at the end of the 15th century.
- Visit the National Museum, that has many religious art and colonial-era artefacts housed within a 16th century fortress.
- Visit Diogo Vaz Chocolate Factory, owned by an Italian who’s lived in Africa for more than forty years. You’ll learn the process of making chocolate from its cultivation to the final product and taste some incredibly unique chocolate such as chocolate with grapes macerated in cocoa alcohol, ginger, orange, pepper and coffee, as well as 100% dark chocolate.
- We’ll head back to the hotel to freshen up before heading to dinner.
- Overnight stay in Sao Tome.
Sunday 16th March – Southern part of Sao Tome Island
Morning
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- We’ll begin our road trip to the southernmost part of the island, stopping at the abandoned hospital of Roca Agua Ize. This hospital used to be one of the best hospitals in western Africa and was built for the workers at the Roca Agua Ize plantation.
- Located nearby the plantation is the Hell’s Mouth (“Boca de Inferno”). The natural seaside rock formation has an impressive blow hole!
- We’ll make a short stop in São João dos Angolares, the largest town on the southern part of the island.
- Explore Cascata De Praia Pesqueria. This waterfall is the perfect spot to take a dip and cool down.
- The most famous landmark of Sao Tome and Principe is the Pico de Cao Grande. Standing 663 meters tall, it’s a giant, steep volcanic rock that you can see from all over the island.
- Stop by an old rusty tank for a classic Pioneer Adventure Travel group photo on top of it.
Afternoon
- Arrive in Porto Alegre and board a boat for a 20-minute journey to Rolas Island. On arrival, we’ll head to a secluded part of the beach for lunch.
- We’ll take a short hike to the monument where the Equator line crosses through Sao Tome & Principe.
- Take the scenic journey back to Soa Tome.
- Dinner in town and explore the nightlife of the island capital.
- Overnight stay at Sao Tome.
Monday 17th March – Northern part of Sao Tome Island
Morning
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Today, we’ll discover the North of Sao Tome. We’ll start our journey stopping by the village of Roca Agostinho Neto, named after the first president of Angola.
- Visit the largest plantation in the country. It used to be the biggest cocoa producer, but nowadays the plantation is partly working and families relocated to live on its domain.
- Continue towards the Atlantic with a stop at the Blue Lagoon Beach, a tiny strip of pristine turquoise ocean, lined with baobab trees. It’s a perfect spot for snorkelling and discovering local sea life.
- Next is Lagao Azul, the northernmost point of the country, via the Santa Catarina Tunnel, the only tunnel in Sao Tome and Principe.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a popular crab restaurant. There are also vegetarian options available.
- Explore the fishing village of Santa Catarina. It is also a perfect place to drink fresh coconut water or palm wine.
- We’ll return to the capital and stop by the Monte Café Plantation. This is one of the most famous coffee plantations on the island.
- On arrival to our hotel, we’ll freshen and relax before heading out.
- Farewell dinner and drinks at our favourite restaurant and a few drinks at the Portuguese colonial bar.
- Overnight stay in Sao Tome.
Tuesday 18th March – Sao Tome
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Tour concludes – Pioneer Adventure Travel can arrange airport transfer, advice ongoing transport and extra accommodation in Sao Tome. If you are keen on visiting Príncipe, contact us for more info.
Tour Details
Tour Highlights
Visit the Pico de Cao Grande, a giant 663-metre-high skyscraper shaped rock.
Explore the capital São Tomé – one of the oldest colonial capitals in Africa and a photographers dream.
Discover one of the least visited countries in the world, nicknamed “Africa’s Heaven on Earth”