Our Sao Tome and Principe holidays & tours
The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese, the fine fish and vinho verde will make you think you are in Portugal, but with volcanic terrain, tropical forests, stupendous waterfalls, and the striking landscape of Obo National Park, our Sao Tome and Principe holidays transport you far from Lisbon or Lagos. Tourism is a growing force for change on this twin island nation. Our holidays help it be a change for good for local people by using locally-owned accommodation and employing local guides. And they use ecolodges and partners who are actively involved in preserving the islands’ endemic life, and its turtle visitors.
Our top Sao Tome and Principe holidays
Sao Tome & Principe holiday
From
£3579
14 days
ex flights
A wonderful break on the tropical isles, Sao Tome & Principe
Tailor made
Small group2026: 8 Feb, 10 May, 21 Jun, 2027: 7 Feb, 9 May, 20 Jun
Tailor made
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São Tomé and Príncipe map & highlights
There is just one main road that goes all around the island of São Tomé, and you will travel through many different landscapes on its 850km loop. These include the volcanic and virgin tropical terrain of Obo National Park, and the traditional Angolar Creole villages of the south coast, where turtles nest and fishermen fish. Plantation and colonial heritage is everywhere – some shabby, some far from it, and there is no finer example than the capital city, also called São Tomé. The island of Príncipe is a 35-minute flight from São Tomé, and yet still very quiet on the tourism front. Watch this space, though.
1.
Bird watching
2. Obo National Park
3. Plantation houses
4. Porto Alegre
5. São João Dos Angolares
6. São Tomé City
2. Obo National Park
3. Plantation houses
4. Porto Alegre
5. São João Dos Angolares
6. São Tomé City
Bird watching
1. Bird watching
Go highlands or lowlands, mountains or marine landscape, and you will always spot stunning birdlife. Birders have these islands up there with the Galapagos for avian awesomeness. Obo National Park is the top spot with 230 species, 28 of them endemics. Which is a lot, for the nation’s size. Look out for parrots, São Tomé grosbeak, dwarf olive ibis and São Tomé scops-owl among many others. Rolas Island is another top birding spot.
Obo National Park
2. Obo National Park
Covering a third of São Tomé, this is naturalists’ nirvana, with virgin rainforest, over 100 unique orchids and mountains that descend to white and black sandy beaches. Its iconic landmark is Pico Cão Grande, a huge rock that dominates with what can only be described as a phallic presence. Geologists prefer to call it a volcanic plug. Hike to waterfalls, Lake Amelia crater and keep your eyes peeled for endemic bird beauties.
Plantation houses
3. Plantation houses
Particularly in the north of São Tomé, in the heart of cocoa plantations, there are some magnificent former plantation houses that have been restored into eco, exquisite places to stay. Known as roças, many are also locally owned. There are also many still left empty, or being taken over by jungle, but others are seeing themselves as hiking or cultural hubs, bird watching meccas or coastal chill out zones.
Porto Alegre
4. Porto Alegre
A fishing village at the heart of and gateway to the south’s beautiful beaches, with precious spots such as Jalé Beach and Praia Piscina offering stunning, natural places to chill out. Swim, snorkel or kayak among the mangroves, and stay at a nearby ecolodge, looking out for nesting turtles in season. This is also gateway to the coastal part of Obo National Park. No wonder Porto Alegre translates as ‘happy port’.
São João Dos Angolares
5. São João Dos Angolares
A small fishing village with big, beautiful ideas, thanks mostly to a local leader in responsible tourism who runs the main roça, or plantation house here. Stay here and visit coastal community projects, art projects, go bird watching for the endemic dwarf olive ibis or just enjoy Sãotomean culture through music, dance and beach life. And if you don’t stay at the roça, definitely book it for dinner.
São Tomé City
6. São Tomé City
If you like the idea of a beach right beside the museum, then this is your type of city. The capital and home to 60,000 people, it is a peaceful and pretty mélange of Romanesque churches, faded colonial architecture and sand dusted boulevards. The Presidential Palace and Independence Square are the historic highlights, with the International Centre for Art and Culture, Central Market and Ana Chaves Bay’s beaches being the cultural ones.
Our Sao Tome and Principe holidays reviews
4.7
6Sao Tome and Principe holidays reviews
Derek Henderson03 Jul 2024
Extremely high - 5* [Most memorable was a] visit to the Equator on Ilhéu das Rola and hike through the primal forest to Lagoa Amelia.read more
Adam Gilbert02 Jul 2024
Excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed the variety of it all. From learning the history of the island, to walks around the various plantations and forests, eating some amazing food, spending a little time on the beaches and swimming in the sea, and straddling the equator on Ilhéu das Rolas.read more
Sarah Mitchell22 Jul 2022
Was a fantastic holiday. Really different and interesting place to go. Lovely people everywhere.read more
Maurie O18 May 2019
Having the opportunity to visit some of the rural villages and understand how the local people live was memorable and visiting the Cacao and Coffee plantations to see the process from garden to table was very interesting.read more
