Africa’s hidden island nation

Itinerary

Wednesday 17 February – São Tomé

Welcome to São Tomé, the lush volcanic heart of the Gulf of Guinea and one of Africa’s smallest and least-visited island nations. After arriving at the airport, you’ll be transferred to our hotel in the relaxed capital city. Thanks to regular flights from Angola, Portugal, and Ghana, São Tomé is surprisingly well connected despite its remote location.

Travellers joining from our Angola Tour will arrive with the TAAG flight, while the rest of the group meets at the hotel. In the evening, we’ll gather for our first group dinner, a perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers while enjoying the flavours of São Toméan cuisine and looking ahead to the adventures awaiting us over the coming days.

Overnight stay in a hotel in São Tomé.

Thursday 18 February – São Tomé

We start the day at Monte Café Plantation, one of the island’s most famous historic coffee estates. São Tomé has a long coffee history, with coffee cultivation becoming important from the late 18th century onwards, while Monte Café itself grew into one of the island’s best-known plantations in the 19th century.

Back in the capital, we visit Mercado de Bobo Forro, a lively local market where fish, fruit, vegetables and everyday goods give us a colourful first insight into daily life on the island.

We then continue with a walking tour through the historic centre of São Tomé, one of the oldest colonial capitals in Africa. We pass Independence Square, marking the country’s independence in 1975, see the pink Presidential Palace from the outside, and stop at the São Tomé Cathedral, whose origins go back to the late 15th century. We also visit the National Museum, housed in the old São Sebastião Fortress, with its collection of religious art and colonial-era artefacts.

We end the day with a sweet stop at Diogo Vaz, where we taste some of São Tomé’s excellent chocolate, including creative flavours with coffee, ginger, orange, pepper and intense dark chocolate.

Overnight stay in a hotel in São Tomé.

Friday 19 February – São Tomé – Southern Part

Today we set off on a scenic journey to the lush southern tip of São Tomé, where volcanic landscapes, colonial history and tropical coastlines come together. Our first stop is the abandoned hospital of Roça Água Izé, once one of the island’s most important plantation hospitals and a reminder of São Tomé’s cocoa plantation era.

A short drive brings us to Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth), where powerful Atlantic waves crash dramatically through a narrow volcanic rock formation. We then continue to São João dos Angolares, the largest town in the south of the island, offering a glimpse into everyday life away from the capital.

Surrounded by dense rainforest, we visit the beautiful Cascata da Praia Pesqueira, one of São Tomé’s most picturesque waterfalls. From here, the scenery becomes even more spectacular as we reach the viewpoint of Pico Cão Grande, the country’s most iconic natural landmark. Rising 663 metres above the rainforest, this impressive volcanic plug dominates the surrounding landscape and is one of the most photographed sights in São Tomé & Príncipe.

Nearby, we make a fun stop at an abandoned rusty tank, which has become a popular spot for a memorable group photo before continuing to Porto Alegre.

From Porto Alegre, we board a small boat for the 15 to 20-minute crossing to Ilhéu das Rolas, a tropical island where the Equator passes through São Tomé & Príncipe. Here we’ll have time to relax on the beach, swim in the warm Atlantic waters, and visit the famous Equator Monument, where you can quite literally stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time.

In the afternoon, we return by boat to Porto Alegre before driving back across the island to the capital.

Overnight stay in a hotel in São Tomé.

Saturday 20 February – São Tomé – Northern Part

Today we explore the rugged northern coastline of São Tomé, where the island’s colonial history meets dramatic Atlantic scenery. Our first stop is the Memorial dos Heróis da Liberdade, commemorating the victims of the Batepá Massacre of 3 February 1953. This tragic event became a defining moment in São Tomé’s struggle against Portuguese colonial rule and is still remembered as an important chapter in the country’s history.

We continue to Roça Agostinho Neto, formerly known as Roça Rio do Ouro, once the largest cocoa plantation on the island. Walking through the impressive colonial buildings, we’ll learn about the plantation economy that shaped São Tomé for centuries. Parts of the plantation remain active today, while many former plantation workers and their families continue to live within the historic estate.

Our journey then follows the northern coastline to the beautiful Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon), a peaceful bay with crystal-clear turquoise waters framed by volcanic rocks and swaying palm trees.

Nearby, we stop at the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a monument marking the arrival of the Portuguese explorers who first reached São Tomé in the late 15th century.

We finish the day at the famous Santa Catarina Tunnel, the only road tunnel in São Tomé & Príncipe, carved through the island’s volcanic coastline and offering spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean before returning to the capital.

Overnight stay in a hotel in São Tomé.

Sunday 21 February – São Tomé

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to São Tomé International Airport for your onward flight.

For travellers continuing on our Gabon Tour, we’ll take the ASKY Airlines flight to Libreville, where the next adventure begins.

End of the tour.