Africa’s hidden island nation

Itinerary

Wednesday 17 February – São Tomé

• Airport pickup in São Tomé – the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe which has regular flights between Angola, Portugal, and Ghana.
• Arrival with TAAG, if coming from our Grand Angola tour.
• Meet your fellow group members at the lobby of our hotel.
• Group dinner with your fellow travelers.
• Overnight stay at hotel.

Thursday 18 February – São Tomé

• Highlight: Our first stop is the Monte Café Plantation. São Tomé is famous for its coffee plantations, which began in 1780. The Monte Café Plantation is one of the oldest and most well-known ones.
• Explore Mercado de Bobo Forro, it’s the biggest market of São Tomé, a perfect way to learn more about this small nation and to see what’s on sale with fish, fruits, vegetables and anything else that might be useful.
• Begin our sightseeing tour around the city center of one of the oldest colonial capitals in Africa by exploring Independence Square – signifying independence gained in 1975.
• See the Presidential Palace from outside. This unique pink 19th century Portuguese Colonial style structure houses the current president.
• Stop by the São Tomé Cathedral. The first church of Our Lady of Grace was built at the end of the fifteenth century.
• Visit to the National Museum. Here you can find religious art and colonial-era artifacts.
• Highlight: We stop by the Diogo Vaz Shopping. Here you can taste incredibly unique chocolate such as chocolate with grapes macerated in cocoa alcohol, ginger, orange, pepper and coffee, as well as 100% dark chocolate.
• Overnight stay in São Tomé.

Friday 19 February – São Tomé – Southern Part

• We begin our road trip to the most southern part of the island stopping at an 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 seaside cliff Boca de Inferno (Hell’s Mouth).
• We’ll make a short stop in São João dos Angolares. This is the largest town on the southern part of the island.
• Explore Cascata De Praia Pesqueria, a magnificent waterfall.
• Highlight: The most famous landmark of São Tomé and Príncipe is the Pico de Cao Grande. This mountain is 663 meters tall and visible all over the island.
• Stop by an old rusty tank for a group photo on top of the tank.
• Drive to Porto Alegre.
• Highlight: We board a boat for a 20 minute journey to Rolas Island. This island is where the equator crosses through São Tomé & Príncipe.
• We’ll relax on the beach and visit the famous equator monument.
• Boat trip and drive back to São Tomé
• Overnight stay in São Tomé.

Saturday 20 February – São Tomé – Northern Part

• Today we’ll have a tour around the Northern part of the island. Our first stop is the Memorial Dos Herois Da Liberade (Monument to the Heroes of Liberty). This is the ground where the Batepá massacre of 3 February 1953 took place. A revolt against the colonial rulers took place which turned into a bloodbath.
• We visit the Roca Agostinho Neto plantation, which used to be the biggest cocoa producer. Nowadays the plantation is partly working and families relocated to live on the plantation.
• Continue towards the Atlantic with a stop at the Blue Lagoon Beach (Lagao Azul). A beautiful small beach.
• Quick stop at Padrão dos Descobrimentos, here you’ll find a monument to the discovery of São Tomé.
• Highlight: See the famous Santa Catarina Tunnel (the only tunnel in São Tomé and Príncipe).
• Return to São Tomé.
• Overnight stay in São Tomé.

Sunday 21 February – São Tomé

• After breakfast, transfer and drop off at airport.
• End of tour.