Itinerary
- Day 1
São Tomé
You'll touch down at São Tomé airport and get transferred to your hotel. Once you're settled in, head out into the city center to try some local tropical cuisine at a restaurant there.
Optional Activities
- Dinner at a typical restaurant in São Tomé city center
- Day 2
Roça Água Izé - Boca do Inferno - Beach of the Seven Waves - Roça São João dos Angolares
After a briefing, you'll hike from Bombaim waterfall through cocoa plantations and small villages like Claudino Faro, making your way to Roça Água Izé on the east coast. The colonial plantation estate is worth checking out, then you'll continue to Boca do Inferno where ocean water flows through black basalt rocks. You'll reach the Beach of the Seven Waves for a break, and then head to Roça São João dos Angolares for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in a stately ambience at Roça São João dos Angolares)
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Bombaim waterfall, cocoa plantations, and villages to Roça Água Izé
- Tour of Roça Água Izé colonial plantation estate
- Visit to Boca do Inferno
- Visit to Beach of the Seven Waves
- Dinner at Roça São João dos Angolares
Landmarks Bombaim Waterfall Roça Água Izé Boca do Inferno Beach of the Seven Waves Roça São João dos Angolares - Day 3
Roças Soledade and Fraternidade - São Pedro Beach
You'll walk through São João dos Angolares, the Caué district capital and a fishing hub, then drive through cocoa plantations to Roças Soledade and Fraternidade sitting on hillsides with great views of the southern region and Pico Cão Grande. The day wraps up at São Pedro's black sand beach between the river and sea, with coconut groves sheltering fishing boats.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of São João dos Angolares fishing region
- Visit to Roças Soledade and Fraternidade
- Visit to São Pedro beach with black sand
Optional Activities
- Bird watching with binoculars
Landmarks São João dos Angolares Roça Soledade Roça Fraternidade Pico Cão Grande São Pedro Beach - Day 4
Roça Ribeira Peixe - Praia Grande - Praia Inhame
Following a quieter route along the east coast toward the south, you'll pass through jungle areas, Roça Ribeira Peixe, and scenic Praia Grande. Pico Cão Grande rises 664m above oil palm plantations with really impressive views. You'll finish at Praia Inhame on São Tomé's southern tip.
Included Activities
- Guided hike along east coast through jungle areas and plantations to Praia Inhame
Landmarks Roça Ribeira Peixe Praia Grande Pico Cão Grande Praia Inhame - Day 5
Ilhéu das Rólas (Pigeon Island)
A boat takes you to Ilhéu das Rólas, which sits directly on the equator. You'll see the monument marking the equator line and do a guided hike through the island's wilder areas. Later, you'll have lunch with local fishermen on the beach, then swim at one of the small beaches or back at your lodge.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with fishermen on the beach at Ilhéu das Rólas)
Included Activities
- Boat transfer to Ilhéu das Rólas
- Visit to equator monument
- Guided hike on Ilhéu das Rólas
- Lunch with fishermen on the beach
- Swimming at island beaches
Landmarks Ilhéu das Rólas Equator Monument - Day 6
Praia Inhame
Today's a day to rest after all that hiking. Spend time at the beach swimming and snorkeling, or if you prefer, head to the fishing village of Porto Alegre. Make sure you're back at your accommodation by sunset to catch the flying fox show.
Included Activities
- Relaxation day at lodge with beach access
Optional Activities
- Swimming and snorkeling
- Trip to fishing village of Porto Alegre
Landmarks Porto Alegre - Day 7
Jale Beach - Morro Chapa
You'll hike from Praia Inhame to the boat launch in Malanza, then explore the country's biggest mangrove reserve by boat and watch for wildlife. From there, continue to Jale Beach, an important sea turtle nesting site where you'll stop for lunch. Walking past Praia Piscina and Ponta do Homem da Capa takes you to Morro Chapa with nice views back toward Pigeon Island.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Praia Jale)
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Praia Inhame to Malanza
- Boat tour through mangrove reserve
- Visit to Jale Beach sea turtle nesting site
- Lunch at Praia Jale
- Walk to Morro Chapa
Landmarks Mangrove Reserve Jale Beach Praia Piscina Ponta do Homem da Capa Morro Chapa - Day 8
Santo António de Mussacavu - Praia Pipa - Mucumbli Ecolodge
Starting from Praia Jale, you'll hike via Praia Vanha through the island's interior to Santo António de Mussacavu and Praia Pipa. Next you'll cross the Obô Nature Park with views of Pico Cão Grande and Cão Pequeno. A boat at Pipa takes you sailing along the west coast to Mucumbli Ecolodge.
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Praia Jale through interior to Santo António de Mussacavu and Praia Pipa
- Crossing of Obô Nature Park
- Boat transfer along west coast to Mucumbli Ecolodge
Landmarks Praia Vanha Santo António de Mussacavu Praia Pipa Obô Nature Park Pico Cão Grande Cão Pequeno - Day 9
Angolar Waterfall - Generosa - Monte Careca - Monte Forte CECAB
You'll head into the Rio Contador valley where lush vegetation and birds make it special. Travel through colonial tunnels now full of bats to reach Angolar waterfall set in a natural rock amphitheater. The village of Generosa comes next, mostly populated from Cape Verde, then you'll climb Monte Careca for west coast views and the town of Neves. End at Monte Forte where you'll see organic cocoa cultivation and processing at the CECAB cooperative.
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Rio Contador valley
- Visit to colonial-era tunnels with bats
- Visit to Angolar waterfall
- Exploration of Generosa village
- Climb to Monte Careca
- Visit to CECAB organic cocoa cooperative at Monte Forte with cocoa processing tour
Landmarks Rio Contador Valley Angolar Waterfall Generosa Monte Careca Monte Forte - Day 10
Roça Ribeira Palma - Rosema - Neves
You'll find hidden roça treasures like Roça Ribeira Palma and Rosema tucked in the hills that few locals even know about. Hiking through old cocoa plantations, you'll take in magnificent views of Neves town. The return to your lodge follows the beach.
Included Activities
- Guided hike to hidden roças Ribeira Palma and Rosema
- Exploration of old cocoa plantations
- Beach walk back to lodge
Landmarks Roça Ribeira Palma Rosema - Day 11
Banana Beach - Burra Beach - Bombom Beach
An early morning flight takes you from São Tomé to Príncipe, a UNESCO biosphere reserve important for sea turtle reproduction, seabirds, and whales. After settling at your accommodation, you'll do an afternoon hike along the tropical beaches of Banana, Burra, and Bombom.
Included Activities
- Domestic flight São Tomé to Príncipe
- Afternoon hike along tropical beaches of Banana, Burra, and Bombom
Landmarks Banana Beach Burra Beach Bombom Beach - Day 12
Oquê Pipi Waterfall - Roça Sundy
You'll check out Príncipe's northern and eastern regions with a short hike in the local Obô Nature Park to Oquê Pipi waterfall. After lunch in Santo António village, you'll visit Roça Sundy, one of the island's largest cocoa plantations where astrophysicist Sir Arthur Eddington confirmed Albert Einstein's theory of relativity in 1919.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch break in Santo António village)
Included Activities
- Guided hike in Obô Nature Park to Oquê Pipi waterfall
- Lunch in Santo António village
- Visit to Roça Sundy cocoa plantation
Landmarks Obô Nature Park Oquê Pipi Waterfall Santo António Roça Sundy - Day 13
São Joaquina - Porto Real - Santo António
Driving to São Joaquim on the west coast gives you views of Baía das Agulhas. A 2 to 3 hour hike to São Joaquina offers great views of Santo António bay. You'll also see a women's upcycling project in Porto Real where old glass becomes handcrafted items. After a lunch break, you'll explore Santo António, the world's smallest capital, checking out the local market, church, community center, and the coast.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch break in Santo António)
Included Activities
- Visit to Baía das Agulhas viewpoint
- Guided hike from São Joaquim to São Joaquina
- Visit to women's upcycling project at Porto Real
- Guided tour of Santo António including market, church, community center, and coast
Landmarks Baía das Agulhas São Joaquim São Joaquina Porto Real Santo António - Day 14
Tamarindos Beach
A morning flight brings you back to São Tomé. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on Tamarindos beach. If it interests you, there's an optional boat trip to Ilhéu das Cabras for spotting dolphins year-round or whales from August through October.
Included Activities
- Domestic flight Príncipe to São Tomé
- Beach time at Tamarindos
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to Ilhéu das Cabras for dolphin and whale spotting
Landmarks Tamarindos Beach Ilhéu das Cabras - Day 15
Departure
On your final day, you'll do a guided tour of São Tomé city's history and local life. You'll see the National Museum in the São Sebastião fortress, check out the busy city market, visit the cathedral, and admire colorful colonial houses. Stop for hot or cold chocolate at a local café and pick up souvenirs before your airport transfer.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of São Tomé
- Visit to National Museum in São Sebastião fortress
- Visit to city market
- Visit to cathedral
- Exploration of colonial-era houses
Optional Activities
- Hot or cold chocolate at local café
- Shopping for souvenirs and delicacies
Landmarks São Sebastião Fortress National Museum São Tomé City Market Cathedral
