Things to see and do in São Tomé e Príncipe

Attractions in São Tomé e Príncipe

Brave the Boca de Inferno

See some spectacular waterfalls on São Tomé. Don't miss the Boca de Inferno (Hell's Mouth) seawater fountain and the Cascada São Nicolãu waterfall, near Pousada Boa Vista. There is also the Ilheu da Rolas (Turtledove Island) – ever popular with tourists and for good reason.

Check out Santo Antonio

Witness the distinctive colonial architecture and atmosphere preserved in Santo Antonio, the main town of Príncipe. The town is famed for its colonial architecture and its churches, the largest of which is the main Roman catholic church.

Climb the highest mountains

If you're a thrill seeker who likes to climb, then Sao Tome has two mountains that fit the bill. Pico de Principe is the lesser of the pair at 948m (128ft) summit, while the archipelago's highest mountain is Pico de São Tomé and is 2,024m (6,800ft) high.

Follow the humpback whales

Watch for whales in July to October, when humpback whales come to the waters around São Tomé. Dolphins are also a regular sight and can be seen at most times of the season. It's fairly simple to book yourself on a whale watching boat trip and follow the whales down the coast for about eight hours.

Have fun on the coast

The crystalline waters of São Tomé e Príncipe offer some of the best swimming, snorkelling and diving in West Africa. Beaches here have white and black sand and its seas are excellent for deep-sea fishing, particularly around Bom Bom Island.

Peer through the binoculars

If you like boobies, you'll love São Tomé (stop sniggering in the back) because the island is teeming with these seabirds. The coast is also home to flamingos and ospreys, but twitchers will fine even more colourful species in the rainforest, which is packed with plenty of endemic mammals, amphibians and plants, too.

Sleep the night on Ilheu Bom Bom island

Enjoy one of the country's few tourist resorts on the tiny island of Ilheu Bom Bom, situated off Príncipe's northern coast. The island is a popular haunt for holidaymakers looking to stay in the calming resorts of Sao Tome and Principe.

Take a stroll around São Tomé

Explore the island of São Tomé, representing 90% of the total surface of the country. The capital of the same name is a picturesque town, with colonial Portuguese architecture and attractive parks. It's worth bearing in mind that the wet season usually runs from October through to May.

Take a tour of Agostinho Neto

Visit the manyroças (cocoa plantations) on Agostinho Neto, which is the largest plantation in the country and is a clear example of São Tomé's colonial past. Other plantations include Agua Izé, where visitors can tour the estate by train, Monté Café and Ribeira Peixe.

Visit the historic town of São João dos Angolares

See the ancient fishing town of São João dos Angolares and the fortress of São Sebastião, which also houses a museum with a collection of religious and colonial art. The town takes its name from the Angolan slaves who settled in the region in the sixteenth century.

Tourist offices

São Tomé e Príncipe Tourism Office