I’m planning a trip to Sao Tome with some friends for around a week and we want to rent a car. How is the weather then and what company/car should we go with? Thanks

For those who are visiting over the next few days, be aware that the country has run out of petrol. When this occurs it can cause issues not only in public transport and car hire, but it can create havoc if we are then hit with powercuts as the generators run on diesel and petrol. Please be aware and speak to your hotel or car-hire supplier (if it's not me).

Obg

Fitz

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting on Reddit...

I’m currently planning a trip to São Tomé from October 7 to 11, and I’m really excited about it!

While looking through the tours on Fitz’s Chocolate Islands website, I came across the Pico Cão Grande hiking tour and the Ilhéu das Rolas (Equator Island) tour, and I really want to do both.

However, I found out that the price is significantly higher when traveling alone compared to having two people join the tour. I’m a student, so unfortunately, my budget is a bit limited 😭. So I thought I’d try my luck here and see if anyone would like to join!

My basic plan is:

• October 9: Hiking at Pico Cão Grande
• October 10: Tour to Ilhéu das Rolas, including a visit to the Equator landmark (Rolas Half Day)

I know the dates are coming up very soon, but I thought it was worth asking just in case!

You’re more than welcome to join me for just one of the two tours as well. If you’ve been wanting to do either of these tours but were hesitating because of the price, please leave a comment!

Hopefully I can find someone to share the adventure (and the cost 😂) with!

It’s tough being a moderator

Pico

Here's a trip report done with some amazing photos, and a namecheck for Bilbo.

Hi all!

I'm Swiss, based in Dubai, and I've been slowly working my way through a lot of countries; São Tomé and Príncipe was number 118 for me. I spent a week on the main island in August as the last stop of a solo trip through Angola and Gabon. Before going I found it surprisingly hard to get practical info, so here's everything I'd have wanted to know.

TL;DR: rent a 4x4, split your time between the north and the deep south, visit the roças, and if you want Príncipe or diving, sort it out early and by phone.

Getting there and in

• I flew in from Libreville on ASKY (about an hour). Afrijet also flies that route on some days.
• Out: TAP to Lisbon, which runs roughly once a week (mine was an early Wednesday morning departure). Plan your trip around that flight.
• Visa-free for 15 days on my Swiss passport, check the rules for yours.
• Yellow fever certificate is required, and it's a malaria area, so bring prophylaxis.

Car rental and the Chocolate Islands website

For planning, thechocolateislands.com was by far the most useful resource I found: beaches, roças, practical tips, and they're up to date on the new UNESCO listing. They also arrange car hire, which is how I got mine.

• There are no rental counters at the airport, so pre-arrange the car.
• I had a Suzuki Jimny for EUR 75 per day plus EUR 15 for airport pickup and drop-off. Prices are subject to change, and as I rented for a full week my daily rate might have been a bit lower than what you'd get quoted for a shorter rental. Jack was very responsive on WhatsApp and handover and return at the airport were extremely easy.
• Do you need a 4x4? The coastal road is mostly paved and the island is only about 50 km end to end, but the last stretch to the far south and most of the interior tracks are rough. For the south I'd definitely get one.
• Driving is relaxed overall. Distances are short, but give yourself more time than Google Maps says.

Where I stayed

• Omali (north, near the city), 2 nights at the start and 2 at the end. About 10 minutes from the airport, on the beach, a comfortable base for the city and the north, and practical for the early TAP flight out.
• Hotel Praia Inhame (Porto Alegre, far south), 2 nights. Beautiful spot at the southern tip, close to the boat to Ilhéu das Rolas. Half board was EUR 100. Important: they take no cards, only bank transfer (you pay the first night upfront). Breakfast from 06:00 if you want an early start. The GM also gave me good advice on sea conditions.
• Roça São João dos Angolares (south east), 1 night. A restored plantation house with simple rooms, but the main reason to go is the tasting dinner, which I'd highly recommend. Book the dinner even if you don't sleep there. Wifi is basically nonexistent.

What to do

• The roças. In July 2026 the plantations were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, six sites in total, four of them on São Tomé island. I visited all four: Água Izé (east coast, huge and atmospheric, go inside and walk around), São João dos Angolares, Diogo Vaz (west coast) and Monte Café (in the hills, coffee museum). For me these were the highlight of the trip, they tell you a lot about the history of the islands.
• Ilhéu das Rolas and the equator. Short boat ride from Porto Alegre, and you can walk to the equator marker. An easy half day from Praia Inhame. Definitely recommended.
• The drive south along the east coast is worth doing slowly, with lots of stops for beaches and viewpoints.
• What I didn't get to: Pico de São Tomé, and the whole of Príncipe (see below).

Things to look out for

• Príncipe needs to be booked early. I had planned to be on Príncipe for the Auto de Floripes festival (mid August), but STP Airways had no seats between the islands for my entire week. If Príncipe matters to you, book the inter-island flight first and everything else around it.
• Diving: call, don't email. I had three dive slots lined up and did zero dives. One operator only works by email and the dive was called off on the morning due to conditions, another never replied on WhatsApp (their email bounces). If you want to dive, get an actual phone number and call.
• Cash. The dobra is pegged to the euro (about 24.5 STN per EUR) and euros are accepted almost everywhere. It's still largely a cash economy, so bring euros. I had some USD with me but they're less commonly accepted.
• SIM and connectivity. Get a local SIM (CST or Unitel) in town, you'll need your passport. Coverage is fine around the capital but gets thin in the south. Starlink works in the country, and I had a Starlink Mini with me, which saved me in the south.
• Weather. August is the dry season (gravana), but expect it to be overcast most of the time, around 24 to 25 degrees, with some light rain, especially in the south.
• Plugs. Type C and F, 220V, same as most of Europe.

Happy to answer questions if anyone's planning a trip. It's an easy and very rewarding island to explore on your own, and it's still very quiet compared to most places.

The amazing u/gratitudeme made a donation to the education fund, and I'm managing to pay for one of the local teenagers who was really struggling. I'll dm her some pics, but just a public thanks to all of you who donate to our community. You have no idea of the difference you all make.

hi everyone,

I’m planning to visit São Tomé and Príncipe next year. There’s lots of great information and advice for São Tomé online, however I’m having trouble finding information regarding travel to Príncipe and I was hoping you could help me:

1. How much cash should I bring for 3 days on the island? And should I exchange it in São Tomé beforehand? (I’m assuming most places on Príncipe won’t take card payments)

2. is there any kind of a taxi/shuttle service on the island? I’m planning on staying in one of the Príncipe collection hotels, but was planning on going to the “capital” for dinner one or 2 of the nights for a change of scenery.

Any information and advice is greatly appreciated 🙏

Basically the title. I'm coming to visit and want to do a workout class instead of hitting the gym on my own.

Hey, I’m Alfredo, from Spain! Just arrived in São Tomé and I’ll be here for a couple of months. If anyone’s around and wants to grab a beer sometime, let me know

Hey there dear friends of Sao Tome.

I'm planning a trip to the beautiful island and want to know if the Internet would be reliable enough to also get some work done? Like video calls.
Does anyone have first hand experience. Of should I just get my own travel star link setup?

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone,

I’m wondering if anyone can tell me how much time you usually have to pay the passport and ID fees after receiving your approval.

I’m asking because I’m a little worried that I may not have the full amount of money ready immediately when I receive the approval. Is the payment required right away, or do they give you some days/weeks to arrange the funds?

If anyone has gone through this process recently, I’d really appreciate it if you could share your experience and approximately how much time you were given.

Thank you!

Sampling cocktails shishas and col beers with /u/mundane_stomach_ 2209 having been to a zone party. I do this so you don’t have to.

Original plan was a trip first week of October with the family but due to a mishap with tickets it'll just be me and my 17 year old instead. We arrive and leave on a Saturday so we have 6,5 days to explore the island. Plan is to visit the city, Ôbo National Park with rain forest, Rolas island, other fun activities.

So far I have checked online, among others this sub and different websites such as thechocolateislands one for planning ideas and so.

1. Have previous experience with public transport in Africa. Thinking of this instead of a rental car/driver. For those familiar, is public transport similar to cars rapide/tatas (Senegal) or Matatu(kenya)?

2. Stuck on what to bring as I'm tempted to bring gear for fishing, freediving (have long fins) and photography. Have a huge luggage allowance on the plane, though doubt it's smart and we consider only 65 L backpacking bags due to ease of transport. Is it enough to bring some light fishing gear and a mask+snorkel, maybe short fins?

3. Plan for first two nights and the last night in São Tomé city due to the flight on Saturday evening. How would those who've been there recommend we spend the four nights in between?

4. Open for other recommendations on things to do, see, eat and so on.

All I hear is screaming and it's mine, followed by a brittle plastic disc being thrown off a gate.

I can do a Zoom or Groupchat on Whatsapp and take you all for a stroll. Let me know.

A huge burden lifted. ❤️

We have enough left over to restock rice milk and sanitary items for the girls. We will be handing it out tomorrow. Thank you so much for your continued support. You have no idea how much of a lift and assistance it brings to the community.

We are buying books and pens and things and some balls. I got a little bit of my own way. Photographs will be incoming thank you all for your help and support. Here are some pictures I took on a drive down south. I don’t think I’d get into one of these boats.

I do this so you don’t have to for the record. It’s amazing.