Country 13/196: São Tomé and Príncipe
Destinations: São Tomé, Santana village, Pico Cão Grande, Lagoa Azul, and many others along the way.
One word: PARADISE 🙂 ♥
The country consists of two main islands – one is São Tomé and the other one is Príncipe. If you have enough time, you should definitely try to visit both of them, since both offer countless beautiful sights. We only had a couple of days, so we decided to explore São Tomé. We tend to like tropical islands – a lot, but we never imagined that we would love this one so much! The food, the incredibly friendly people, the colorful streets, the amazing sandy beaches, the turquoise sea, and billions of palm trees – what’s not to love?
Até a próxima, ilha bonita! 😉
Things to see and things to do
São Tomé Island is the largest and most populated island of São Tomé and Príncipe. Geologically, the island is a volcano and it is home to many diverse animal species, as well as countless stunning sights. Some of the island’s top attractions include:
- São Tomé (city) – Independence Square, Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, Praia Lagarto, São Sebastião Museum.
- Santana village
- Pico Cão Grande
- Lagoa Azul
- Praia dos Tamarindos
- Rolas Island
- Pico de Sao Tome
Where to stay
We were staying at the cozy Porcelana Albergaria hotel in the capital. The room was small yet super comfortable, and the vibe was peaceful, homey, and friendly.
Are you planning a trip to São Tomé? Here you can get a room with a 10% discount! 🙂
Budget
Accommodation prices vary depending on the location and the type of accommodation. Upscale resorts cost between 80 and 350 USD (70 and 300 EUR) a night, while guesthouses and hostels only cost 10-30 USD (9-25 EUR). Food prices also vary from 23 USD (20 EUR) per meal in tourist restaurants and 2-3 USD/EUR in roadside stands and local restaurants.
Best time to visit
São Tomé is a tropical island with beautiful weather all year round.
Environmental issues
One of the biggest environmental problems in São Tomé and Príncipe is water and soil pollution. Deforestation due to overuse and a lack of preservation policy is another pressing concern. Urban areas are threatened by inadequate sewage treatment and inadequate water treatment systems. Soil erosion and exhaustion is also a major issue. Their government has signed but not ratified international agreements on biodiversity and desertification.
Romance and adventure
São Tomé offers many romantic and adventurous activities. You can go hiking, diving, snorkeling, rent a boat and explore the hidden beaches, take a food tasting tour, or simply relax on the gorgeous sandy beaches.
196xLOVE
Found lots of LOVE in São Tomé and Príncipe. 😉 ♥
Honeymoon rating of the visited destinations: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡
Honeymoon in São Tomé and Príncipe? São Tomé is a very nice honeymoon destination, which offers lots of romantic sights as well as exciting adventures. 😉
* Note: This is NOT a general rating of the country, it is merely our personal opinion of the mentioned site(s) as honeymoon destinations, based on the level of tourism development, the number and quality of romantic and adventurous activities and sites it offers, and safety. We strongly believe that every country is beautiful in its own way, they may simply be more or less honeymoon oriented/friendly.
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