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Sao Tome and Principe Luxury Holiday
Escape the rat race and surrender to the peaceful pace of island life on our luxury holiday to Sao Tome and Principe
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Highlights
Within minutes you’ll be immersed in tropical island life and the pressures and pace of the modern world will seem far behind.
São Tomé and Príncipe have more endemic species per square km than the Galapagos, and the highest density of endemic birds (that can’t be found anywhere else) worldwide. Our bird watching guides will quietly point out exotics colourful during our bird watching trips.
Discover Principe’s beautiful, rugged, volcanic interior, and meet the gorgeous people who call the island home on our jeep tours
Relax on pristine yellow sandy beaches after days spent exploring – there’s a good chance you’ll find you have the beach to yourself
Escape to another world on our Sao Tome and Principe Luxury Holiday, forgotten by the constant speed of change and the pressures of the modern world.
It takes a little effort to travel to the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, however if you’re prepared to do this, the rewards will speak for themselves.
The islands hold a quiet charm of days gone by and the choices of where to stay are quite limited. However, if you take a closer look you’ll be surprised by what you find, especially on the island of Príncipe. You spend a night on São Tomé before taking a short flight to the island of Príncipe and the Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge.
Bom Bom’s 18 tastefully decorated bungalows are set between two private beaches and you can spend your time relaxing in the luxurious grounds or by exploring the island on one of our fascinating discovery trips. Knowing that you would be very reluctant to leave, we have added two more nights at the luxurious boutique hotel, Roca Belo Monte.
Day 1
Fly from Heathrow to Lisbon. On arrival transfer Solar do Castelo, which is situated just below the Castle of Sao Joao in Lisbon (20mins).
Accommodation on this day: Solar do Castelo
Day 2
Transfer to the airport and fly to São Tomé. On arrival transfer to Omali Lodge
Accommodation on this day: Omali Lodge
Day 3
Tour of São Tomé City (visiting Fortress of Sao Sebastian, city cathedral, local markets, chocolate factory, Caocao Gallery and fishing villages to taste locally smoked fish. Back at 15:00hrs
Accommodation on this day: Omali Lodge
Day 4
Transfer to the airport and fly to Príncipe. On arrival transfer to the Bom Bom Eco Hotel. In the afternoon you could go snorkeling from one of the hotel’s private beaches (masks, snorkels and fins can be borrowed from the hotel). Overnight in a Seaview room
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 5
Free day – Today you might like to visit Principe’s rugged interior on a jeep tour
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 6
Free day – Today you could join a boat trip to visit some of the remote bays along the coast where it is possible to swim and snorkel.
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 7
Free day – Today you might like to join a tropical bird watching tour. Sao Tome and Principe have the highest density of endemic birds worldwide and of the 75 species that regularly occur on the islands, 8 are endemic to Principe.
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 8
Transfer to Roca Belo Monte where you’ll stay for the next two nights.
Accommodation on this day: Roca Belo Monte
Day 9
Free day – today you might like to spend some time on Banana beach (10-minutes’ walk from Belo Monte) where you can snorkel in the clear water over the rocky seabed and around the boulders. The water is rich with marine life and shoals of colourful fish don’t take long to find.
Accommodation on this day: Roca Belo Monte
Day 10
Transfer to the airport and fly to São Tomé. On arrival transfer to Omali Lodge.
Accommodation on this day: Omali Lodge
Day 11
Free day until it’s time for your late afternoon transfer to the airport. Depart and fly on overnight night flight via Lisbon back home
Turtle watching
Quietly observe one of the four different endangered turtle species : Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill or Leatherback nesting or hatching on the beaches between November and March
Whale watching
Search for magnificant humbpack whales who migrate past the islands between July and October
Guided bird watching
Sao Tome and Principe have the highest density of endemic birds (that can't be found anywhere else) worldwide and of the 75 species that regularly occur on the islands, 17 are endemic to Sao Tome and 8 are endemic to Principe.
Guided walks
There is no better way to get to know Sao Tome and Principe than to walk through the rainforest with our friendly guides who are only to happy to share the secrets of their island with you.
Plantation visits
Discover the beating heart of Sao Tome and Principe's history on a visit to one of the many one splendid old plantations.
Snorkelling
The Gulf of Guinea is one of the world’s hotpots of marine biodiversity and in terms of species present, is similar to the Caribbean. You’ll discover colourful shoals of fish as you snorkel close to your hotel.
Cycling
The roads in the north west of Sao Tome are just fantastic explored on two wheels. Pedal the palm tree lined coast road gently undulates for many kilometers and rewards you with spectacular views.
Diving
There are several dive centres on the islands where qualified, experienced dive instructors will show you snapper, octopus, moray eels, sea horses, giant sea slugs and much more.
Solar do Castelo
Solar Do Castelo is a romantic boutique hotel in Lisbon created from an 18th century mansion built on the site of the former kitchens of the Royal Palace of São Jorge.
Arguably the best located hotel in the city, it’s also the only property within the medieval walls of São Jorge Castle, making it an exclusive and unique place to spend time in the beautiful city of Lisbon. To add to the feeling of exclusivity, only locals and taxis are allowed to drive the narrow streets within the city walls.
The furniture was created especially for the hotel and the rooms are elegantly decorated in a contemporary medieval style. A private patio garden with a pretty inner courtyard gives you space to relax within the heart of the city.
Omali Lodge
Set in attractive gardens on the outskirts of São Tomé city, boutique style hotel Omali Lodge has an outdoor pool, 30 rooms and English speaking staff. Recently refurbished, it is owned by the HBD (Here Be Dragons) company which also owns Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge on Príncipe.
All rooms are immaculate and have tea and coffee making facilities, A/C, Satellite TV, mini bar and en-suite bathrooms. It has the only tennis court on the island and is just over the road from the beach. Birdwatchers will tick off quite a few birds in the lush gardens of the lodge.
Roca Belo Monte
The Roca Belo Monte is a breath-taking boutique hotel on the site of an old plantation. Its elegant manor house holds three individual suites all with their own guest lounge and tea terraces. A private chef and butler services can also be arranged. The nearby hospital and animal stables have also been restored and transformed into luxury rooms.
All rooms have telephone, private bathroom, A/C, Wifi and satellite TV. It has its own five beaches, including the world-famous Banana beach and free beach shuttles as well as an outdoor pool perfect for sipping cocktails at. The restaurant / bar overlooks the Bay of Santa Rita and serves a fusion of international and local cuisine.
Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
The beautiful Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge is owned by Mark Shuttleworth, the first South African to travel into space. Through his HBD foundation (Here Be Dragons) he helped turn part of this spectacular island into a Bioreserve and aims to promote sustainable and responsible travel to the islands through higher end tourism.
Bom Bom has 25 spacious, tastefully furnished chalets equipped with A/C, telephone, private bathroom, flat screen TV (satellite channels), fridge and free WIFI. Meals are taken on BomBom island, which is a short walk over the turquoise sea along a charming walkway. As well as eating in the restaurant, the friendly staff can also arrange a table on the marina pier or a romantic meal on your own private beach.
You’re free to use the snorkelling equipment, paddle boards and kayaks while you’re staying and a highlight is meeting Chaplin the African Grey parrot who patrols the hotel and loves to have his tummy tickled!
Where is Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe are found in the Gulf of Guinea, 250km east of Gabon on the African mainland. The islands are 150km / a 30 minute flight apart. Combined, they have a surface area of 1,001 square km and are the second smallest country in Africa after the Seychelles.
When is the best time to visit?
Tropical, hot and humid all year round with maximum of 30˚C from January to April and slightly cooler from May to September. Both islands have dry and wet seasons. June to September is cooler, with more cloud and virtually no rain, whilst March to May and October to December are considered the wettest months, with rainy days and clear skies.
How do I get to Sao Tome?
Options for getting to the islands are limited and the best is on TAP Air Portugal, via Lisbon (with a short stopover in Accra). Low-cost airlines Easyjet and Ryanair also fly to Lisbon and we can arrange separate tickets to São Tomé. Flights between São Tomé and Príncipe on with African Airways in partnership with STP (the local island carrier). Flights are included with your holiday and your Sao Tome specialist will find the best flight times and prices for you.
Do I need a visa for Sao Tome?
If you stay more than 15 days you will need a visa and we arrange this for you as part of your holiday. Visas can’t currently be paid for in advance so you will need to pay €25 per person in cash when you arrive at the airport in Sao Tome.
Is it safe to travel to Sao Tome?
São Tomé and Príncipe is a very safe holiday destination and the crime rate is very low. However, petty theft is becoming more common especially in built up areas so we advise only carrying enough money for the day and keeping the rest in a hotel safe. The black cobra is the most dangerous and poisonous animal on São Tomé and is the most common in forested areas in the south and east of the island and like most snakes they try to avoid contact with humans and are therefore rarely seen. There are many lovely beaches on the islands, but they don’t have lifeguards. Swimming in the ocean around the islands is amazing, however, we always advise that you check with the hotel where you are staying with to make sure the conditions are safe as there can be strong undertows and current on some beaches. The first rule of thumb is to check first. The second one would be that if there are large rolling breakers, then it is advisable not to go in.
Do I need vaccinations for Sao Tome?
It’s always best to check with your doctor to make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations before you travel.
Are there any wildlife hazards in Sao Tome?
It’s advisable to avoid insect bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers and / or wearing insect repellant with DEET as malaria present on Sao Tome. For comprehensive health advise on visiting Sao Tome please visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.
Highlights
Within minutes you’ll be immersed in tropical island life and the pressures and pace of the modern world will seem far behind.
São Tomé and Príncipe have more endemic species per square km than the Galapagos, and the highest density of endemic birds (that can’t be found anywhere else) worldwide. Our bird watching guides will quietly point out exotics colourful during our bird watching trips.
Discover Principe’s beautiful, rugged, volcanic interior, and meet the gorgeous people who call the island home on our jeep tours
Relax on pristine yellow sandy beaches after days spent exploring – there’s a good chance you’ll find you have the beach to yourself
Escape to another world on our Sao Tome and Principe Luxury Holiday, forgotten by the constant speed of change and the pressures of the modern world.
It takes a little effort to travel to the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, however if you’re prepared to do this, the rewards will speak for themselves.
The islands hold a quiet charm of days gone by and the choices of where to stay are quite limited. However, if you take a closer look you’ll be surprised by what you find, especially on the island of Príncipe. You spend a night on São Tomé before taking a short flight to the island of Príncipe and the Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge.
Bom Bom’s 18 tastefully decorated bungalows are set between two private beaches and you can spend your time relaxing in the luxurious grounds or by exploring the island on one of our fascinating discovery trips. Knowing that you would be very reluctant to leave, we have added two more nights at the luxurious boutique hotel, Roca Belo Monte.
Day 1
Fly from Heathrow to Lisbon. On arrival transfer Solar do Castelo, which is situated just below the Castle of Sao Joao in Lisbon (20mins).
Accommodation on this day: Solar do Castelo
Day 2
Transfer to the airport and fly to São Tomé. On arrival transfer to Omali Lodge
Accommodation on this day: Omali Lodge
Day 3
Tour of São Tomé City (visiting Fortress of Sao Sebastian, city cathedral, local markets, chocolate factory, Caocao Gallery and fishing villages to taste locally smoked fish. Back at 15:00hrs
Accommodation on this day: Omali Lodge
Day 4
Transfer to the airport and fly to Príncipe. On arrival transfer to the Bom Bom Eco Hotel. In the afternoon you could go snorkeling from one of the hotel’s private beaches (masks, snorkels and fins can be borrowed from the hotel). Overnight in a Seaview room
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 5
Free day – Today you might like to visit Principe’s rugged interior on a jeep tour
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 6
Free day – Today you could join a boat trip to visit some of the remote bays along the coast where it is possible to swim and snorkel.
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 7
Free day – Today you might like to join a tropical bird watching tour. Sao Tome and Principe have the highest density of endemic birds worldwide and of the 75 species that regularly occur on the islands, 8 are endemic to Principe.
Accommodation on this day: Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
Day 8
Transfer to Roca Belo Monte where you’ll stay for the next two nights.
Accommodation on this day: Roca Belo Monte
Day 9
Free day – today you might like to spend some time on Banana beach (10-minutes’ walk from Belo Monte) where you can snorkel in the clear water over the rocky seabed and around the boulders. The water is rich with marine life and shoals of colourful fish don’t take long to find.
Accommodation on this day: Roca Belo Monte
Day 10
Transfer to the airport and fly to São Tomé. On arrival transfer to Omali Lodge.
Accommodation on this day: Omali Lodge
Day 11
Free day until it’s time for your late afternoon transfer to the airport. Depart and fly on overnight night flight via Lisbon back home
Turtle watching
Quietly observe one of the four different endangered turtle species : Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill or Leatherback nesting or hatching on the beaches between November and March
Whale watching
Search for magnificant humbpack whales who migrate past the islands between July and October
Guided bird watching
Sao Tome and Principe have the highest density of endemic birds (that can't be found anywhere else) worldwide and of the 75 species that regularly occur on the islands, 17 are endemic to Sao Tome and 8 are endemic to Principe.
Guided walks
There is no better way to get to know Sao Tome and Principe than to walk through the rainforest with our friendly guides who are only to happy to share the secrets of their island with you.
Plantation visits
Discover the beating heart of Sao Tome and Principe's history on a visit to one of the many one splendid old plantations.
Snorkelling
The Gulf of Guinea is one of the world’s hotpots of marine biodiversity and in terms of species present, is similar to the Caribbean. You’ll discover colourful shoals of fish as you snorkel close to your hotel.
Cycling
The roads in the north west of Sao Tome are just fantastic explored on two wheels. Pedal the palm tree lined coast road gently undulates for many kilometers and rewards you with spectacular views.
Diving
There are several dive centres on the islands where qualified, experienced dive instructors will show you snapper, octopus, moray eels, sea horses, giant sea slugs and much more.
Solar do Castelo
Solar Do Castelo is a romantic boutique hotel in Lisbon created from an 18th century mansion built on the site of the former kitchens of the Royal Palace of São Jorge.
Arguably the best located hotel in the city, it’s also the only property within the medieval walls of São Jorge Castle, making it an exclusive and unique place to spend time in the beautiful city of Lisbon. To add to the feeling of exclusivity, only locals and taxis are allowed to drive the narrow streets within the city walls.
The furniture was created especially for the hotel and the rooms are elegantly decorated in a contemporary medieval style. A private patio garden with a pretty inner courtyard gives you space to relax within the heart of the city.
Omali Lodge
Set in attractive gardens on the outskirts of São Tomé city, boutique style hotel Omali Lodge has an outdoor pool, 30 rooms and English speaking staff. Recently refurbished, it is owned by the HBD (Here Be Dragons) company which also owns Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge on Príncipe.
All rooms are immaculate and have tea and coffee making facilities, A/C, Satellite TV, mini bar and en-suite bathrooms. It has the only tennis court on the island and is just over the road from the beach. Birdwatchers will tick off quite a few birds in the lush gardens of the lodge.
Roca Belo Monte
The Roca Belo Monte is a breath-taking boutique hotel on the site of an old plantation. Its elegant manor house holds three individual suites all with their own guest lounge and tea terraces. A private chef and butler services can also be arranged. The nearby hospital and animal stables have also been restored and transformed into luxury rooms.
All rooms have telephone, private bathroom, A/C, Wifi and satellite TV. It has its own five beaches, including the world-famous Banana beach and free beach shuttles as well as an outdoor pool perfect for sipping cocktails at. The restaurant / bar overlooks the Bay of Santa Rita and serves a fusion of international and local cuisine.
Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge
The beautiful Bom Bom Island Eco Lodge is owned by Mark Shuttleworth, the first South African to travel into space. Through his HBD foundation (Here Be Dragons) he helped turn part of this spectacular island into a Bioreserve and aims to promote sustainable and responsible travel to the islands through higher end tourism.
Bom Bom has 25 spacious, tastefully furnished chalets equipped with A/C, telephone, private bathroom, flat screen TV (satellite channels), fridge and free WIFI. Meals are taken on BomBom island, which is a short walk over the turquoise sea along a charming walkway. As well as eating in the restaurant, the friendly staff can also arrange a table on the marina pier or a romantic meal on your own private beach.
You’re free to use the snorkelling equipment, paddle boards and kayaks while you’re staying and a highlight is meeting Chaplin the African Grey parrot who patrols the hotel and loves to have his tummy tickled!
Where is Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe are found in the Gulf of Guinea, 250km east of Gabon on the African mainland. The islands are 150km / a 30 minute flight apart. Combined, they have a surface area of 1,001 square km and are the second smallest country in Africa after the Seychelles.
When is the best time to visit?
Tropical, hot and humid all year round with maximum of 30˚C from January to April and slightly cooler from May to September. Both islands have dry and wet seasons. June to September is cooler, with more cloud and virtually no rain, whilst March to May and October to December are considered the wettest months, with rainy days and clear skies.
How do I get to Sao Tome?
Options for getting to the islands are limited and the best is on TAP Air Portugal, via Lisbon (with a short stopover in Accra). Low-cost airlines Easyjet and Ryanair also fly to Lisbon and we can arrange separate tickets to São Tomé. Flights between São Tomé and Príncipe on with African Airways in partnership with STP (the local island carrier). Flights are included with your holiday and your Sao Tome specialist will find the best flight times and prices for you.
Do I need a visa for Sao Tome?
If you stay more than 15 days you will need a visa and we arrange this for you as part of your holiday. Visas can’t currently be paid for in advance so you will need to pay €25 per person in cash when you arrive at the airport in Sao Tome.
Is it safe to travel to Sao Tome?
São Tomé and Príncipe is a very safe holiday destination and the crime rate is very low. However, petty theft is becoming more common especially in built up areas so we advise only carrying enough money for the day and keeping the rest in a hotel safe. The black cobra is the most dangerous and poisonous animal on São Tomé and is the most common in forested areas in the south and east of the island and like most snakes they try to avoid contact with humans and are therefore rarely seen. There are many lovely beaches on the islands, but they don’t have lifeguards. Swimming in the ocean around the islands is amazing, however, we always advise that you check with the hotel where you are staying with to make sure the conditions are safe as there can be strong undertows and current on some beaches. The first rule of thumb is to check first. The second one would be that if there are large rolling breakers, then it is advisable not to go in.
Do I need vaccinations for Sao Tome?
It’s always best to check with your doctor to make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations before you travel.
Are there any wildlife hazards in Sao Tome?
It’s advisable to avoid insect bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers and / or wearing insect repellant with DEET as malaria present on Sao Tome. For comprehensive health advise on visiting Sao Tome please visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.
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