São Tomé & Príncipe is an undiscovered paradise in the form of two islands on the West African coast. Pristine turquoise water, beaches, palm trees, tropical weather and lush forests. They have it all.
During your stay in the island you will be able to do 3 different day tours. In this article you’ll find the detailed itinerary for São Tomé northern day tour. If you have missed the other articles I recommend you start with southern day tour and central day tour.
The northern day tour will take you around the island in a clockwise direction starting from the capital city of São Tomé.
The day trip will take around half a day if the weather is poor and you don’t spend time at the beach. If the weather is great it will take the whole day as you will want to spend some time on the beautiful beaches.
São Tomé Northern day trip
1. Lagoa azul
The first stop of the northern day tour is the lagoa azul. It is a little peninsula that you can access via a very steep rocky road from the main highway (hint: brake with enough time!). When you get to the bottom you will find a lighthouse, baobabs and two little beaches. There’s also a picnic area. When we visited we were alone for the whole time, and it was majestic seeing the baobabs / so big and quiet at the same time!
If you have snorkelling gear I was told this would be the place to go for a dip.
2. Roça ponta figo – Cascata Nazaré
Possibly the biggest fail in this trip. We arrived at the ruined Roça (old coffee plantation buildings, most of them are in ruins nowadays) and some people asked is we wanted a guide to Cascata Nazaré, a waterfall. We said no but asked for directions. They just pointed straight. Then found another group and they also told us to continue straight. One hour later we quit the search. Maybe it is worth asking for a guide – considering their directions weren’t correct and the GPS cannot show one exactly where it is.
Check out the cinematic travel video from São Tomé and Príncipe
3. Monteforte
You can stay at a restored Roça, that we only visited from the outside.
4. Padrao dos descobrimientos
It looks like a little rest area from the main road, but you will find a cross there. That cross marks the place where, in 1470, the first Portuguese discoverers arrived on the island.
5. Roça diogo vaz
Another Roça that sells chocolate and can be visited. We skipped this stop.
6. Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina is a little town which is famous for a tunnel with the same name. You will find it before you get to town, coming from São Tomé city. The tunnel is one of the landmarks in the country.
What makes this landmark interesting is the green jungle to the left of the tunnel and the beach to the right. The beach has black pebbles, which accentuates the contrast between the tar road, the tunnel, the jungle and the beach. it was truly a great place to witness.
7. Praia Dos Tamarindos
We took an unconventional road to arrive and it was a bit of an odyssey (think bumpy gravel roads, mud and water ponds. The beach is a long stretch of sand with some trees next to the sand area, making it perfect to park the cars there and have a picnic. We found big groups of friends and family enjoying the area.
8. Morro Peixe
Another beautiful beach to relax at the end of the day.
9. Guadalupe
You will drive through Guadalupe at the start of the day and when you finish. It doesn’t have much to visit but you can wander around if it piques your interest. It has a small chapel that is worth checking out.
10. Roça agostinho
Like some other Roça’s that one can find in the island you will find some decayed colonial buildings. Some of the buildings that once formed the Roça are still standing and are lived in by locals.
If you are in São Tomé but have limited time you can skip the São Tomé northern day itinerary but make sure to check the south and central itineraries so you can feel like you got to know São Tomé.
When you are done with the main island I cannot stress enough how important it is that you visit Príncipe – find a great itinerary here!
Going to São Tomé and Príncipe felt like stepping into a new world. No one knew that this country even existed or that it is formed by two islands in West Africa.
During our stay on the island, we rented a Jimny Suzuki and based our routes on three main areas in the island. These 3 day tours included: São Tomé Southern Day Tour, Central Day Tour and Northern Day Tour.
In order to get started, we would need to organise transport.
Is it necessary to rent a car in São Tomé?
If you are only stopping by on your way to Príncipe Island, you don’t need a car. You can walk around the city in safety. If you plan on exploring the rest of the island, then you’ll need a car or to book a tour with a guide.
We rented a car with the contact that our kind hosts at Sugar Guesthouse provided. The experience was reliable and stress-free. Plus, it very easy to communicate via email and arrange delivery and pick up.
I’d recommend saving your itinerary on Google Maps, offline, so you can go from one point to the other without needing the internet.
How is the road condition in São Tomé?
Have you ever heard of the “African Massage”? No? It is the phrase used to describe the bumpy gravel-road game drive or safari drives you’ll enjoy in the back of a 4×4.
Now, take that and times it by 10. São Tomé roads are mostly tarred, but full of potholes.
A 4×4 is completely necessary to make the trip and you’ll need to drive slowly in most areas. I can confidently say that these were some of the worst roads I’ve ever driven on.
Most buildings on the island have not been taken care of. There are a lot of ruins left as a legacy of Portuguese colonialism.
I have never travelled anywhere in Africa before and been more stalked by groups of small kids asking for money – or just wandering around me. Never give money or food to kids. If you want to help, give to an organisation that will split your contribution into equal parts and get those resources to the communities that need them – the right way.
The landscapes are stunning and are, arguably, the main attraction of the island.
What is the best order of day trips to enjoy São Tomé to the fullest?
After visiting the island and doing the 3-day trips that are available to the different areas, our recommended order of day tours is:
You will drive through a little village to get to the abandoned Hospital. You might need to pay a tip to get into the hospital but we did not have to pay anything.
It’s a short stop, simply to get an idea of what the hospital looks like. It could totally be the location of a hospital horror movie (if it weren’t for the happy kids, of course).
Note: As the first stop on our trip, I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of kids there, following us around and asking for money.
2. Boca de Inferno Blowhole
Next stop on the Southern Day Tour, is the blowhole where you can find a black rock area with ocean water coming through, and blowing the water up.
When we visited it wasn’t high tide but it was still nice to check it out, as the water continues to flow without creating a large blowhole.
3. Praia Micondó
Praia Micondó was the first almost deserted beach of the trip with long stretches of sand and temperate water.
Yes, The islands are on the Atlantic Ocean but the water around São Tomé and Príncipe usually has a temperature of between 22ºC and 27ºC..
4. Roça Sao Joao de Angolares
Roça is the word used for the colonial coffee plantation. Nowadays most of the Roças are in form of ruins, but Roça Sao Joao de Angolares has been restored.
The Roça is easily accessible from the town with the same name, following a steep narrow street. There is an art gallery in the property and you can also stay overnight.
Why is this a must-see stop during your São Tomé Southern Tour?
You can have a tasting menu for around 15€. All the products used are very fresh and from the island, so you will have fruits, vegetables and fish as main products.
We ate the tasting menu consisting of 9 starters, 1 main and 3 desserts.
The waiter will explain every dish and what’s it made of. Don’t be afraid of the size, the portions are small and well presented. You will be full at the end but can comfortably taste each of the plates.
If you find yourself arriving at Sao Jao de Angolares too early for lunch (like we did) you can have a snack somewhere along the way and come back after the rest of southern day trip stops for an early dinner.
5. Pico do Cao Grande
Being the most iconic mountain in the island, Pico Cao Grande is a volcanic rock, shaped as a needle. It is possible to see it from a couple of spots from the main road, and it’s one of those picture-worthy landmarks.
Around the peak there’s fog and a micro-climate (season dependant, during rainy season there was one) so we saw it wrapped in fog, which created quite a haunting atmosphere.
Note: Check the weather forecast before you start the day, because if the weather is not great it might be worth it to change the order of your trips. You can then do the Central Day Trip first, the Southern Day Trip second and finish with the Northern Day Trip. The Southern Day Trip involves some time at the beach, and seeing the Pico without fog is a big plus.
6. Porto Alegre – Praia Inhame
Porto Alegre is a small little town on the southernmost point of the island. I recommend driving through (maybe stopping for a short walk on the main road) and continuing to Praia Inhame.
The beach is located in Inhame Eco Lodge and you can use the area if you buy something. We had lunch there and enjoyed the amazing deserted beach.
If you have plenty of time you can also check out Praia Piscina and Praia Jalé. Together with Praia Inhambane, these beaches are the highlight of the Southern part of the island.
7. Rolas island
There are boats departing from Porto Alegre but we found one from the same Inhame Eco Lodge. The boat ride is about 20 minutes and will take you to a little island called Rolas, the island on the equator.
There is a village on the island but the area is more famous for the equator crossing point. You climb uphill to find a little area with a world painted on the floor and a column where São Tomé and Príncipe are located. I have crossed the equator!
In fact, the real equator crosses Porto Alegre, the town, but it is more of a symbol I guess.
Our favourite stops in the São Tomé Southern day trip were Praia Inhame and the Roça (for food).
The Pico was also amazing but we didn’t get to enjoy it in all its glory because of the fog. All in all, a very worthwhile trip for any traveller looking to experience the magic, culture and nature of West Africa.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about planning your southern day trip and maybe I’ll have some of the answers!
With the use of the internet, travel planning has become a far easier task to handle. We can now cover the A to Z of planning using different tools and websites that are available to us absolutely free. Here’s my list of most trusted websites, so you don’t have to spend the time searching for them yourself and can go straight to planning your next adventure or getaway.
The ultimate list of travel planning tools
FLIGHTS
Skyscanner: Hands down my go to website every time I need to look for flights. You can check for oneway, return and multicity flights. You can choose anywhere as the destination and it lets you browse the cheapest flights from your starting point to anywhere in the world. I also like to check the map option, at the right corner of the date, to see the prices in the map – this helps with inspiration if you are running short on that!
Scott’s Cheap Flights: Subscribe to get the best flight details on your continent. You get to choose where you live and they send you emails when a flight offer has been found. Those emails will let you score some amazing flight deals if you are able to take leave/travel on those dates!
Chepo Air: One of the most under appreciated or lesser-known websites, Chepo air will find you deals for both flights and other travel packages from your starting point to your destination based on the selected dates.
Air Wander: You enter your dates, point of origin and point of arrival and it will find you the best stopovers. By using it you can add another destination to your trip without paying for an extra flight. A Stopover is stopping between 2 planes that have been bought on the same ticket, but allowing you to have anywhere from hours to days in the middle destination.
Skiplagged: A completely different concept right here: finding cheaper flights by looking for a longer flight to a further destination and then offering you to get that one and just stay in the “connection” destination (as that is the final destination you want to go to.
Hopper: This app keeps track of a flight you want to buy and updates you on price drops (or increases) so you don’t pay more than you need to for your flight. You can also select a route with no date for the app to tell you when something new comes up.
Bonus – Lounge Buddy: This has to be one of the best apps life has brought my way. Lounge Buddy let’s you buy entrance to certain lodges all over the world. The lounge makes travelling more comfortable. It is not worth it if you are in a destination for only an hour with barely enough time to go to the toilet and connect with your next flight, but anything longer than that and I would say it’s time to get a lounge pass. Lounges are restricted areas in airports where you get access by purchasing business class flights, owning a certain debit/credit card (like AMEX) or paying to get in. Prices start at 25€ but you have to look at it as an investment. Wifi is quicker than in the general area, there’s food for you to eat and complimentary drinks. Chairs tend to be comfier and some of them have coaches as well as plug points so you can charge your devices.
ACCOMMODATION
Airbnb: the leading apartment website in the world, Airbnb lists private houses/rooms/apartments /properties available for short-term rent so that you can stay in them during your trip. If you have never used it before, Here’s a link to get 25€ off on your first purchase. What I like about Airbnb besides how convenient it is are the filters. As someone obsessed with sleeping in unique places being able to filter for “hot tub” or “campervan” or “castle” makes all the difference.
Booking: The place to go for guesthouses and hotels. I like that you can select via map, stars, category and filters like “late check-in”. When I’m flying and arriving at a place late at night this is my go-to website to make sure I can check in and someone will be there to give me the keys. Use this code for a discount!
Hostel World: My bible for the cheapest accommodation and central locations. I like hotels because you get to know people and are surrounded by those who want to interact with other travellers. The receptions are always full of local advice and if you have grown too old or tired of dorms, it’s always worth considering the private rooms.
Glamping Hub: if like me you love to sleep in treehouses, tipis or other great places, this website is for you. They have a selection of unique accommodations that you can choose from and book directly.
Agoda: a great hotel booking platform mostly focused in Asia.
TRANSPORTATION
Rome to Rio: it is like the bible of transport. They tell you how to get from point A to point B by car, bus, ferry, tram and flight. It is a very interesting tool to use when you’re not sure of what the transportation options are for your upcoming trip.
Rental Cars: my go to website to compare different individual companies. You can book through their website and I like the interface, it is easy to use and understand.
Seat 61: get all the information you need to travel by train in Europe and around the world. From routes to timetables and other information that you need to know before you start your train trip!
ACTIVITIES
Get Your Guide: Even though I am not really one for set activities, there are some experiences that benefit from a guide/tour whether I like it or not. For these I like to check local operators by googling the activity I’m interested in doing or following previous bloggers recommendations. When that fails I use them.
INSURANCE
World Nomads: I think it’s the easiest website to buy insurance from. It is a little bit cheaper if you buy from local insurances where you live, but it is good to compare all your options.
TRANSFER MONEY INTERNATIONALLY
World Nomads: one of the best platforms I’ve come across. They let you transfer money internationally with a fee that up to 8 times lower than the one charged by traditional banks. The way it works is pretty intelligent: they have bank accounts in different countries. If you are in France and need to send money to the UK you will transfer your amount to a french bank, and with the exchange rate of the day from TransferWise, their account in the UK will send the equivalent in pounds. Life saver and so useful!
TRAVEL PLANNER
Having all your travel information in only one document proves tricky when we have hotel confirmation, plane tickets, train tickets and more. To have all my information organised and be able to have an overview of my daily planning I created a handy spreadsheet where you’ll be able to organise all your information easily and detailed.
Shameless self promo for the spreadsheet that is going to make it possible: all your travel information in one document!
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These travel planning tools are essential when I’m booking a trip. Knowing where to go for the right information also saves me time! I recommend you bookmark this page and come back to it when you need to find something specific.
Let me know if you use any other travel tools that aren’t already on this list?
Arriving on Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe felt like paradise redefined. Suddenly I needed new words to describe the views. You are about to find out what to do if you have 3 days in Príncipe.
Príncipe is the second of the islands comprising the country of Sao Tomé and Príncipe and the smallest of them. The population is around 7000 inhabitants and the whole island is a dense, lush and green forest topped up with remote, sandy beaches. As we visited São Tomé during rainy season the roads were moody and it was raining, which made the drive more unique.
How to get to Príncipe
Príncipe is the smallest island of São Tomé and Príncipe and can be reached by plane from the main island. There are two companies flying this route. There are daily flights connecting the islands. It takes only about 30 minutes of flying to get there.
Príncipe is a very unique and mostly unexploited tourist destination. In October 2018 there was 1 airbnb available in the capital, some 4 star hotels and a couple of local guesthouses. Most of the industry is controlled by a couple of hotel portfolios owning different 4* luxurious hotels. Some of the options are:
What to do for a 3 day itinerary in Príncipe Island
Day 1 in Príncipe
Arrive at your accommodation and spend the day by the beach. I recommend choosing a lodge that is directly by the beach. Spend the afternoon and evening sipping cocktails, kayaking, swimming or snorkelling. All the resorts are relatively small so you are in for an unbelievably relaxing experience.
Day 2 of the Príncipe Itinerary
The great thing about visiting Príncipe is that “day usage” of the resorts is an acceptable and often used modality of travel. If you are not staying at one of the fancy resorts, you can go spend the day there.
Kayak, walk or get a transfer to Bom Bom Island Resort. This resort holds a special place in my heart, as I had to find new vocabulary for the landscapes I was seeing. The scenery from the lodge is magical.
The resort is located at one of the tips of the island, in land. There is a wooden bridge connecting the hotel with a little island. On the island you can find a bar/restaurant and a 1h hiking trail that takes you on a circular loop around the island. The bridge gives much more character to the resort. Here are some pictures for proof:
If you love diving (or are getting started like me!) I encourage you to give it a try. Diving can be organised from a variety of resorts on the island but as far as we noticed there were a couple of hotels that just took you to the Padi centre in the Bom Bom Resort, so might as well organise with them directly. They have some interesting dives with different depths to choose from and so many different banks of colourful fish. It was a superb experience.
The prices in the restaurant and bar are equivalent to those in Europe. It is an important piece of information to consider when you budget for your daily spend. The diving was 130€ per person for 2 dives. 165€ if booked online.
Hire a driver to take you around the island. The island is not developed so some roads are not paved and the most important part, we didn’t find anyone who was renting a car to tourists. If you ask around town they will direct you to someone who speaks some English (a rare quality there) and can tour you around the island.
As our main interest on the island was diving and the second day the weather wasn’t great we did not tour the island. More reasons to come back soon!
This 3 day itinerary in Príncipe Island will give you a good understanding of what there is to see and how beautiful the natural paradise is.
If you have more days (and I hope you can spare a couple more after reading this post) you should try and have one more day to just relax by the hotel/beach and another one to also explore the island. It is a small island and untouched, but if I had 3 days on my Príncipe itinerary I certainly would try to explore more of the areas.
Check out this cinematic travel video about my trip to São Tomé and Príncipe!
We found transfers between lodges or Town to lodge for 20€ for 2 pax. The distances are short and from reception they will happily organise this for you.
If you are on a budget I recommend staying one night at one of the resorts as it gives you more of that secluded island experience and then move to town. There was only 1 guesthouse/airbnb and the rooms where small and basic, but clean.
There are a couple of bars and a supermarket where you can get food for your stay and the town Santo Antonio can be visited in merely 20 minutes.
If you have some budget then of course stay more than one night at the resorts. There are different prices for the resorts so you can always find the cheapest option within the luxury range.
If you are organising a tour around São Tomé and Príncipe I would recommend starting with Sao Tome because it is not as impressive or as well taken care of, and end the trip with the best part which is Príncipe Island.
I for one cannot wait to come back! Have you found my 3 day itinerary in Príncipe useful?
In the middle of La Noguera area in Catalonia, Spain you can find the rock pools of Rialb river. Between the mountains lie pools of turquoise, clear and freezing water.
It is an ideal place to go spend some time with family, friends or your partner. Do not forget to pack water in a reusable water bottle as well as some snacks for a picnic.
Do you want to know how to get to these rock pools? Continue reading.
Rock pools of Rialb river
The common name locals of the area have given these rock pools is ‘Rock pools of Rialb river’ or ‘Rock Pools of La Baronia de Rialb’.
The rock pools are in a thin part of the river Rialb on its way through the Baronia de Rialb municipality. The area is also known for canyoning and the “Forat del Bulli”.
Activities available at Rialb Rock Pools
Along the river there are different spots where one can park and enjoy the water. The special rock formations create a beige “floor” with turquoise and crystal clear water.
There are areas to park and some to camp. It is a great place to chill during hot summer days and they are a big attraction of the area.
There is an option to not only swim but to walk up to El Forat del Bulli, although you need the necessary equipment.
How to get to the rock pools of Rialb River
There are two big towns next to the river that are Artesa de Segre and Ponts. I will explain the route from both. The estimated driving time from Barcelona to either of those towns is 1h40min.
From Artesa de Segre to intersection for St. Cristòfol de la Donzell
Leave Artesa de Segre towards Tremp. When you arrive to Folquer (village) turn right to road c-1412b. Drive along this road until you see a sign saying “St. Cristòfol de la Donzell”. The turn is almost invisible and a sharp left, so pay attention after the sign.
From Ponts to intersection for St. Cristòfol de la Donzell
Drive along the c-1412b road until the intersection on your right signalling St. Cristòfol de la Donzell.
From intersection to rock pools of Rialb river
When you turn you will see a sign that reads “Riu Rialb 4,8km” (Rialb River). Keep driving until you pass a big rural house on your left on a bend sloping downwards called Masia Perdigués. You will arrive at another intersection where you can take either a left or a right.
The left side has another sign that reads “Riu Rialb 1,8km). Drive until you see a house on your left called “la casa dels peixos” this is a fish factory – you have to keep going down that same tar road.
After a while you will get to a T-junction and take a left.
After few meters you will arrive at another intersection where you will follow the sign for “Forat del Bulli”. The road is tarred but from time to time becomes gravel. You will see a gravel road intersection but must remain on the tar road.
You will soon see signs for “Punt d’aigua” where you can already stop to swim. If you want to reach the most spectacular area (in my opinion) continue driving for a bit longer. There is a moment where you’ll drive over a little, tarred bridge and after the bridge there is a steep road to the left. You will see the road is “wide” for the area and there are a couple spots for cars. You can park here.
There are two options to find the water:
Follow the gravel road turning right from the bridge. Walk along the right-hand side of said road and look out for a little hikers trail departing from it. You can follow this steep path until you get to the water
Right below the small bridge where you parked there’s a dry river bed. Follow it all the way down to get to the water.
With both options the walking time from the car to the rock pools is about 10 to 15 minutes.
Once that you have arrived at the “rock pools of Rialb river” you don’t need to do anything but enjoy yourself and spend some hours tanning and swimming.
What is the price to the rock pools of Rialb river?
Since July 2021 there is limited parking spots available, regulated, as well as price per day. It starts at 20€ and currently there is no way to book online and need to pay there.
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You can have a tasting menu for around 15€. All the products used are very fresh and from the island, so you will have fruits, vegetables and fish as main products.
There are two options to find the water:
