São Tomé & Príncipe planning guides

Planning guides

Short answers first, detail after, with the date we last checked each page and the sources we used. Start with the question that is blocking your plan.

Decisions

The questions that shape the trip

Houses on stilts and boats at Porto Alegre, in the far south of São Tomé — Porto Alegre, where the boats leave for Rolas. Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0

01 How many days do you need?And where to stay: north or south.
02 Do you need a 4x4?Roads, self-drive and driver-guides.
03 Do you need a guide?And is English enough?
04 When to goDry seasons, whales, turtles and birds.
05 How to get to PríncipeFlights, boats and the day-trip question.

Logistics

The practical layer

The details that are hard to find in one place, and easy to get wrong from an old blog post.

01 How to get to São ToméInternational routes and booking order.
02 Entry requirements and visasThe 15-day exemption and e-visas.
03 Getting around São ToméDrivers, taxis, shared taxis and self-drive.
04 Money, cash and cardsWhy euros, and why not to rely on ATMs.
05 SIM cards and dataCST, Unitel and coverage.
06 Getting around PríncipeTransfers, drivers and cash.

Plan with a person

Rather ask a person?

Send your dates and what you want from the trip. We reply with practical options, the guides we would choose for you, what is confirmed and what is not, and a clear total price.

Tell us about your trip

No payment to ask. Nothing is booked until you confirm a written quote.