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São Tomé and Príncipe 🇸🇹

backpacking Africa São Tomé and Príncipe 🇸🇹Volcanic spires, cocoa plantations and empty beaches on two small islands.

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Backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
An overview of visiting São Tomé and Príncipe

Backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 17, 2026

São Tomé and Príncipe, off Africa’s west coast, is mostly mountain rather than beach. Pico de São Tomé climbs to 2,024 meters on an island about 50 kilometers long, and roughly a third of the country lies inside Obô Natural Park, where mist drips off tree ferns and trails turn to red mud by noon.

Families still live in the crumbling roças, colonial cocoa plantations whose drying sheds smell of fermenting beans. The volcanic needle of Pico Cão Grande rises out of the southern jungle, and grilled fish with breadfruit gets eaten with your fingers on black sand. The hard parts are plain: flights are few, lodges cost more than you’d expect, the southern road rattles your spine and rain can wipe out a hiking day.

Compared with Gabon or Equatorial Guinea, the country is calmer and far easier to wander on foot. It suits hikers and slow travelers who love to eat. Skip it if you want nightlife or rock-bottom prices.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé City and the North Coast (São Tomé City, Neves, Lagoa Azul)

Backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe starts in the capital, where pastel colonial facades peel in the humidity, yellow taxis honk around the Mercado Municipal and smoke from grilled fish drifts off the seafront. Shared taxis follow a cliffside road north to Lagoa Azul in about 40 minutes, then on to Neves, the fishing town that brews Rosema beer. It suits first-timers who want easy rides and a cold bottle while the bay turns copper.

Central Highlands and Obô Park (Monte Café, Bom Sucesso, Pico de São Tomé)

Forty minutes uphill from the capital, the air cools and smells of wet earth and roasting beans at Roça Monte Café. Beyond it, the Bom Sucesso botanical garden is the trailhead for the Lagoa Amélia crater and the two-day climb up 2,024-meter Pico de São Tomé: slick roots, mud to the shins, mist that rarely lifts. It suits hikers who want orchids, birdsong and a summit to themselves.

The Deep South (São João dos Angolares, Porto Alegre, Pico Cão Grande, Ilhéu das Rolas)

South of Santana the tarmac turns patchy and the villages go quiet. The volcanic needle of Pico Cão Grande rises roughly 300 meters out of the canopy, and the roça in São João dos Angolares serves long, inventive tasting lunches. Porto Alegre, about three hours from the capital by shared taxi or hired driver, is where boats leave for Ilhéu das Rolas and its equator marker. It suits patient travelers chasing empty beaches.

Príncipe (Santo António, Roça Sundy, Banana Beach)

A 35-minute flight from São Tomé drops you in Santo António, a capital of a few sleepy streets where chickens outnumber cars. The whole island is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, so roads fade into dirt tracks traveled by pickup or boat. Roça Sundy, where Eddington’s 1919 eclipse observations backed Einstein, sits above pounding surf, and Banana Beach is a curve of pale sand under palms. It suits travelers with deeper pockets and time to unplug.
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Geography and where places are located
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Why go?Why São Tomé and Príncipe is worth visiting

Low cost

Away from the eco-lodges, São Tomé and Príncipe runs on local prices: plates of grilled fish with fried … read more 👉
Away from the eco-lodges, São Tomé and Príncipe runs on local prices: plates of grilled fish with fried banana from smoky roadside grills, papaya and jackfruit piled high at market stalls, and simple guesthouses with fans and cold showers. A typical backpacker day lands around 1,000 to 1,700 dobras (€40 to €70). Eat where the drivers eat, at plastic tables near the market.

People

Walk any village road in São Tomé and Príncipe and you’ll hear “bom dia” from porches, kids sprinting … read more 👉
Walk any village road in São Tomé and Príncipe and you’ll hear “bom dia” from porches, kids sprinting alongside and laughter rolling out of a game of dominoes. People are reserved at first, then warm and teasing once you’ve said hello. Greet before asking anything. On weekends, join locals at Praia dos Tamarindos, where families share palm wine and music.

Scenery

São Tomé and Príncipe packs jagged volcanic spires, waterfalls and emerald cloud forest onto two small … read more 👉
São Tomé and Príncipe packs jagged volcanic spires, waterfalls and emerald cloud forest onto two small islands, so the view changes every few kilometers. Mist rolls through tree ferns, wet basalt glints after rain and the sea flashes between cocoa trees. Start hikes at first light, before clouds swallow the peaks, and on Príncipe look for the green tower of Pico Papagaio.

Beach life

Beach life in São Tomé and Príncipe is quiet: warm water, coconut palms leaning over the sand and often … read more 👉
Beach life in São Tomé and Príncipe is quiet: warm water, coconut palms leaning over the sand and often nobody else in sight. Nights mean a cold Rosema at a seafront bar, never clubs. Snorkeling is easy off the rocky northern coves near Praia das Conchas, and from July to October boats head out to watch humpback whales breaching offshore.

⭐ HighlightsHighlights of São Tomé and Príncipe

  • Pico Cão Grande: A volcanic plug of bare gray rock that shoots roughly 300 meters straight out of the southern rainforest, often with a ring of cloud around its waist. The approach runs through oil palm plantations where cicadas drone and fallen fruit smells sweet and rotten in the heat.
  • Roça Agostinho Neto: A former cocoa estate laid out like a small town, its grand hospital crumbling at the top of a long avenue. Laundry hangs from colonial balconies, and kids follow you up the cobbles calling out greetings.
  • Ilhéu das Rolas: A tiny island off the southern tip where a tiled globe marks the equator line. You stand with a foot in each hemisphere while waves thump the black rocks below and frigatebirds hang overhead.
  • Lagoa Azul: A sheltered cove on the dry north coast, ringed by baobabs with trunks as wide as cars. The water is glassy enough to see fish over the coral from the shore.
  • Praia Banana, Príncipe: A curve of pale sand backed by leaning coconut palms, where hermit crabs drag their shells
… read more 👉
  • Pico Cão Grande: A volcanic plug of bare gray rock that shoots roughly 300 meters straight out of the southern rainforest, often with a ring of cloud around its waist. The approach runs through oil palm plantations where cicadas drone and fallen fruit smells sweet and rotten in the heat.
  • Roça Agostinho Neto: A former cocoa estate laid out like a small town, its grand hospital crumbling at the top of a long avenue. Laundry hangs from colonial balconies, and kids follow you up the cobbles calling out greetings.
  • Ilhéu das Rolas: A tiny island off the southern tip where a tiled globe marks the equator line. You stand with a foot in each hemisphere while waves thump the black rocks below and frigatebirds hang overhead.
  • Lagoa Azul: A sheltered cove on the dry north coast, ringed by baobabs with trunks as wide as cars. The water is glassy enough to see fish over the coral from the shore.
  • Praia Banana, Príncipe: A curve of pale sand backed by leaning coconut palms, where hermit crabs drag their shells across your footprints and the jungle hums right to the tideline.
  • Off the map: Save time for the Boca do Inferno blowhole near Água Izé, Cascata São Nicolau dripping through ferns in the highlands, and Praia Jalé, where turtles nest in the far south.
Spotted a mistake or missing a highlight? Contact us.
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🧭 RoutesPlanning a route that makes sense

The 2-Day East Coast Escape


A compact trip pairing the capital’s colonial waterfront with the fishing coast south of town. Expect a slow lunch on a plantation veranda and your first look at the island’s strangest volcanic peak.
  • Walking São Tomé city and its market
  • The tasting menu at Roça São João dos Angolares
  • The roadside view of Pico Cão Grande

👉 explore this 2-day route

The 3-Day Highlands and Plantations Route


Cloud forest, coffee and crumbling colonial estates, all reached on day trips from one base. It suits travelers who want a real hike and a sense of the island’s cacao and coffee history.
  • The crater trail to Lagoa Amelia in Obo National Park
  • The vast ruined hospital at Roça Agostinho Neto
  • Coffee at Roça Monte Café
  • The west coast road to Santa Catarina

👉 explore this 3-day route

The 5-Day Two-Island Route


The full picture of both islands, from quiet Príncipe to the wild southern tip of São Tomé. It mixes palm-lined beaches and protected forest with plantation history and turtle-nesting … read more 👉

The 2-Day East Coast Escape


A compact trip pairing the capital’s colonial waterfront with the fishing coast south of town. Expect a slow lunch on a plantation veranda and your first look at the island’s strangest volcanic peak.
  • Walking São Tomé city and its market
  • The tasting menu at Roça São João dos Angolares
  • The roadside view of Pico Cão Grande

👉 explore this 2-day route

The 3-Day Highlands and Plantations Route


Cloud forest, coffee and crumbling colonial estates, all reached on day trips from one base. It suits travelers who want a real hike and a sense of the island’s cacao and coffee history.
  • The crater trail to Lagoa Amelia in Obo National Park
  • The vast ruined hospital at Roça Agostinho Neto
  • Coffee at Roça Monte Café
  • The west coast road to Santa Catarina

👉 explore this 3-day route

The 5-Day Two-Island Route


The full picture of both islands, from quiet Príncipe to the wild southern tip of São Tomé. It mixes palm-lined beaches and protected forest with plantation history and turtle-nesting sand.
  • Two days on Príncipe and its northern beaches
  • The Museu Nacional inside the old fort
  • Pico Cão Grande and the rock pool at Praia Piscina
  • Praia Jalé at the southern tip

👉 explore this 5-day route

🌤️ When to go?A month-by-month overview

The best time for backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe is the “gravana” dry season from June to September, when rain mostly stops, temperatures settle around 22 to 27°C and mountain trails firm up, though July and August also bring the year’s highest flight and room demand. Location matters as much as the calendar. The north of São Tomé island around the capital gets roughly 1,000 mm of rain a year, while the southwest slopes and much of Príncipe get several times that, even in drier months.
  • Gravana (June to September): Overcast skies, cool breezes, dry trails for Pico de São Tomé and humpback whales offshore from July. European holiday traffic peaks in July and August, so book ahead.
  • Gravanito (December to February): A shorter, hotter dry spell with sunnier beaches, turtle nesting and hatching, and a Christmas rush.
  • Rainy months (March to May, October to November): Heavy afternoon storms and muddy southern roads, but emptier lodges and more room to negotiate rates.
Pack a light rain jacket in any month, because the forest makes its own weather.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
SaoTomeandPrincipe - |SaoTomeandPrincipe|joao-ferreira-2cUnx3MzlYM-unsplash

💰 Costs (as of 2026)How expensive it really is

Plan on €40 to 60 a day for backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe. That's more than mainland Cameroon (€25 to 40) and less than Gabon or Equatorial Guinea (€60 to 90). The flight to Príncipe is the one cost that can wreck the budget.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation€15 to 35 a nightDorm beds are rare here, so most budget travelers end up in private rooms. A basic fan room in a guesthouse or a rented room in São Tomé city costs €20 to 35. A room at a roça (an old plantation estate) such as São João dos Angolares runs €50 to 80 with breakfast. In Santo António on Príncipe, simple rooms cost €25 to 40. Book direct by phone or WhatsApp and pay cash, and you can often get €5 to 10 a night off for stays of three nights or more.
Meals€10 to 20 a dayGrilled fish with fried banana or breadfruit from a roadside grill costs €3 to 6. A plate of calulu (a fish stew made with greens) at a local restaurant costs €6 to 10. Supermarkets such as CKDO stock mostly Portuguese imports at 20 to 50 percent above Lisbon prices. Self-catering only saves money if you shop at the Mercado Municipal, where a bag of bananas, papaya and avocado costs €1 to 3. A local Rosema beer is €1 to 1.50.
Local
… read more 👉
Plan on €40 to 60 a day for backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe. That's more than mainland Cameroon (€25 to 40) and less than Gabon or Equatorial Guinea (€60 to 90). The flight to Príncipe is the one cost that can wreck the budget.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation€15 to 35 a nightDorm beds are rare here, so most budget travelers end up in private rooms. A basic fan room in a guesthouse or a rented room in São Tomé city costs €20 to 35. A room at a roça (an old plantation estate) such as São João dos Angolares runs €50 to 80 with breakfast. In Santo António on Príncipe, simple rooms cost €25 to 40. Book direct by phone or WhatsApp and pay cash, and you can often get €5 to 10 a night off for stays of three nights or more.
Meals€10 to 20 a dayGrilled fish with fried banana or breadfruit from a roadside grill costs €3 to 6. A plate of calulu (a fish stew made with greens) at a local restaurant costs €6 to 10. Supermarkets such as CKDO stock mostly Portuguese imports at 20 to 50 percent above Lisbon prices. Self-catering only saves money if you shop at the Mercado Municipal, where a bag of bananas, papaya and avocado costs €1 to 3. A local Rosema beer is €1 to 1.50.
Local transport€2 to 8 a dayShared yellow taxis are the cheapest option. A ride across São Tomé city costs €0.50 to 1, and a seat to Santana or Neves is €1 to 3. A seat south to Porto Alegre costs €3 to 5. Chartering a car with a driver costs €40 to 60 a day, and splitting it between three or four people makes it reasonable. A return flight to Príncipe costs €130 to 200.
Activities€5 to 50 a dayGuides are the main cost. A guide for Lagoa Amélia costs €20 to 30. The two-day Pico de São Tomé climb costs €80 to 150 with a guide and porter. Entry to the Bom Sucesso botanical garden is €3 to 5. A turtle-watching night with a local conservation group costs €10 to 15. One scuba dive costs €50 to 60.
Miscellaneous€3 to 6 a dayA local SIM costs €2 to 5, plus €5 to 10 for a week of data. A 1.5-liter bottle of water costs €1 to 1.50, and you'll drink plenty in the humidity. Small tips for guides and drivers run €2 to 5. Foreign bank cards rarely work at local ATMs, so bring euros in cash.
Total Daily Budget€40 to 60 a dayA thrifty day on São Tomé island looks like this: a €25 room, €12 on street food, €4 in shared taxis and a €10 guide fee. With entrance fees and incidentals added, that comes to about €55. Spread the Príncipe flight across your trip, and add €10 to 20 a day for any day you rent a car.
Travelers pay in dobras, which are pegged to the euro. That means prices barely change from year to year, and you'll often see euro prices quoted directly. If you count small change carefully and travel with others to split charters, a week here costs about what you'd spend in Cape Verde. The difference is that the beaches will be much emptier.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutSão Tomé and Príncipe Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (151 pages) contains:
✅ 38 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 2, 3 & 5-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
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👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
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🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where to stay in São Tomé and Príncipe

Proper dorm hostels are rare in São Tomé and Príncipe, so budget travelers mostly stay in small guesthouses, family-run “residenciais” and rooms in restored plantation houses (roças), with simple doubles typically costing €20 to 40 a night. The capital’s city center around the seafront Marginal puts you within walking distance of markets, cafés and the few bars with weekend music, while quieter areas like Pantufo and Praia Lagarto near the airport trade convenience for calm evenings and easy beach access. On Príncipe, the tiny town of Santo António has the cheapest rooms and a very low-key, safe … read more 👉
Proper dorm hostels are rare in São Tomé and Príncipe, so budget travelers mostly stay in small guesthouses, family-run “residenciais” and rooms in restored plantation houses (roças), with simple doubles typically costing €20 to 40 a night. The capital’s city center around the seafront Marginal puts you within walking distance of markets, cafés and the few bars with weekend music, while quieter areas like Pantufo and Praia Lagarto near the airport trade convenience for calm evenings and easy beach access. On Príncipe, the tiny town of Santo António has the cheapest rooms and a very low-key, safe feel, but nightlife there is close to zero and most beaches need a shared taxi or motorbike ride.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.



Best quality hotels in São Tomé and Príncipe

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around São Tomé and Príncipe

Backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe mostly means squeezing into shared yellow taxis that run the coastal roads out of the capital from dawn until late afternoon. They leave when full, cost very little, and are the only real option besides renting a car or hiring a driver.
  • Shared taxis: 15 to 30 STN (US$0.70 to 1.40) for hops around São Tomé city, about 30 to 50 STN (US$1.40 to 2.20) north to Neves in roughly 45 minutes, and more for the 2 to 3 hour run south toward Porto Alegre. Pay the driver in cash
… read more 👉
Backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe mostly means squeezing into shared yellow taxis that run the coastal roads out of the capital from dawn until late afternoon. They leave when full, cost very little, and are the only real option besides renting a car or hiring a driver.
  • Shared taxis: 15 to 30 STN (US$0.70 to 1.40) for hops around São Tomé city, about 30 to 50 STN (US$1.40 to 2.20) north to Neves in roughly 45 minutes, and more for the 2 to 3 hour run south toward Porto Alegre. Pay the driver in cash with small notes. Expect four across the back seat, windows down, kizomba on the radio and cocoa beans drying on tarps by the road. Call out your stop and the driver pulls over anywhere, so you can step out right at a beach or a plantation gate.
  • Moto-taxis: 10 to 30 STN (US$0.45 to 1.40) in town, more for steep runs up to the inland plantations. Agree the fare before you climb on, and helmets are rare. Your reward is the wet green smell of the forest road and arrival at a hilltop roça the shared taxis skip.
  • Driver for the day: roughly 1,100 to 1,800 STN (US$50 to 80), negotiated in advance through your guesthouse. Split between three or four travelers, it turns the potholed southern road into a day of beach stops.
  • Flights to Príncipe: STP Airways, about 35 to 45 minutes, roughly 4,500 to 6,800 STN (US$200 to 300) return, booked online or at the airline office in the capital. Cargo boats exist but sail irregularly and take 10 hours or more on a rough sea.
Leave early: southbound shared taxis thin out after about 2 p.m., and catching one at 7 a.m. gets you to the far south with daylight left.
São Tomé International Airport (TMS) sits about 4 to 5 km (2.5 to 3 miles) northeast of São Tomé city center in São Tomé and Príncipe, and the cheapest reliable way in is a shared yellow taxi flagged down on the main road just outside the terminal.
  • Shared yellow taxi (10 to 15 minutes, about 25 to 50 STN, roughly €1 to 2 per seat): walk out to the main road in front of the airport and wave one down, pay the driver in dobras when you get out, and expect them to thin out after dark.
  • Moto-taxi (around 10 minutes, about 30 to 50 STN, roughly €1.50 to 2): drivers wait near the airport exit and along the road, only work if you travel light, and you should agree the price before climbing on.
  • Private taxi (10 to 15 minutes, about €5 to 10, or 125 to 250 STN): drivers meet every flight at the arrivals door, there is no meter so settle the fare first, and euros in small notes are accepted almost everywhere.
  • Guesthouse pickup (10 to 15 minutes, about €10 to 20): most hotels and guesthouses arrange this if you message them with your flight details, which also covers delayed arrivals since there is no ride-hailing app operating in the country.
If your flight lands late at night, book a pickup with your accommodation in advance or take a private taxi from the arrivals door, because shared taxis and moto-taxis become scarce and street lighting on the road into town is patchy.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: low)Safety considerations for travelers

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
São Tomé and Príncipe is one of the safest countries in Africa for solo travelers, with very little violent crime and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Petty theft such as bag snatching does happen in São Tomé city, so keep valuables out of sight and take a taxi after dark. Women traveling alone generally feel comfortable, though catcalls and persistent attention from men can occur, and a firm, polite refusal usually ends it. Same-sex relations have been legal since the 2012 penal code, but society is conservative and religious, so LGBTQ+ travelers should keep public displays of affection discreet.

✈️ VisaVisa requirements for São Tomé and Príncipe

Citizens of the EU, the US, Canada, the UK, Brazil and several other countries can visit São Tomé and Príncipe visa-free for stays of up to 15 days, as long as their passport is valid for at least six months. Other nationalities, and anyone staying longer, should apply in advance for an e-visa through the official online portal of the Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras, which is then issued on arrival at São Tomé International Airport. Rules change occasionally, so check the official portal before booking flights.

source: smf.st
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What you'll need while traveling

São Tomé and Príncipe is hot and humid all year, with the drier “gravana” season from roughly June to September and heavy, sudden downpours the rest of the year, so lightweight quick-dry clothing beats cotton every time. The interior is steep, muddy rainforest crossed by slippery trails and river crossings, which means footwear with real grip and something waterproof for both you and your electronics. Mosquitoes are around at dusk, so plan for long sleeves in the evening and strong repellent. In towns and villages people dress neatly and fairly modestly, so keep swimwear for the beach. Cash, a basic first-aid kit and any medication should come with you, as pharmacies and shops outside the capital are limited.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

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🙋 FAQCommon questions before visiting

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through São Tomé and Príncipe can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized São Tomé and Príncipe itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

For São Tomé and Príncipe, make sure routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus-diphtheria, polio) are up to date, and get hepatitis A and typhoid since you will likely eat at local food stalls. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you arrive from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk; many travel clinics advise carrying one anyway. Hepatitis B and rabies are worth considering for long stays or rural trekking. Malaria is still present, so talk to a travel doctor about antimalarial tablets and bring mosquito repellent.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in São Tomé and Príncipe, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

Life in São Tomé and Príncipe runs at the slow, unhurried “leve-leve” pace, so be patient with service and schedules rather than pushing. Do dress modestly in towns and villages, keep beachwear for the beach, and always ask before photographing people, especially children and residents of the plantation communities, where some may expect a small payment or refuse. Do accept offered food or drinks graciously and show respect to elders. Don’t haggle aggressively in markets, since prices are usually fair and margins small, and don’t hand out sweets or money to children, which encourages begging. Women may receive unwanted attention and are best off dressing conservatively in rural areas, while gay couples should avoid public displays of affection in this conservative, largely Catholic society.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for São Tomé and Príncipe.
  1. Calulu: The national dish, a slow-cooked stew of smoked or fresh fish (sometimes chicken) with okra, eggplant, tomato, palm oil and a bundle of local leaves and herbs, served with rice or angu (mashed banana or cassava). It takes hours to prepare and is the centerpiece of family gatherings and celebrations.
  2. Molho no fogo: A fish stew cooked in palm oil with greens and chili, simpler and quicker than calulu. It shows up on the menu of nearly every small local eatery and is the everyday taste of the islands.
  3. Izaquente: A thick, earthy stew made from the seeds of the African breadfruit tree, often cooked with smoked fish and palm oil. It is traditionally eaten on Good Friday and other special occasions, which makes it a dish tied closely to island identity.
  4. Grilled fish with banana-pão and fruta-pão: Fresh catch like flying fish or tuna grilled over charcoal, served with fried plantain and roasted breadfruit. It is the classic beachside meal and the cheapest way to eat well here.
  5. Búzio do mato: Giant land snails from the forest, cooked in a spicy palm-oil sauce. A rural delicacy that locals are proud of and visitors rarely try.
Tap water in São Tomé and Príncipe is not safe for travelers to drink. Many locals boil or filter their water or buy it bottled, and tourists are advised to stick to bottled water, widely sold for about 15 to 30 STN (US$0.70 to 1.40) per 1.5-liter bottle, or use a filter bottle. Avoid ice in small roadside eateries and rinse fruit with treated water.
The main language in São Tomé and Príncipe is Portuguese. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Portuguese skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for São Tomé and Príncipe includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English is not widely spoken in São Tomé and Príncipe; you will find it at mid-range and upscale hotels, some tour operators and a few guesthouse owners in the capital and on Príncipe. Younger islanders sometimes know basic English, but taxi drivers, market vendors and villagers outside town almost always speak only Portuguese and Forro, the local creole. Portuguese is by far the most useful language, and some French helps a little given the francophone neighbors. Download Portuguese for offline use in Google Translate and learn numbers and basic food words, which covers most taxi fares and meals.

Money & Payments

The local currency of São Tomé and Príncipe is STN (Dobra).
Cash is king in São Tomé and Príncipe, and the currency is the dobra (STN), pegged at 24.5 STN to 1 euro (roughly 22 to 23 STN per US$1). ATMs are found only in São Tomé city and in Santo António on Príncipe, and many accept Visa only, so Mastercard and other cards often fail and machines can run empty on weekends. Card payments work at upscale hotels, some tour operators and a handful of restaurants in the capital, but nowhere in the countryside, at markets or in shared taxis. Bring euros as your main backup, since they are accepted almost everywhere and exchange at the fixed rate, while US dollars get a weaker rate. Exchange money at banks or licensed exchange offices in the capital rather than with street changers near the market, and carry enough small notes before heading south or to Príncipe.
Tipping is not obligatory in São Tomé and Príncipe, but it is appreciated, especially given low local wages. In restaurants, leaving 5 to 10% or rounding up the bill is a kind gesture, while taxi drivers are fine with you simply rounding up the fare. Guides and drivers on day tours usually expect a tip of around 100 to 200 STN (US$4.50 to 9) per day.

🧩 Nearby countriesOther countries to combine with São Tomé and Príncipe

We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways from the trip

Backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe means slowing down, whether you plan to or not. Buses leave when they’re full, lunch takes an hour and rain reshapes your day. Let it happen. The small downside: malaria is present on both islands, so pack repellent and take prevention seriously. Learn twenty words of Portuguese before you land. Almost nobody outside the lodges speaks English, and a few greetings turn shy curiosity into long roadside conversations and directions you’d never find otherwise.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in São Tomé and Príncipe. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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