Cocoa Island – Sao Tome and Principe

Flight to Sao Tomé. On arrival, meeting with our guide who will arrange transfer to the Emoyeni Garden Hotel or similar. Overnight stay in double

room with services.

After breakfast, the morning is dedicated to exploring the town of Sao Tome, we will visit the museum, housed in the old ort of Sao Sebastiao, which tells the story of the colonial period and the struggle for independence, with an exhibition recalling the Batepa massacre, in which in 1953 a thousand workers employed as laborers in the plantations were killed, who had dared to rebel against the regime of forced paid labor imposed by the colonists and  considered by international public opinion to be a true form of slavery. Afterwards, we stroll through the charming city centre, with its numerous

pastel-colored buildings built by the Portuguese, among which the cathedral stand out, and the lively and busy market, characterized by its abundant fruit and vegetable stalls and lively bargaining for frest fish. Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, we will attend the traditional performance Tchiloli, or Tragedy of the Marquis of Muntua and the Emperor Charlemagne a form of theatre acted and danced only by men, a way for the native to

re-appropriate history and make it an object of vindication. Overnight stay at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Trinidad, the second city of the country. We begging by admiring the cacoa and coffee plantations, the main export products of the island, introduced by the Portuguese in the 19th century, where thousands of African slaves from other colonies, particularly

Angola, once worked. Today, the rocas are farms run by cooperatives, with quality and environmentally sustainable production that is in high demand in

the international market.  At Roca Monte Café we visit the Coffee Musuem, where we learn about the different varieties that are grown in Sao Tome and admire the old buildings where cocoa processing used to take place. Next, we will head to Bom Sucesso botanic garden, with more than 400 species of endemic, ornamental plants, and 140 different types of orchids. After a refreshing break at the Sao Nicolau waterfall, inside the forest, we will have lunch at the Almada Negreiros museum – restaurant, with a tasting menu of local specialties. In the afternoon, return to the city for a sweet stop at the island’s most famous chocolate marker, Italian Claudio Corallo, for a rich tasting. Transfer to Neves, accommodation at Mucumbli

Ecolodge or similar. Overnight stay in a double bungalow with services.

Breakfast at the hotel and a day dedicated to explore the north – western part of the island. We will go to Roca Diogo Vaz, where amidst the cacao plantations, the entire production chain of the country’s iconic product will be explained to us. We will head to fishing village of Morro Peixe

for a boat excursion where we can spot dolphins, pilot whales and, with a bit of luck, orcas that inhabit these waters. Return to the mainland and lunch in a restaurant where, for those wish, it will be possible to tast the santolas, giant crab of this region. Stop at Lake Azul (blue lagoon), a beautiful inlet

with imposing baobab trees and where you can enjoy a refreshing swim and snorkeling. Return to Neves and overnight stay in hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and visit to Roca Boa Entrada and Roca Agostinho Neto, where we can see numerous colonial buildings such as the hospital, the manor house and the sanzalas, where workers still live. Lunch in a restaurant and on to Santana and where we will make a boat excursion to the

volcanic Ilheu sanatana, where its easy to meet artisanal fisherman at work. Returning to the mainland, we set off in a southerly direction towards Porto

Alegre, with a stop at the viewpoint to admire the Pico Cao Grande, an 800 meters high basalt monolith and symbol of the country. Arrival at the Eco –

Hotel Praia Inhame or similar, located on a lovely palm-fringed beach and overnight stay in a double bungalow with services.

Breakfast at the hotel and excursion by boat to Ilheu Las Rolas, a handkerchief of land a few dozen meters from the coast, located towards the centre of the world, latitude 0 and longitude 0 , where the earth divides between the northern and the southern hemispheres and the equator

marker is located. Walk around the island through coconut palm plantations to admire the wild beaches of the south coast. Seafood lunch on the beach, and afternoon dedicated to relax by the sea on the magnificient Praia Café. Return to the mainland and overnight stay in double bungalow with services.

Breakfast at the hotel and morning dedicated to discover the southern part of the island and two most famous beaches of Sao Tomé, Praia

Piscina and Praia Jale. We will find very different beaches, some with very white sand, washed by crystal – clear waters, others with black sand and rocks, with a very special charm. Lunch in a restaurant and afternoon dedicated to swimming relaxation or trekking (about 2 hours) through lush vegetation. Dinner at leisure followed by a night-time sea turtle watching excursion where, with a big luck, we will witness the incredible race of newly hatched turtles towards the sea. Overnight stay in double bungalow with bathroom.

After breakfast at the hotel, we return to the capital with stops at iconic locations on the east coast: Boca Do Infierno, a peculiar natural phenomenon, Praia Sete Ondas, ideal for surfing, Agua Itze, with its fisherman’s beach and fascinating Roca with panoramic view of the gulf. On

arrival lunch in a restaurant. in the afternoon, you can shop for typical products and handicrafts in the capital’s shop. Transfer to the airport in time

for your return flight. End of services.