An island that unites us
In São Tomé
São Tomé, discovered by Portuguese sailors in the 15th century, is an island with a rich heritage that blends African and European influences. This Atlantic gem has witnessed centuries of history, cocoa and coffee cultivation, and a rich and unique culture.
Today, its historic plantations, colonial architecture, and vibrant traditions tell stories of resilience and transformation, creating a legacy that continues to inspire all who visit.
Discover São Tomé through guided tours and excursions combining nature, culture, beaches, historic roças and some of the island’s most spectacular scenery.
At Privilege Tours, you can book everything from full-day tours around the north, centre and southern beaches of São Tomé Island to trekking routes, birdwatching, boat trips and diving activities. Choose the experience that best suits your trip and check the itinerary, price and inclusions for each excursion.
There is no single tour that is best for everyone. São Tomé changes considerably depending on which part of the island you explore, so your choice should mainly depend on what you would like to discover during your trip.
If you are interested in history, cocoa and coastal scenery, the north is one of the most complete options. If you prefer mountains, coffee, waterfalls and tropical vegetation, you will probably enjoy the centre more. For beaches and tropical landscapes, head south; and for more specific activities, you can choose trekking, birdwatching, boat trips or diving.
The Northern São Tomé Tour combines heritage, small coastal communities and some of the most distinctive landscapes in this part of the island.
The route includes places such as Roça Agostinho Neto, Praia dos Tamarindos, Lagoa Azul, Roça Diogo Vaz and the Santa Catarina Tunnel. It is a good choice if you want to understand the history of the island’s historic roças while also discovering some of the northern coast’s most impressive scenery.
If you want to discover the greener interior of São Tomé, the Central São Tomé Tour takes you through mountain areas, tropical vegetation and historic agricultural estates.
The main stops include Trindade, Roça Monte Café, São Nicolau Waterfall, the Bom Sucesso Botanical Garden and Roça Saudade. It is one of the most interesting excursions for travellers who want to combine nature, history and the island’s coffee-growing tradition.
The east coast combines local communities, coastline, historic roças and some of the most photographed landscapes in São Tomé.
The route passes places such as Roça Água Izé, Boca do Inferno and Praia das Sete Ondas, with views of Pico Cão Grande along the way. The excursion also includes a gastronomic stop at Roça São João dos Angolares.
Southern São Tomé is an excellent choice if you want to spend the day mainly enjoying beaches, tropical vegetation and coastal scenery.
The route allows you to discover beaches such as Praia Jalé, Praia Piscina and Praia Inhame, combining the coastline with other natural areas in the south of the island.
Ilhéu das Rolas offers a different experience, as you first travel to southern São Tomé before continuing by boat to the islet.
As well as its beaches and small local community, the islet is home to the monument marking the equator. It is an especially interesting option for travellers who want to combine an overland excursion, a boat trip and time at the beach in a single day.
For travellers looking for a little more adventure, the Waterfalls Tour takes you through tropical forest and along less conventional tracks towards the Bombaim area.
It is an alternative to the more traditional road tours and is particularly suitable for travellers interested in nature, waterfalls and landscapes in the island’s interior.
Not every excursion involves exploring the island by vehicle. São Tomé also offers the opportunity to spend a full day walking through some of its most distinctive natural areas.
Lagoa Amélia lies within the Obô Natural Park area and offers a route through humid forest, lush vegetation and giant ferns.
This excursion is particularly suitable for travellers who want to go hiking and discover the island’s interior. For this particular activity, transport is not included in the price: the stated starting point is the Bom Sucesso Botanical Garden, although it may be possible to arrange to meet the guide in the city.
Pico Cão Grande is one of the most recognisable landscapes in São Tomé. For travellers who want to spend part of their trip walking and experiencing the island from a more adventurous perspective, there is a dedicated trekking excursion in its surroundings.
São Tomé and Príncipe is particularly interesting for travellers with an interest in ornithology, and Privilege Tours offers a dedicated birding tour in São Tomé.
The activity is designed to explore natural habitats with a guide and discover the island’s birdlife at a slower pace and in greater detail than on a general sightseeing tour.
You can also spend a day discovering São Tomé from the sea.
Available options include boat trips to Ilhéu das Cabras and Ilhéu de Santana, as well as a dedicated diving activity. These are particularly interesting alternatives once you have already explored part of the island by road and want to add a different experience to your itinerary.
| Excursion | Recommended if you are looking for | Main highlights |
|---|---|---|
| City Tour | History and life in the capital | São Tomé city centre, heritage, markets and culture |
| Northern São Tomé Tour | Cocoa, roças and coast | Agostinho Neto, Lagoa Azul, Diogo Vaz, Santa Catarina |
| Central São Tomé Tour | Coffee, waterfalls and vegetation | Monte Café, São Nicolau, Bom Sucesso |
| East Coast Tour | Impressive scenery and gastronomy | Água Izé, Boca do Inferno, Sete Ondas, Pico Cão Grande |
| Southern Beaches | Beaches and nature | Jalé, Piscina, Inhame and the southern coast |
| Ilhéu das Rolas | Boat trip, beaches and the equator | Boat crossing, islet and equator monument |
| Off-road Waterfalls | Adventure and the island’s interior | Tropical forests and the Bombaim area |
| Lagoa Amélia | Hiking | Obô Natural Park and humid forest |
| Pico Cão Grande | Trekking and scenery | Pico Cão Grande area |
| Birdwatching | Nature and ornithology | Specialist routes through natural habitats |
| Ilhéu das Cabras / Santana | Boat trips | Islets and the São Tomé coastline |
| Diving | Underwater world | Diving activity in the waters around São Tomé |
Still deciding between two excursions? Tell us how many days you will be spending in São Tomé, which areas you are planning to visit and what type of trip you are looking for. We can help you choose the routes that best fit your itinerary without repeating experiences that are too similar.
Inclusions vary depending on the activity, so it is important to check the individual tour page before booking.
Tours such as the Northern São Tomé Tour and Central São Tomé Tour include:
Conditions may be different for specialist activities. For example, the Lagoa Amélia trek includes a guide and entrance fees but does not include transport to the starting point. Always check the “What is included?” section of each excursion for the exact conditions.
One of the main differences between exploring São Tomé independently and travelling with a guide is the context they can provide.
The roças, communities, plantations, markets and natural landscapes take on another dimension when you understand what happened there and how these places relate to the island’s history and everyday life today.
Privilege Tours works with guides accredited by the Ministry of Tourism and offers guided tours in several languages. The main routes can be arranged in Spanish, Portuguese, English and French.
Yes. You can request changes or ask for an itinerary tailored to your interests. This can be particularly useful if you are travelling with family or a group, have already explored part of the island or want to focus more closely on nature, culture, beaches or a particular activity.
Tell us what you would like to see and the dates of your trip so that we can check which options can be adapted to your itinerary.
If you would also like us to organise other aspects of your stay, you can explore our organised trips to São Tomé and Príncipe, where we can help you put together a more complete travel experience.
Booking is straightforward:
You can also contact our team by email or WhatsApp if you need any help before completing your booking.
What you need to bring will depend greatly on the tour. A trek through the interior requires different equipment from an excursion to the southern beaches or a boat trip.
As a general rule, we recommend bringing sun protection, mosquito repellent and hand sanitiser or wipes. Depending on the activity, you may also need suitable footwear, swimwear, a towel or appropriate clothing for walking.
Check the individual excursion page and speak to our team if you are unsure about what equipment you will need.
The two options work well together.
Renting a car in São Tomé and Príncipe gives you plenty of freedom to discover the island at your own pace, while booking an excursion is particularly useful when you want to understand the history of a place, take part in a specific activity or avoid having to organise the route, transport and other logistics yourself.
Many travellers combine both approaches: they use a car for part of their stay and book guided tours for the experiences where local knowledge genuinely adds value.
It depends on what you want to discover. The Northern São Tomé Tour is a good option for combining coastline, roças and heritage; the Central São Tomé Tour focuses more on the interior, coffee and waterfalls; the East Coast Tour introduces you to some of the island’s most iconic landscapes; and the Southern Beaches and Ilhéu das Rolas are particularly suitable if you are looking for coastline and beaches.
For more specific activities, you can also choose trekking, birdwatching, boat trips or diving.
Many of the excursions currently available are full-day activities lasting around eight hours. Always check the individual tour page, as duration and conditions may vary depending on the activity.
It depends on the excursion. The main road tours may include transport, fuel, an accredited guide, entrance fees, a meal and collection and return within the city.
Some specialist activities have different conditions, so always check the “What is included?” section before booking.
Yes. Several of the main tours can be arranged with an English-speaking guide, as well as in Spanish, Portuguese and French.
You can ask our team about adapting the route to your interests or preparing a bespoke option for your group. Tell us your travel dates, the number of travellers and the places or activities you are interested in so that we can assess the available options.
You can book directly through the individual page for each excursion. You can also contact Privilege Tours by WhatsApp or email if you need to clarify anything before completing your booking.
Once you have completed the process, you will receive the corresponding confirmation by email.
The catalogue on this page focuses mainly on tours and activities on São Tomé Island.
If your trip also includes Príncipe, contact our team with your travel dates to ask about the options available during your stay.
Availability depends on your dates and the activity selected. If your itinerary is already planned, booking in advance allows you to confirm availability and fit your excursions around the rest of your trip.
There are many ways to discover São Tomé: exploring historic roças, walking through tropical vegetation, following the coast to its beaches, sailing to small islets or spending a day birdwatching or discovering the underwater world.
Explore the available excursions, compare the different routes and book online the experience that best suits your trip.
And if you are still unsure which tour to choose, tell us how long you will be staying on the island and what you would like to discover so that we can help you find the most suitable option.
