Overview

Sao Tome and Principe Plantation Escape

Some holidays, as soon as you arrive, you know immediately that you’re going to find it very hard to leave again. Our Principe Plantation Escape will give you that feeling.

After your first night in Sao Tome, you fly out to Principe where, tucked away between the rainforest and pristine beaches, you stay for 7 nights at Roca Sundy, a beautifully restored cacao plantation house.

Roca Sundy never feels crowded and you can truly escape from the real world. Relax on your balcony overlooking the square, where the villagers still gather for a chat or a game of football. It’s also a great spot if you want to mix and mingle with the locals and are keen to learn more about their way of life, and about the history of Roca Sundy.

There’s an experience included every day on Principe – and there are plenty of others to choose from ranging from bird-watching to cookery courses to guided walks and boat/snorkelling trips. Water activities are taken at nearby Sundy Praia, which is the Roca’s sister property.

 

Itinerary

Depart Heathrow and fly to Lisbon where you will stay for one night at the Tryp hotel which is within walking distance of the airport.
This morning you'll fly to Sao Tome. On arrival you will be met by your driver for your transfer to Omali Lodge, where you will be staying for the night tonight.
Transfer to the airport and fly to Principe. On arrival you will be met by your driver and transferred to the Hotel Roca Sundy. We've suggested that you stay in the Plantation House in a room with panoramic views. You can speak with the hospitality and activity teams on arrival about what you'd like to do this week and they will make a plan appropriate for you. Dinner is included at the Roca Sundy.
You can choose from a range of guided and unguided experiences this week, with one per day. Some experiences are extra but you can settle the difference whilst you're there, directly with the hotel. Today you might like to take a guided walk to Montalegre Waterfall. On this 3-hour guided trek, you'll follow a hiking trail through the rainforest to the abandoned plantation house of Montalegre. Here you can enjoy a refreshing dip in one of the island's most beautiful waterfalls, so don't forget your towel and swimwear!
Perhaps you'd like to take a 3-hour Plantation tour of Roca Pacienca, where you can learn about the secrets of organic farming. You can visit the gardens, where aromatic herbs and medicinal plants grow, and smell the different aromas and flavours of the island. Here you can also see how flavoursome jams are made, as well as tropical muesli and beauty products.
A great way to discover the island is by seeing the island through a local person's eyes, which is why we recommend the Principe Island Explorer tour. On this 6-hour trip you will learn more about the island culture and take in the marvellous scenery, whilst you are being driven around. You will visit the charming small capital of San Antonia and enjoy a traditionally-cooked meal like a real Principe (Prince in Portuguese).
Maybe today you could take a bird-watching trip to find the colourful endemic birds of Principe island. The tour is around three hours - you'll be provided with binoculars, can you spot the birds quicker than your guide...?
You could spend the day relaxing and, later on, join a turtle watching trip. Sea turtles generally lay their eggs between September and April and your guide can tell you all about the conservation of this threatened species. If luck is on your side, you may even witness a female laying her eggs or young turtles being hatched.
Perhaps join a boat trip around the northern shore, exploring deserted tropical beaches.
Time catches up with you even on Principe, and this morning it will be time to transfer to the airport for your flight back to Sao Tome. On arrival you will be met by your driver for your transfer to Omali Lodge where you will stay for your last night.
Free day until it's time for your late-afternoon transfer to the airport. Depart and fly on an overnight flight via Lisbon back home.

Guide price £3,650 per person

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

INCLUDED: * International flights from the UK and inter-island flights * Accommodation in Sao Tome and Principe in twin share, en-suite rooms on a half board basis * Only the Tryp hotel in Lisbon is on B&B basis * Return airport transfers Sao Tome and Principe * Guided excursions as detailed in the itinerary * Support from our local team when in the islands * EXCLUDED: Meals not specified above and insurance. Additional excursions on free days.