Travel to Sao Tome and Principe

Travel to Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe are two islands in the heart of the Atlantic. This is a real kingdom of nature: pristine beaches, exotic animals and birds, jungles and extinct volcanoes. But there is no entertainment… you don’t look for them. Beach holidays and diving are all about Sao Tome and Principe.

Note: according to allcitypopulation, the population of Sao Tome and Principe is 223,364 (2021).

Sao Tome and Principe is an African island country located in the Gulf of Guinea, 360 km west of the coast of Africa. Geographically, it consists of two main islands, Sao Tome and Principe, separated by 160 km, as well as small rocky islands. The nature of this country has been preserved in its wild, original form: there are virgin beaches, tropical jungles, exotic birds and a rich flora. Snorkeling near the coast, climbing ancient dormant volcanoes and observing the life of birds that are not found anywhere else in the world – these are the best pastimes on the islands.

The capital is Sao Tome. A complete list of cities in the country can be found on the page cities and resorts of Sao Tome and Principe.

Details about when is the best time to come here and what to do on the spot are described on the tours page in Sao Tome and Principe.

How to get to Sao Tome and Principe

The flight to the islands is carried out with two transfers. The most convenient option is on the boards of TAP Portugal, which fly with connections in Lisbon.

Find cheap flights to Sao Tome and Principe

Visa

To visit Sao Tome and Principe, citizens of Russia and the CIS require a visa, which can be obtained online.

Sao Tome and Principe does not have its own diplomatic representation in Russia. The representative functions of this state in our country are performed concurrently by the Russian Embassy in Angola.

Medical travel insurance is not a mandatory item when crossing the border with Sao Tome, but for your own peace of mind, it is better to arrange it in advance online.

Currency of Sao Tome and Principe

The monetary unit of the country is Dobra (STD), in 1 dobra there are 100 centims. Current exchange rate: 1000 STD = 2.48 RUB (1 USD = 23263 STD, 1 EUR = 24472.68 STD).

The climate of Sao Tome and Principe

Equatorial marine, hot and humid. The average temperature in January is +26 °C, in July +23 °C. The wettest month is March, when it rains 8-12 hours a day. The best time to travel is June-September, the rest of the time the islands are hot and quite humid.

See also the current weather forecast for Sao Tome and Principe.

  • Map of Sao Tome and Principe

Entertainment and attractions in Sao Tome and Principe

Attractions. There are many extinct volcanoes in North Sao Tome, some of them exceed 600 m. The coasts are framed by white sandy shores, the coastal waters are very clean and transparent.

One of the best local beaches is located 12 km south of the city. This is Praia das Sete Ondes (“Seven Waves Beach”). A hole in the Boca de Inferno (“Hell’s Mouth”) near the beach is one of the most popular local attractions.

Trinidad is a small town on the island of Sao Tome, which is often used as a starting point for hiking trails around the island. The most interesting among them is the route to the extinct volcano Pico de Sao Tome (2024 m). Not far from the city you can have a beautiful Cascades-San Nicolaus waterfall.

Principe is a very small island, there are very few tourists here. There are no special attractions here, the main local values ​​are spectacular nature, almost absolute silence and a unique underwater world.

Visa for Sao Tome and Principe

The frivolous position of Sao Tome and Principe in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, in a blessed distance from civilization, did not at all affect the requirements for entering the country. Russian tourists need a visa to visit this island nation. Due to the lack of Santom diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation, it can be issued online by attaching additional scanned documents to the questionnaire. Of the features – an amazing “reserve” of a passport – 1 year! A confirmation of the opening of a visa is sent to the applicant’s email address within 7 days, the fee can be paid at the border – it is 50 USD.

Documents for a visa to Sao Tome and Principe

Required documents for obtaining a tourist visa:

  1. Questionnaire

An online form must be filled out.

  1. international passport

A page with personal data, the validity of which should officially be at least 1 year at the time of application (in practice, a visa can be issued even with a shorter passport validity).

  1. Hotel reservation

Hotel booking confirmation for the entire stay.

  1. Medical travel insurance

Sao Tome is not on the list of required documents for a visa, but it is still worth issuing it before departure.

Upon completion of filling out the questionnaire, the system will assign an individual code to the visa application for payment of the fee through the bank. In addition, the fee can be paid at the entrance to the country.

Confirmation of the issuance of a visa is sent to the applicant’s email address specified in the application form within 7 working days from the date of application. It must be printed out and presented along with your passport at the entrance to Sao Tome and Principe.

The visa fee is about 50 USD for adults and 25 USD for children. The validity of the visa is 1 month.

attractions in Sao Tome and Principe