Empty highway road in a desert with a mountain in the distance

Sao Tome & Principe

Time Difference: EST + 4 hours   Current Time and Date in Sao Tome and Principe
Currency: Currency Converter  – Sao Tomean Dobra STD
Travel Advisory: State Department Report Sao Tome and Principe

US Embassy in Sao Tome and Principe: libreville.usembassy.gov
Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two archipelagos around the two main islands: São Tomé and Príncipe located about 140 kilometres (87 mi) apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres (155 and 140 mi), respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon. Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. São Tomé, the sizable southern island, is situated just north of the equator. It was named in honor of Saint Thomas by Portuguese explorers who arrived at the island on his feast day. With a population of 163,000 (2010), São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest African country (Seychelles is the smallest African country). It is also the smallest Portuguese-speaking country.

Health: CDC Sao Tome and Principe 
What to pack 
Weather: Sao Tome and Principe Weather
Communications: Dial 011 followed by country code 293

Travel Requirements

  • Passport
  •  Visa is required for all US Passport Holders for stays of up to 90 days, if you are not a US Passport holder; please consult the embassy in your region.
  • Proof of immunization (Yellow Fever)

Diplomatic Missions

Embassy of Sao Tome and Principe Lisbon
Embassy of Sao Tome and Principe in Portugal.

Climate

Warm season: February to April average daily high temperature above 87°F.
Cold season: June to August average daily high temperature below 83°F.
Language: Portuguese

Place of Interest

Ilhéu das Rolas
Ilhéu das Rolas is a small islet straddling the equator off the southern tip of São Tomé. It’s an amazingly beautiful little island, home to the very upscale dive resort, Pestana Equador.

Lagoa Azul
secluded beaches of Praia das Conchas and Praia dos Tamarindos is Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon), which has excellent snorkelling but only a rocky beach. The surrounding giant baobab trees are home to numerous bird species.

Obo Natural Park
Obo National Park  is a national park of São Tomé and Príncipe, covering some 235 km of São Tomé Island in its south and 65 km² of Príncipe Island. The national park is known internationally amongst conservationists for its biologically rich dense virgin rainforests. It is also characterized by a wide range of biotopes, from lowland and mountain forests, to mangroves and savanna area, which contribute to its unique ecosystem. The park includes virgin Atlantic high altitude rainforest and secondary rainforest which contains abandoned plantations.

Boca de Inferno
Boca de Inferno (Hells mouth),  It is a natural phenomenon caused when the waves finds their way in to a narrow ravine that ends in a cave with a hole in the roof. The water is then forced up through the hole and creates a cascade of water that shoots up into the air. It is a very dramatic scene when the big waves hits the black cliffs.