Intura Travel

Walking holidays in São Tomé

São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation located in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western coast of Central Africa. Consisting of two main islands, São Tomé and Príncipe, along with several smaller islets, this country is the second smallest in Africa. São Tomé and Príncipe offers an enchanting blend of pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and a rich cultural tapestry.

Culture and Traditions

The culture of São Tomé and Príncipe is a vibrant mix of African, Portuguese, and Creole influences. Portuguese is the official language, reflecting the country’s colonial history, while Forro, Angolar, and Principense are also widely spoken. Music and dance are integral parts of the local culture, and often involve rhythmic drumming and are deeply connected to African roots. Hospitality is a cornerstone of São Toméan culture. Visitors are often greeted warmly and offered local delicacies such as grilled fish, tropical fruits, and the famous "calulu," a stew made with fish or chicken, vegetables, and spices. It is customary to greet people with a handshake and a smile.

Hiking and Weather Conditions

São Tomé and Príncipe offers excellent hiking opportunities, with trails that traverse dense rainforests, volcanic landscapes, and coastal paths. The Obo National Park, covering about 35% of São Tomé, is a hiker's paradise, home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, including endemic bird species, orchids, and towering trees. The Pico Cão Grande, a striking volcanic plug rising 370 meters above the surrounding landscape, is a popular, albeit challenging, hiking destination.

The weather in São Tomé and Príncipe is tropical, characterized by high humidity and temperatures averaging between 24°C (75°F) and 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. The islands experience two main seasons: the wet season from October to May, with heavy rainfall and occasional thunderstorms, and the dry season from June to September, which is more suitable for hiking and outdoor activities.

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Why travel with us ?

Here are 4 very good reasons for booking walking holidays in São Tomé with Intura :

1. Our very own tours

We create and operate all of our waking and cycling holidays. Our itineraries are tried and tested by our team of track finders, who walk the paths and cycle the routes to ensure that you see only the very best. Because we create the tours, we can also tweak them and create a tailor-made holiday, just for you. Choose the duration of nights, the level of walking or cycling that you feel comfortable with, the level of accomdation that you would like and let us know if there are any extras such as wine tasting or a cooking class or a restaurant or two that you wish to include, and we will get back to you with a personalised offer and/or recommendations for any ‘must sees’ and local markets not to be missed !

2. Handpicked local suppliers

We choose our partners based on our core values and it is important to us that we work local. We strive to offer small family-run guest houses on our walking and cycling holidays in São Tomé and avoid the chains. We understand the importance of a decent cup of coffee in the morning and the pleasure at finding home-made jams on the breakfast buffet. The accommodation on our trips is all part of the local experience!

3. High end bikes on your cycling holiday

São Tomé is home to the ‘Tour de São Tomé’ and thus reigns a strong bike culture with superb trails and paths to explore safely. We offer good quality bikes and have been working with our bike supplier for almost 2 decades now. The fleet is renewed regularly and the bikes are expertly maintained. You can choose to hire a hybrid bike, an electric bike or a road bike. The bikes are delivered to your first accommodation and picked up from your final destination. We include a brief for Ebikes, an explanation on how they work. Enjoy a bike tour through Provence, from 3 to 8 days, taking it easy or setting yourself more of a challenge, either way, you will fall in love with São Tomé’s rich and diverse landscape and culture.

4. Reassurance

Although our walking and cycling holidays in São Tomé are self-guided, we do all the groundwork to provide you with excellent, detailed written route notes and up to date GPS files. We book all transfers in advance so you don’t have to and we provide you with a 24/7 emergency telephone number. We are here to answer any questions, put an end to any doubt and assist you in any way we can whilst you are out on the trails.