São Tomé & Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe are two green points in the Gulf of Guinea, close to the equator. São Tomé city opens with a harbour, cathedral and old cocoa roças that still shape villages and fields. Very soon the road runs to beaches, waterfalls and sharp peaks — above all Pico Cão Grande, a phonolite tower that rises from the forest like an exclamation mark.

West and south on the main island wait Lagoa Azul, Boca do Inferno, Obô National Park and trails that turn to mud after rain. Príncipe, to the north, is smaller and almost entirely a reserve: Baía das Agulhas, Praia Banana, Oquê Pipi waterfall and Roça Sundy. There is no reliable regular ferry between the islands; the short flight is part of the plan, not a luxury.

This destination suits anyone who likes forest, bad roads and cocoa more than a resort. Public transport is thin, rain can close a track in an hour, and a simple room near a roça is worth more than an isolated hotel with no tie to the place. Hire local guides for the parks, do not take seedlings or disturb turtles, and sort the eVisa before you fly — the border does not issue permission on the tarmac.