Travora
/ São Tomé & Príncipe
The forgotten chocolate islands of the Gulf of Guinea
Two volcanic islands lost in the Atlantic, just a short hop from Gabon. São Tomé and Príncipe is nature at its rawest: deserted beaches, primary rainforest, vertiginous volcanic spires and time-warp cocoa plantations. One of the safest and most peaceful countries in Africa, still untouched by mass tourism. For a Cameroonian traveler, it is a total Lusophone change of scene only two short flights from home.
The visa, step by step
How to apply
Fully online on the official Migration and Borders Service portal (smf.st). Fill in the form, upload a SINGLE PDF combining passport + round-trip ticket + hotel booking, then carefully note the 'Process Number' shown (no email is sent). Track the status online and download the approval letter. The 20 EUR stamp is paid in cash at São Tomé airport.
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 1 year beyond arrival
- Scan of the passport bio page
- Round-trip flight ticket
- Hotel booking for the whole stay
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate
Good to know
- •Combine all documents into one PDF: the form only accepts a single upload
- •Note the Process Number, without it you cannot download the visa
- •The 20 EUR stamp is paid in cash only (euro, US dollar or dobra)
- •Show funds of about 100 EUR/day and an onward ticket on arrival
A one-week budget
Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé
480 000 FCFA–840 000 FCFANo direct flights from Cameroon. Shortest routing: Douala → Libreville (Afrijet, Ethiopian) then Libreville → São Tomé (~1 h, on STP Airways, ASKY, Ethiopian, Afrijet). Budget ~750-900 USD round-trip booking early, more via Accra or in high season.
Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.
Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)
Budget simulator
What to do there
The paradise deserted beaches
White-sand Praia Banana, Praia Jalé (a major turtle-nesting site) or Praia Grande: palm-fringed beaches with turquoise waters, among Africa's best-kept secrets.
Pico Cão Grande
A 663 m volcanic spire bursting out of the primary rainforest in the south of the island, one of the world's most spectacular volcanic necks. Best viewed from the lookout near Praia Grande.
The roças (cocoa plantations)
Former colonial estates, half-majestic and half-swallowed by jungle, with manor houses and period machinery. Guided visit to Roça Agostinho Neto and single-origin chocolate tasting at the source.
Príncipe Island
The smaller island, 60% of which is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve: hidden beaches, waterfalls, forests and marine life in completely untouched nature.
Obô National Park
The dense rainforest of the central highlands, its hiking trails and endemic birds, with the option to climb Pico de São Tomé (2,024 m).
São Tomé city and Ana Chaves Bay
Portuguese colonial architecture, Fort São Sebastião (national museum), the municipal market and the seafront promenade.
One week, day by day
- D1
Arrival in São Tomé, settle in and explore the capital's first streets
- D2
Colonial capital: Fort São Sebastião, municipal market and Ana Chaves Bay
- D3
Highlands: Bom Sucesso garden and Obô National Park
- D4
Southern coast: Pico Cão Grande lookout and Jalé turtle beach
- D5
Day trip to Príncipe Island: Praia Banana and snorkeling
- D6
Northern roças: Roça Agostinho Neto, chocolate tasting and west coast
- D7
Free morning in São Tomé, last shopping and airport transfer
Travel checklist
A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.
Travel checklist — São Tomé-et-Principe
Before you leave
What to pack
Indicative data (June 2026), reliability haute. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.
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