Arrive at Sao Tome Airport. A single scheduled transfer is included. São Tomé, the capital city of Sao Tome and Príncipe, with a population of around 70,000, feels more like a town than a city. Founded by the Portuguese in 1485, Sao Tome retains much of its colonial architecture, including buildings from the 16th century, such as the Fort of Sao Sebastiao, now home to the National Museum, and the Cathedral of Sao Tome. Time permitting, you may wish to take a stroll to acclimatise and explore the surroundings. This evening, we will dine at a pleasant local restaurant, giving us our first taste of the local cuisine.

This morning, after breakfast, we transfer to Obo National Park. Covering roughly 30% of the total area of São Tomé and Príncipe, Obo National Park is internationally renowned among conservationists for its biologically rich, dense virgin rainforests. The park is home to 700 plant species, many of which are endemic, as well as numerous endemic bird species. Starting from the botanical garden at Bom Sucesso (1,100m), we will embark on a steep climb to Lagoa Amelia (1,483m), a former crater lake now filled with lush vegetation. We will stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Explore the primary forest along the "fugitive trail," an area characterised by bamboo, moss, ancient trees, and wild orchids. After returning to Bom Sucesso, we will transfer back to our accommodation in the capital, São Tomé.

This morning, we travel by 4x4 to Bombaim, a roça on the edge of the forest. We will walk along an old railway track through lush vegetation, passing the ghostly remains of ruined outbuildings, and learning about the area's historical agricultural significance. Our journey continues to Agua Ize, on the eastern coast, one of the original "big five" rocas in the country and the birthplace of Sao Tome and Príncipe's cocoa industry. From here, we will transfer to Sao Joao dos Angolares before settling into our accommodation at Roça Sao Joao, an elegant colonial house overlooking Angolares Bay.

Today, we spend the day exploring the Bay of Angolares. We begin by walking on cobbled roads, then continue along unpaved paths, passing farmers who will introduce us to the micoco leaf and safou, two key ingredients in "calulu," the national dish of Sao Tome and Principe. We will pass through the villages of Soledade and Fraternidade, meeting farmers and locals along the way. You will have the chance to taste equatorial raspberries, sapsap, or jackfruit, the largest tree fruit in the world. Finally, we visit Vale do Carmo, one of the best birdwatching spots on the island, before returning to Sao Joao dos Angolares. We will typically have the opportunity to visit the lively local market and explore the town, with its wooden fishermen’s houses on stilts and fish drying sheds. There is a sandy beach lined with pirogues, where you can take a swim if you wish.

This morning, after breakfast, we set off on a beautiful coastal hike with fantastic views down to the ocean. We will take periodic breaks to swim in sandy coves along the route. We will pass a large waterfall that cascades down to the foot of coconut palms on the seafront. Our route will take us through areas of ferns and sugar cane on the way to the vast Roca Ribeira Peixe, where cocoa, copra, coconut, and palm oil were once produced. We will have time to visit the fascinating Roca Hospital, which features a Greek-inspired pediment! The coastline becomes steeper, and the path leads us into the forest above the sea. The roots and buttresses of unusual trees intertwine, while creepers and ficus climb the basalt rocks, and matabala and coconut palms grow on the hills. From the ridges, stunning views open up over the coast and the islets of Sete Pedras. At Praia Grande, we head up the Rio Caue, where the emblematic sugar loaf of Cau Grande (663 m) rises in the middle of a vast oil palm plantation. We then transfer to Praia Inhame, "the beach at the end of the world," and check into our bungalow accommodation.

This morning, we set out to explore the Malanza River by dugout canoe, home to one of the island's richest ecosystems: the mangrove swamp. This excursion lasts between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the conditions. The canoe allows you to glide gently through the mangroves. A nature reserve protects this unique ecosystem, where many fish and birds come to breed or feed. You may spot egrets, kingfishers, cormorants, nilans, and small Mona monkeys. In the afternoon, a short hike from Porto Alegre will take you through ylang-ylang forests and to the beaches of the island's southern coast.

Spend a relaxing morning on the stunning beach of Praia Inhame, one of the island's main nesting sites for five species of marine turtles. In the late morning, take a boat trip (weather permitting) to explore the wild and uninhabited southwest coast of the island. The first stop is Ilhéu das Rolas, Turtle Dove Island, where a short climb through breadfruit trees and ylang-ylang will lead you to a panoramic and symbolic monument on the Equator line. As you cruise along the coast, you will be treated to views of cliffs overgrown with equatorial vegetation, waterfalls, rocky peaks, and volcanic dikes, offering a spectacle of untouched, wild nature. A stop in São Miguel Cove is a must; with its scattered islets, it is reminiscent of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay. The sailing continues to the fishing village of Neves, where pirogues welcome us. We then settle into our bungalows overlooking Mucumbli Beach, surrounded by lush vegetation. Note: If weather conditions do not permit a return by boat, a road transfer will be arranged.

After visiting the cocoa processing and drying facilities, we will follow a paved path through the plantation to explore the "shade forest" that shelters cocoa trees, breadfruit trees, jackfruit trees, and "prata" bananas. We will visit Roça Generosa, Ponta Figo, and Monteforte, which feature village-style plantations with rumba-sounding gargotes, a sugar cane mill, the remains of a hospital, and a church. We then descend to the fishing village of Neves, passing a beach where you can swim and skirting the coast through banana and coconut plantations. Crossing the Neves River provides a great opportunity to meet locals, as this is where they come to wash their clothes and chat.

Today, we ascend Pico de Sao Tome, a dormant volcano that, at 2,024 metres, is the highest point in Sao Tome and Principe. You will be transferred to Obo National Park, where the ascent takes you through different levels of equatorial vegetation at various altitudes. After passing through the jungle, the intermediate level features a more open forest with tall trunks reaching for the light. Closer to the summit, mosses and epiphytic plants cover the trunks and branches, creating a fantastical atmosphere. You will reach the campsite on the meseta, a small plateau below the summit of Pico de Sao Tome.

Begin the early morning climb to the summit of Pico. As the mist parts, it reveals the lush, forest-covered slopes of the volcano, an ancient landscape that dates back millions of years. After enjoying breakfast back at the campsite, we tackle the descent, which can be quite difficult in places due to potentially slippery sections. Our hike takes us along historic paths once traversed by slaves attempting to escape the plantations and by hunters pursuing wild pigs. Along the way, we are immersed in the rich natural and cultural history of the region. A return transfer brings us back to civilisation for dinner and a well-deserved rest at our seafront eco-lodge, where we will have a little time to relax after today's activities.

Enjoy a relaxing free day today. Relax on the beach or at the lodge.

A final day in Sao Tome. It is likely that your flight will be departing this evening. Enjoy a relaxing morning at the lodge and on the beach before we return to the capital, Sao Tome City. We will continue the exploration we began on the first day of our trip. Places to explore include the colourful market, the fortress of Sao Sebastiao and its small museum, the Cacao Art Centre, and the chocolate factory. A single timed transfer will be arranged in the late afternoon.