Journey to the Equator in Sao Tome and Principe

I did the tour in Feb 2026 with 6 others. Our guide was fantastic and went above and beyond to ensure the tour went well and even checked in on a couple of us that had stayed a day longer, even though the tour had ended. Lots of great experiences. I also liked the emphasis on local food.

Hi. I have just returned from an amazing trip to Sao Tome and Principe. The accomodation was excellent, the days were packed with great walks, beautiful beaches, interesting history and stories about the islands. Special thanks goes to Amaru, our fabulous guide who was knowledgeable, fun, interesting and supportive. He looked out for all the group and made us all feel very at home in his islands. Thanks to him and all the MBA team.

This is a gem of a trip and a hugely undiscovered destination. The hiking through untamed jungles was stunning, the food and accommodation much better than expected and it's really full on! Both islands offer culture and scenes that will make you smile - Prìncipe island is the wilder of the two and is super special. Our guide, Amaro, was brilliant, calm and experienced and he really show cased his home. Tips: bring walking poles (you will need them), come with a change of clothes for every day (as nothing will dry) and be prepared for plenty of food from the sea (avoid the snails). Best time for me was when, over the course of one day; I stood on the equator, went tasting in a gin distillary and under the stars I followed newly hatched sea turtles to the start of their ocean journey. As a first time customer I was really impressed with the service I received in the UK and from the local agent, whom we met. It really was a hugely fabulous adventure and I'm so glad I went to such a surreal place.

The trip was incredible, the country is stunningly beautiful; impressive beaches, mountains and forests. A simply amazing experience to visit where it is pretty much unspoiled. The people were super friendly, out guide Hilario was a legend, full of knowledge, and made the trip so much fun! It was such a treat to stand on the equator at Rolas island, and the visit to Príncipe is a must! Food and accommodation were great! If I was going again I would leave the water purification tablets behind, take old clothes and donate them at the end of the trip, beach shoes were really useful, and snacks for the hikes were essential.

The trip was amazing! The country is beautiful; impressive mountains, dense forests and every beach is unique. The people are very enthusiastic and our guide Hilario was knowledgeable and fun! As said before in the reviews; bring clothes that dry quick and I recommend to take (beside walking shoes) sneakers which are waterresistant. Pro tip: bring your snorkle gear! A few of our group didn't, because of previous reviews, but it was really worth it! We saw seastars, cuttle fish, mureens and many other cool fish and coral. Just go on this trip before the whole world discovers how beautiful Sao Tome and Principe are!

Great trip with tropical beaches , interesting interaction with the locals, great guide Hilario enhanced the experience letting us try the fruits, coffee, chocolate and telling us about local life. Accommodation a good mix in stunning surroundings. Interesting walks to waterfalls beaches and a big hill. Luckily we only had 1 day in the tropical rain. The turtles hatching was amazing and we were very lucky. Take old trainers that you don't plan to take home as they get wet and muddy. The temperature is humid but clothes will dry in the sun. Take good insect repellent there are mosquitos but cover up at night and its OK. The trip is s good mix , take time in Principe to walk around the town in the mornings before departure as you get a feel for island life. Get there before it gets spoilt with too many tourists. Enjoy.

Really glad I found and joined this trip. Everything was well organised by the local guides, with a fun group and stunning nature — from beautiful landscapes to endemic wildlife. Travel times between locations were fairly short, though the roads are seriously bumpy (definitely part of the experience). The mix of empty, stunning beaches and hikes was perfect, topped off with amazing food, especially the fresh fish and fruit.

An isolated pair of islands, on the outer fringes of the Nigerian Delta and the South Atlantic, 30 million years ago an array of endemic species arrived.

Very good trip, itinerary and guide.

Fabulous 10 days in this unique eco system. Unspoilt scenery - rain forests & beaches with a few interesting twists to keep each day varied. Great guide (Amaro), welcoming locals. Lots of fresh fish. Very lucky with the weather - hardly any downpours. A little rustic at times but that adds to the non-touristy charm.

If you’re here and have interest in STP, this trip is definitely for you. Couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to explore this wonderful, remote country. We had a lot of people talking about visiting an “undiscovered” country, and while I don’t think it’s completely people-free, it is fascinating to explore a country in its early stages of tourism. I went a little bit early to do some scuba diving on STP, but otherwise this tour covered all the major highlights of the island.

I’m a big history person as well and found the visits to the farms to be painful, but well worth it to understanding colonialism and imperialism in Africa.

Amaro was a great guide, as well. I was lucky in that one afternoon, he brought me to a local village to explore off the itinerary. That was a huge highlight for me. Visiting the farms and this experience were the best opportunities to explore how local lived. More of these could possibly be incorporated.

Other reviews commented on the redundancy of the food, but I found it be super tasty and more than filling. Another thing to keep in mind: your stuff will never dry in the heat and humidity. Our trip had almost perfect weather and it was still challenging to have clean, dry clothes throughout. Bring quick drying everything but rain coats and rain pants might be too much simply based on the excessive humidity. I also kept one outfit completely dry because I didn’t want to be wet on the plane going home, which is possible depending on the weather.

Also, the island does not take MasterCard, so make sure you bring Euros to exchange (or a Visa card, but money exchange is way easier. ) The website only mentions 40 euros for the main guide in tips. But it’s important to bring extra money for other tips. We had a whole different crew in Principe and lots of service people. Dobra are also fine, but make sure to budget for more than 40 euros.

I couldn’t quite give it a perfect score because the second accommodation was a legitimate nightmare. Lots of uninvited wildlife in the room, bungalow, and even the bed. I don’t think this is the normal place that the trip stays, but I hope in the future a different accommodation will be secured. In fact, the Monte Cafe portion was actually something I would maybe even consider cutting as even the hike was underwhelming.

Principe was my absolute favorite — I can’t think of a single thing I’d do differently on Principe. Lots of beach strolls and a challenging, but fulfilling hike. One last thing: it’s important to remember that Africa and Island time exists on this trip — times are very fluid and that needs to be kept in mind.

This was an amazing experience. Even better having shared it with a wonderful group of humans, led by our fantastic guide Hilario.

The coastal landscapes are like nothing I've ever seen, and round every corner there is something even more stunning than before!

I went out feeling a little worried as it had been upgraded in difficulty (it was 'easy' when I booked it!) I'd also read the reviews about spiders in the rooms, and I don't really eat fish. If you have similar concerns, book it anyway!

The hikes do vary in difficulty, and I did find some of them challenging. However, we went at a slow pace (even more so due to the rain/mud) and I'm happy I did them all as they were all uniquely worth it.

The spider which visited me in my room was indeed scary but fortunately Hilario also provides spider removal services!

The restaurants and other places where we ate were very accommodating of my not liking fish, and usually made eggs or chicken for me instead, which was really nice of them.

Echoing the comments from my fellow travellers below, I would make the following recommendations:

• Bring a power bank (electricity was out all night in the Príncipe guesthouse the final night)
• Don't bother with a snorkel, the waves are pretty big on most beaches so jumping around in them is fun but not sure there's much to safely see under them
• It would be eco conscious to bring water purification tablets or a filter bottle but bottled water is widely available if you feel more comfortable with that
• Electrolytes for the hikes, because you will sweat, a lot!
• Bring enough socks and underwear because nothing will ever dry (you can have laundry done there, but it won't be dry when it's returned)
• Take multiple swimwear items, nice to put dry ones on after swimming at a beautiful beach, before hiking to the next beautiful beach
• Don't bother with a coat, you'd sweat so much inside it you'd be wetter than without (and yes we did one hike in quite a lot of rain!)
• Remember to bring enough Euros with you! You can change them as and when into Dobra, but if (like me) you brought a Mastercard with you, can't get any cash out there. Visa only, and limited places to use a card anyway. I spent more than I thought I would, on the four dinners in Príncipe, drinks, snacks, lovely chocolate from both islands. . .

Overall, if you enjoy travelling to unspoilt, authentic locations, this is for you. Don't expect luxury (except on the last night, I'd like to stay there longer please!), but what you lack in comfort is made up for by a truly amazing trip. The lodge in the middle of São Tomé made me a birthday cake which was a lovely touch!

Thanks again Hilario!

This was a great trip to a truly stunning and unique place. There were many times along the way I marvelled at doing things that very few people have or ever will do. Turning up on breathtakingly beautiful but completely empty beaches again and again was incredible. I didn't find the hikes too bad in terms of distance/ups and downs, but they were sometimes challenging due to humidity and slippery terrain (see below). I'm a big seafood fan, so loved the food (and some of the restaurants were ridiculously good).

The group was fantastic and the guides were friendly, helpful and fun.

Recommendations:

• You need good hiking boots - if it rains even a little, it's very slippery on the hikes.
• Take snacks - lunch was sometimes a bit later than expected so snacks needed for an energy boost to get through the hikes.
• The snorkelling was OK but possibly not the best you'll ever do, so a judgement call if you want to lug a snorkel set about.

I couldn't quite give a 5/5 (it would have been 4. 5) due to some things simply not happening. This was no-one's fault and to be expected on this kind of trip, just that the weather and the islands' relaxed/random approach to opening times meant we didn't see everything that was on the itinerary. The weather meant that after a couple of harder hikes, the views were in cloud. We didn't get to experience certain museums, the coffee plantation and the guided walk of the botanical garden. I therefore didn't feel I got to know quite as much about the islands' history, culture and nature as I could have. I learnt most from the visit we did to CACAU in Sao Tome City, which was before the trip started.

Having said that, I absolutely loved the tip and whole heartedly recommend it to any serious adventurers!

The trip truly is an adventure and allows you to experience one of the least visited countries in the world in a way in which really brings the islands to life. The people are friendly, the scenery is stunning and the food fresh and plentiful.

The hiking on this trip varies from relatively easy flat coastal walks to what I would describe as quite challenging, with steep inclines on slippery, narrow paths next to quite significant drop-offs. I would recommend being a confident hiker for this trip, especially if you get caught in the rain – which is very possible even during ‘dry’ season. See Chris’s review and photos below for the state of our footwear after just one hike! I will also echo Claire’s sentiment that having a hiking pole is very helpful – whether it is one you bring from home or one cut at the start of the hike!

Bring old socks and quick-dry clothes – it is very hard to dry anything with the humidity and limited air conditioning / power. I would also recommend hiking / water sandals if you have them – these were so helpful for multiple hikes which switched between water and land on a regular basis. Power banks are also very helpful for charging up phones even when the electricity is off during the night.

I would recommend taking multiple items of swimwear if you are a keen sea swimmer, just for the comfort of being able to put a dry set on under clothing at the start of the day as there are opportunities to get in the water almost every day, be that sea or waterfalls. Since strong waves are common on both islands, do ensure you are comfortable and confident with the sea conditions before entering the water.

Most of the accommodation is basic but comfortable, and most had wifi in the common areas. The food is fresh and generally comprises lots of fish, seafood, rice and bananas. Local beer is available with most meals, and wine can generally be purchased by the bottle for around 10-14 Euros. You should also book the optional chocolate tasting on the final day – so interesting and well worth the small fee (the amount of samples you try more than covers the cost!).

There is not too much to see in terms of wildlife but the scenery more than makes up for it. We did have a fabulous showing by the Mona Monkeys at the mangroves and various eight-legged beasts showed their faces on a few hikes.

Our guide Hilario was excellent and made the trip so much fun. He was always there to lend a helping hand (often literally on some of the steep hikes!) and went out of his way to locate fresh coconuts, passion fruits and cocoa pods for us to eat throughout the trip.

Overall, I would definitely recommend the trip, but do be aware that this is a very rugged and undeveloped country, so road conditions and accommodation may not be what you are used to. You will be scrambling up rocks and sliding down mud paths during the hikes and it is important to accept you will be hot, sweaty and muddy by the end. The final night’s accommodation is a lovely slice of luxury at the end of the fabulous trip.

If you have read this far – stop reading now and go book the trip before the rest of the world cottons on to this unspoilt gem!

I loved every, single moment of this trip. The country itself is wildly beautiful, untouched and rugged. There are hardly any tourists - sometimes I felt like it was only us which was amazing. Our guide, Hilario was absolutely fabulous - fun, knowledgeable, gave us a great insight into the country including its history and the culture, and always looked after us. Food was delicious - I’m not a fish person and I LOVED the fresh fish. Some fancy meals thrown in too as well as delicious picnics. And the people in our group were open minded and up for the adventure which is exactly what you need to thoroughly enjoy this trip.

We got to cover so much across three islands. It’s a brilliant itinerary - the best out there for this amazing country. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Do not hesitate to book!

Some tips:

I was really grateful for my walking sticks - even in the dry season the downhill bits can be slippery. You can get away with just one, but don’t worry, if you don’t bring them, as you can get a stick cut for you en route!

You will be damp/wet/sticky as it’s so humid. Bring only quick drying stuff!

Absolutely zero obligation to do so, but knowing it isn’t a country that’s well off, I reached out to the local tour company to ask whether donations would be helpful (and asked specially what they might need so as to make sure it was relevant). I brought over some bits for the schools, which the local tour company took off my hands early on in the trip to share with a charity to distribute. Like I said - no expectation from MBA or the local tour company, but just sharing in case anyone else wanted to know.

Come ready to adventure and embrace everything this untouched beauty of a country has to offer. It’s so rare to get an experience like this.

This is a fantastic tour, covering the history, culture and scenery of these amazing islands- be one of the few visitors before word gets out. I thoroughly recommend this trip, but be prepared to rough it a little.

We had an amazing guide in Hilario, who helped bring the tour to life and helped us with the inevitable snags along the way (literally, cutting paths through the forest with a machete on occasion). Previous reviews have highlighted the pros and cons so are well worth a read, but here are a few from me:

• the grade of the hikes/walks does vary, from easy to challenging scrambles up and down steep, muddy and rocky paths. All are rewarded with stunning views and an unending succession of deserted, palm tree-lined tropical beaches.
• the standard of the accommodation does vary, so be prepared for cold showers, power outages and iffy wi-fi as well as some six or eight legged visitors.
• the food is all freshly prepared but is largely fish, rice and savoury banana. Some amazing four course meals though.
• the humidity is an issue, from sweaty hikes to clothes that simply won’t dry - and you will get wet! Take quick-dry tops and shorts (and plenty of mosquito repellent), water shoes and decent hiking shoes. Just be prepared to have damp clothes to put on and soggy shoes to put your feet in. C’est la vie!

Insane adventure and our guide Hilario was THE BEST!

A true eye opening trip to an undiscovered gem - get in there before others discover it. This Sao Tome trip mixed a fantastic blend of walking, experiencing a truly beautiful country and meeting some generous, friendly people.

If you haven't signed up - do it now! There is a good mix of difficulty in the daily hikes - some are easy, some are moderate and I'd argue that there are a couple of days where it would test the most experienced hikers (Pico Papagaio comes to mind).

Having read previous reviews, here are mine to add.

• Accommodation is basic apart from the last night (well deserved luxury!) - be prepared to cold showers
• Food is amazing and delicious everywhere, if a little "samey" - diet of fish and rice in the main. In a previous review I read about the pizza shack on Principe - not worth as a visit. Stick to the fish and rice - or better if you feel the need for some different food head to Armazem Restaurante around the corner for some truly unexpectedly great hamburgers! My only other comment on food would be to make sure you stock up your reserves at breakfast time.
• We went during the drier (not dry!) season in July. Things that are NOT needed from the kit list - so don't waste your money or the space in your luggage - were:

• water purification tablets and reuseable water bottle; bottled water is available everywhere
• long sleeve trousers and tops, instead take quick drying gym-type clothes and plenty of tropical strength mosquito spray. I was the only one in the group in a long sleeve top for the whole time and I was suffering with the heat and humidity!
• snorkel not worth it unless your serious. There is enough to look at above the water line to keep you interested. The endless unspoilt and empty tropical, coconut palm fringed beaches will make sure you have something to look at!
• waterproof jacket and trousers - I cannot imagine how hot and sticky it would be to wear these. You want to allow your skin to breathe! The humidity was at times difficult to deal with - on a par with south-east Asia.

Items on the kit list that I would absolutely recommend taking:

• hiking boots (wear then or take them in your hand luggage!). Air Portugal lost my luggage for 5 days so I had to do some of the walks in my trainers - far from ideal and ruined them
• socks; a clean pair for every day you are there, its a little luxury to spoil yourself (and you'll thank me for it)
• water shoes - invaluable! Especially as nothing you wash dries quickly due to the humidity. A good alternative when your hiking boots are sodden
• Quick dry towel. You're constantly in/ out of the ocean so good to dry off each time to give your clothes a chance at staying dry

Our guide Hilario was amazing - so friendly and welcoming with good local knowledge and able to iron out any small problems we had and the local guides in both Sao Tome & on Principe were also great.

The mix of cultural and historic experiences and places mixed in with the hikes made the perfect balance to round the trip and the odd bit of luxury at the end of our time in both Sao Tome & Principe meant that we got a small reward for all our hard working efforts.

Thanks to all for making it such a great experience. I cannot recommend this trip enough. It was truly insane.

Not only was this my first adventure with MBA, but also my first ever solo trip abroad and what an experience! The country is stunning, from the golden sandy beaches, the majority of which were empty and just for ourselves, to the dramatic jungle interior with hidden waterfalls to discover. Seeing the local people smiling and waving as we drove through the villages was something I didn't expect to be a personal highlight but I couldn't help but smile and wave back every time. The hikes themselves I found pretty enjoyable, I'd say the difficulty stated on the website is about right - not particularly demanding in terms of terrain but the humidity does make it that little bit tougher. The hike on the final day was particularly fun, wading through tunnels filled with bats and walking along unguarded bridges to reach an amazing waterfall. We even saw a black cobra along the way.

Amaro, our guide, was amazing. Highly knowledgeable and also very entertaining, he always made us laugh. Special shout-out to the additional drivers too who skillfully got us out of some very muddy spots that we'd have no chance of getting out of if we were driving ourselves!

The group dynamic was great and hearing my fellow travellers’ stories has definitely inspired me to do even more travelling in the future.

My advice for future travellers would be to read everything on the webpage so you fully know what to expect. It massively prepared me so that things like the super bumpy (almost non-existent!) roads, the very basic accommodation, electricity/water cut-outs and the repetitive food (but was still always delicious) didn't faze me at all and even added to the experience. Do also ask questions to your guide about what the next day will entail and what to bring/wear if in any doubt. It turns out shorts are fine for the majority of the hikes as we found out by asking every day!

Overall, a truly amazing adventure that I would love to do all over again if I could. Even if you're a novice solo adventurer like me, as long as you keep an open mind, you'll have the best time here.

Fantastic adventure, Amaro was a great guide, well informed , funny and wonderful company, the places we visited and history of the area were very interesting. Great to stand with one foot in each hemisphere, and spend my 70th there in great company

Sao Tome and Principe is a beautiful country, and this itinerary does a great job of letting you see all sides of it. Beautiful beaches, waterfalls, birds, and some amazing scenery.

Be prepared though that it's very hot and humid, so you'll be sweating a lot on any of the hikes. We didn't get rained on, but given how humid it was I don't think it would have made much difference in how wet I got.

This trip gives you a great overview of São Tomé and Príncipe. As others have said, to liken it to the Galapagos is a bit misleading as there is not much wildlife, however it is a tropical paradise and definitely worth seeing whilst it is so unspoiled by mass tourism. There is a nice balance of strenuous hikes, easier costal hikes, plantation visits and beach chill out time. Our guide Amaro was great and it appears that some of the criticisms in earlier reviews regarding lack of information or food requirements have been addressed and resolved. The food can be very samey but is always fresh and 2 of the restaurants were outstanding. My only criticism would be that the hike on Day 6 was extremely disappointing. It is a real endurance slog up and down some very steep and slippery slopes and with little reward for your efforts. The crater is underwhelming (it just looks like a field surrounded by trees) and there are no views from the top due to the thick vegetation. We didn’t get to visit the botanical gardens or have views of valleys and the Pico as described in the itinerary. Apart from that a great trip.

I am almost tempted not to say how wonderful this trip is and keep it a secret. Wonderful people, prehistoric, Lost World like landscapes and great food. Whats not to love.

Our guide, Amaro, was a mine of information on local history, flora and fauna. As well as safely navigating the roads and guiding us through the jungles. And always with a smile on his face.

It is hard to believe that somewhere as spectacular as Sao Tome and Principe still remains almost unknown - at least to the non Portuguese speaking world.

An incredible destination, very few tourist. We been to many beaches, the interior, and the only people there.

If you're looking to visit a tropical paradise before it becomes commercialised with hotels and Western brands then this is the place to come. Expect to rough it a little, some of the accommodation is a little rustic and at one with nature. Depending upon your fitness level you might find the hiking a bit difficult but it's by no means strenuous. You'll certainly get sweaty! I took some old clothes and threw them away as I wore them. It's difficult to dry anything, as it's very humid. I took plenty of snacks but ate very few and brought most of them home again, and you won't need water purification tablets. The sea has a powerful undertow and the waves are quite large so I didn't do much swimming. Amaro, our ever cheerful guide, did a wonderful job in finding us an alternative flight when the plane we were originally scheduled to fly on to Principe became unserviceable. He also indulged our request to stay longer for cocktails at the luxurious hotel in Sundy on Principe. Expect mosquitoes and plenty of attention from the local populace in outlying villages. Especially the children.

Overall, a great experience.

Truly a remote destination with stunning beaches, pristine forests and very welcoming, respectful people. Short hikes are very manageable, with a couple of more strenuous longer hikes through the jungle. Recommend taking shoes to wear in the water as well as waterproof walking boots due to some rocky beaches / hikes through water. Some beaches had stronger currents so it helps to be a confident swimmer. Food was super fresh, with lots of fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. Really fun trip and Amaro was a great guide - highly recommend!

Hiking was more tough than expected. Had to skip most of the hiking. Our guide was outstanding and found fine alternatives when possible

This trip was the perfect blend of history, geography, and biology all rolled into one immersive experience. We explored the jungles and beaches of São Tomé and Príncipe, learning about the islands’ dark colonial past and the inspiring efforts of local communities to protect their unique wildlife through sustainable tourism. Make no mistake — this is not a relaxing beach holiday. There’s little time for cocktails or lounging if you want to fully experience everything the islands have to offer. What you get instead is unforgettable: from trekking through rainforests and hiking in the crater of an extinct volcano, to and standing on the equator at Rolas Island. The museum and information rooms at Roça Sundy are an absolute must — a fantastic place to learn about the islands’ history and culture. I recommend taking photos of the exhibits, as they provide context for many of the sites you’ll visit during the trip. Personal highlights included watching turtles nest on Praia Inhame, visiting the art gallery at Roça Água-Izé, and seeing nature slowly reclaim old colonial buildings, rusted vehicles, and machinery. I also loved the countless opportunities to sample the islands’ coffee and chocolate from the cooperative farms — make sure to stock up before you leave! There’s a great selection available on the final day and even at the airport shop if you don’t want to carry it during the trip. Walking through villages and having local children take our hands and cheerfully guide us around their communities was one of the most heartwarming parts of the journey - the local people generally were very keen to welcome us. The food was an adventure in itself and best experienced with an open mind. There is a mix of trendy restaurants offering 5 courses of expertly-crafted sample dishes, and homely local restaurants with fresh seafood. I never thought I’d enjoy sea snail, but it ended up being one of the most memorable dishes of the trip. We also had fresh octopus almost every night, caught that day by local spearfishermen we’d seen out in the water earlier. The landscapes are breathtaking, and though the hikes can be exhausting, every one is worth it. Don't miss the "coat man trail" from Praia Jale to Praia Inhame - we did this hike at sunset, after a full week of activity, with a steep vertical climb, but the views were bucket-list worthy. Additional bonus tip: arrive a day early or stay an extra night if you can. I treated myself to a night at Omali Lodge, just a short drive from the STP airport.

Advice for anyone thinking about booking this trip:

1. This trip is best suited for experienced to very-experienced travellers, and anyone who has visited Africa before.
2. Do plenty of research (read the reviews on this website, watch travel vlogs about Sao Tome, and follow @kuatelanon and @authentic_traveling on instagram).
3. If you only speak English - Learn some basic words and phrases in Portuguese as English is not widely-spoken.
4. Pack UV-protect clothing as the equatorial sun is serious and you will need to cover arms and shoulders pretty much all day every day.
5. If you experience mosquito bites frequently, make sure to pack double what you usually use because jungle hikes are in areas with persistent mosquitos and the accomodation does not include mosquito nets. Also pack anti-histamine medication and creams, and pre- and post- malaria exposure medication because medical facilities are few and far between.
6. Plan your flights and pack your luggage assuming that your checked-in luggage may potentially get lost, and pack as if you may fall into mud or water on Day 1 (it happens). Make sure to read the trip information regarding the 15kg limit for the internal flight and bring a spare bag to leave in Sao Tome if neccessary.
7. Itinerary is subject to change even during activities, so I would recommend to pack your backpack for the day assuming all activities will take place - gaiters, waterproofs, a 15L daybag with reef shoes, swimsuit, mask & snorkel, travel towel, etc is advised.
8. Ensure your fitness level is suitable for 5-10hrs intense activity in a challenging environment.
9. If you wear glasses, start trying contact lenses because the humidity will hinder you greatly.
10. It’s important to always check with your guide before taking photos of people — some individuals living in abandoned buildings are experiencing homelessness and prefer not to be photographed, so it’s best to respect their privacy.
11. Pack a durable power bank and a chargeable fan, as the power is not 24/7 in Principe. This was a life-saver for me.
12. If you're keen on wildlife, bring a good camera and pair of travel binoculars because the wildlife is small and elusive - in particular the monkeys at Malanza Mangrove, which are small and furry and look exactly like the coconuts in the trees.

When I first heard about São Tomé and Príncipe I realised that I wanted to get there and see it before it was changed by mass tourism. Of course, I realise that I am part of the beginning of that. I arrived a few days before the trip was to start so that I could 'get my bearings' and see the town itself as that is not a part of the trip. It doesn't actually take long to see Sao Tome. The Cathedral is lovely, the museum(which is the old town fort) has nothing in the way of descriptions or explanations for the, frankly, a bit sad exhibits but is still worth the 50Dbs(2 Euro) entry. What I did enjoy was buying a drink at one of the town centre cafes and sitting watching the world go by. There is such an energy here. The trip itself was excellent but there are issues. I think the most disappointing aspect was that we didn't actually see a great deal of wildlife. I especially was looking forward to seeing turtles, but it seems we were unlucky. Our tour around the mangroves elicited nothing more than some mud skippers and a duck. We did see a pair of monkeys but strangely these were on the roof of a building at one of the guesthouses where we were staying. We saw snakes and the odd parrot in the jungle. The snorkelling was good at two or three places where we did see eels and some sea snakes. One of the most difficult aspects of the trip was really how the organisers rated the difficulty of the hikes. I notice that the trip has recently been changed from an 'Easy' to a 'Moderate' but the difficulty really lies in that some of the hikes are easy and some of them really do necessitate a deal of strength, agility and stamina. To rate all the hikes independently would be far too long winded especially as the difficulty would change with the weather. Some hikes were simply a solid walk in great surroundings with the sounds of the tropical birds all around, others, like Pico Papagaio required a much higher level of fitness. Add to this the fact that some people are much more capable than others and you have a potentially frustrating situation. Something I thought was fantastic was that everyone was willing to share their photographs with everybody else in the group which meant that there was a great mix and some really fabulous photographs that I couldn't have taken myself. Sipson, our guide was enthusiastic even though he was thwarted occasionally. Some of the other drivers were great fun especially Vadu whom everybody seemed to know and who knew everybody. All in all a great trip, but you may need luck to see any wildlife.

Just back and wanted to share a few things that future travelers might find helpful:

• Bring snacks! Packaged snacks aren’t readily available for purchase on the islands, so if you need something to fuel up between meals, bring your own.

• Bottled water is available for purchase, so there’s no need to bring purification tablets—though doing so could help reduce plastic waste.

• Ask questions about your daily itinerary. Don’t assume you’ll be given all the details upfront. On our first hike in Principe, we expected to have lunch at a location where we could buy more water. Instead, we were given packed lunches, but no extra water—and by then, we had already finished our morning supply. On top of that, dietary restrictions weren’t followed, so three of us didn’t have anything to eat and had already gone through our snacks. That first lunch was a bit sad, but we learned to ask for every detail in advance to be better prepared.

• Keep an eye on your group! Our guide was focused on getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible, sometimes leaving people behind—even losing some members at one point. We had to look out for each other and ask our guide to wait when necessary.

• Be prepared for tricky trails. Our guide didn’t offer much advice on navigating the terrain, which could be slippery and often required climbing over fallen trees. We relied on each other for support and guidance. If you’re a less confident hiker, consider finding a buddy.

• Accommodations are basic, as expected, but the second ecolodge had gaps in the floorboards, making it very much "one with nature. " We all had slugs and spiders in our rooms, and one person even had rats! We gave feedback to our guide that future trips might consider alternative lodging options.

• The final lodge is the best one! If you’re thinking about extending your stay, this would be a great place to do so.

• The last-day hike to the waterfall involves wading through knee-deep water in aqueducts—five stretches of tunnels with low ceilings and bats. Bring shorts for this (most other hikes are better in pants due to the brush/vegetation) and shoes that can handle water. One of our group members had hiking shoes designed for water and was way ahead of the rest of us, who had to keep switching shoes.

• Pack light! You’ll mostly need hiking clothes. Save yourself from overpacking and bring just one "normal" outfit for dinners.

• The optional chocolate tour at the end is worth it. It was much more in-depth than I expected and really interesting to see the process firsthand.

That said, I really enjoyed exploring these islands. They are lush and green, and I felt safe walking around the towns alone. The kids eagerly shouted "hola!" every time they saw us, flashing huge grins. The snorkeling was fantastic, which made up for the lack of other wildlife (though, in hindsight, we should have researched that better). The beaches and flora were stunning.

I would have loved for our guide to share more about the culture, but we managed to pull some insights out of him with our questions. To be candid, this trip could use a little finesse to match other MBA trip standards, but I had a fantastic time with an amazing group of people.

And if you think you’ve experienced humidity—just wait until you visit Principe!