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The Archipelago of |
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Brought to you by Cape Verde Travel |  |
Sao Tome |
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Island of Principe | |
| The island of Principe is approximately
19km long and 15km wide. It has a population of only 5000 people,
of which 1,500 live in the capital Santo Antonio. It is a green oasis
with some stunning beaches and the interior is extremely rich in flora
and fauna. It is best described as having wild, unspoilt beauty with no advanced tourist infrastructure. In fact, only a small handful of tourists make the journey from Sao Tome to explore this exciting island. The island is less mountainous than its neighbour, Sao Tome, the highest point being Pico de Principe at 948 metres. Unlike Sao Tome, roads and trails are not maintained due to the lack of demand and resources, so the forests have taken over most of the island and roads. This means getting around the island by car is almost impossible and in some cases tricky even on foot. The Airport is situated to the North of the island, just a short drive from the Capital Santo Antonio. Santo Antonio is a very small, pretty town with few amenities, you will not find any souvenir shops – just a few basic supermarkets. The town is steeped in history with many churches and old colonial buildings, some of which have begun to disintegrate due to the corrosive salty air, most evident along the sea-front. The pretty pink and pastel coloured houses add to the slow and relaxed atmosphere. The best way to reach the island is by internal flight from Sao Tome, taking about 50 minutes on a 17 seater twin otter plane. There are a few ships carrying goods between the islands but these are very unreliable, uncomfortable, dirty and are not recommended. Principe has some amazing beaches. Praia Banana was the setting for the Bacardi Rum advert and is the same colour and shape as a Banana. Most of the other beaches are only accessible by boat such as the Bay das Agulhas, thought to be the most stunning beach on the island. Praia das Burros is believed to have been first settled by escaped slaves. Praia Grande attracts turtles to lay their eggs. Villagers along the coast rarely see visitors but are very friendly and will make you feel welcome. Activities on the island include trekking, bird watching, big game fishing, scuba diving or just simply relaxing on one of the many deserted beaches. |
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