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Seychelles

islands of africa

Guide of places to travel

Comoras

Zanzíbar

Santo Tomé y Príncipe

seychelles

Seychelles

It is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa that belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations . It is home to several beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves as well as exotic animals such as the giant Aldabra tortoises. From the set of Seychelles islands, only 33 are inhabited. The islands can be divided into seven groups: Granitic Islands, Northern Coral Islands, Southern Coral Islands, Amirantes Islands, Alphonse Islands, Aldabra Islands and Farquhar Islands. Of the 7 groups, the most important and well-known are the first, and this is where Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles, is located.

How to get to Seychelles

on the island of Mahé, where the Capital is, is the only international airport that receives tourists from all over the world. From EZE, Buenos Aires, Emirates has a daily flight to Dubai, and then has two daily flights to Mahe. Air Seychelles company which flies from Paris, London, Rome and Milan; emirates who flies from Dubai; Qatar Airways from Doha, and Air France from Paris .

Transportation on the islands

Auto: the best option to get around and have your own time is rent a car . Remembering that you have to drive on the left side.

Cab: on the islands of Mahe , Praslyn and the say you will find taxis without problem. Since taxis in Seychelles do not have a meter, it is advisable to agree on the price before making the journey to avoid surprises.

Bus: they are an option for those who have time and patience. Mahe It has an extensive fleet of buses that make numerous tours of the island. It is possible to get to quite a few places but it is not a very fast option and it is usually necessary to make several transfers. Praslin has a fairly complete bus service that stops at some points of interest.

To travel between Mahé and the say the catamaran service is used that makes a small intermediate stop in Praslin. Between Praslin and La Digue the service is more regular, with more frequent departures throughout the day. Another option to travel between Mahé and Praslyn it's by plane with flights regular Air Seychelles.

What to see in Seychelles

Mahe

Its capital is victory , archipelago city has the only airport and international port of the country. With an area of 152 km², it is the largest island in the Seychelles. The island has a land area greater than the total of the rest of the islands, which together add up to 125 km². It is also the most populous island in the archipelago, constituting almost 90% of the total population of Seychelles. Its beaches are paradises with crystal clear waters and soft white sand that are usually deserted. its best beaches they are Anse Intendance, Petite Anse , Bel Ombre Beach and Anse Takamaka Beach.

Praslyn

It is the second largest island in seychelles (38 km²). It is located 44 km northeast of Mahé and has two administrative districts: Baie Sainte-Anne and Grand'Anse (Praslin) . It is known as a tourist destination with many beaches and hotels. It also has tropical forests, with birds like the Seychellois bulbul and his endemic black parrot . The beautiful Nature Reserve Mai Valley (Valée de Mai) is known for the "Coco de Mer" o Double Coconut and the orchids vanilla. The surrounding islands are Curieuse , say it , cousin , Cousin and Aride .

Silhouette

Located 20 kilometers northwest of Mahé, it is the third largest granitic island in the Seychelles. The island has about 200 inhabitants who settle mainly in La Passe. The island is mountainous, with five peaks over 500 meters high; Mont Dauban (740m), Mont-Pot-a-Eau (621m), Gratte Fesse (515m), Mont Corgat (502m), and Mont Cocos Marrons (500m). This makes it the most rugged landscape of the islands.

the say

It is one of the most peaceful, beautiful and pleasant islands in the Seychelles. With an area of 10 square kilometers, La Digue is the fourth largest island in the Seychelles, behind Mahe , Praslyn and Silhouette. Over the years, La Digue established itself as one of the main centers of copra and vanilla production, although today the island relies on tourism as its main source of income.

curieuse

This island of granite origin is relatively small but very special. On curieuse you can see giant tortoises, mangroves and beautiful seabeds. It is a small island of granite origin located north of Praslin Island. In 1979 Curieuse and its surrounding waters were declared a Curieuse National Marine Park in order to protect native fauna. It is currently home to approximately 300 Aldabra Giant Tortoises.

North

It is a small island of granite origin of 2 km² located 5 kilometers north of Silhouette. It was one of the first islands to be discovered in the archipelago. Currently the island hosts a unique private resort with 11 beautiful villas built in 2003 where Important efforts are made to recover the natural flora and maintain the island's endemic species.

Aride

During an exploration in 1770 Aride Island was described as "a heap of rocks covered by some bushes", something that would go on to give it its name. Aride is the northernmost granite island in the Seychelles and offers the chance to see what the islands were like hundreds of years before the arrival of man.

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Comoros

Comoras

It is a small collection of islands off the southeastern coast of Africa with imposing natural beaches with volcanic rock and some active volcanoes. The island is just over 6o km long and 20 km wide. In its central part, the colossal presence of a volcano that exceeds 2,300 meters in height stands out. Its inhabitants are descended from Arab traders, Persian sultans, African slaves and Portuguese pirates. The archipelago is made up of four Grand Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan islands that achieved independence in 1975 and are autonomous under the Union of the Comoros while the fourth Mayotte decided in three plebiscites to maintain its ties with France. The Comorian government considers it part of its territory.

How to get to Comoros

Avion: It is not too difficult to get there from Europe, as there are several flights that operate from Paris. But not from other places. it is easy to arrive due to the few air connections, made by Kenya Airways, Air Madagascar that usually flies a couple of times a week, but without predetermined days or times and some other African airline. The only airport, Prince Said Ibrahim International, is on the main island, Grande Comore, where the country's capital Moroni is located.

Taxis: they are collective and carry passengers until they are full. His destination coincides with the route of the taxi.

Moroni

It is the largest city on the Grand C omoras island and from 1962 his capital . It is located on the west coast of the island and has a port with regular transport to the mainland African , the other islands of the archipelago, as well as to Madagascar and other islands Indian Ocean . It is a timeless place that evokes The Thousand and One Nights. Strolling through its narrow streets, you pass ladies in colorful shawls chatting by battered doorways and grim groups of men in white robes who spend the day playing dominoes. At sunset, the port of Moroni It is one of the most beautiful pictures of the Indian Ocean.

Moheli

It is the smallest, wildest and most interesting of the Comoros with beaches and turquoise waters. In addition, the island has not yet evolved much, which has its positive side since it has an area of 290 km² with a population that does not reach 40,000 inhabitants. Its capital is Fomboni . The majority of the population, as in the rest of the islands of Comoros, belongs to the Comorian ethnic group, a synthesis of the cultures bantu , arab , Malay and Malagasy , and his religion is the Islam sunni

Anjouan

Also called Ndzouani or Nzwani, it is the Comorian island with 424 km² that best fits the typical image of a tropical island . Its capital is Mutsamudu and its population does not exceed 300,000 inhabitants. Known locally as the “pearl of the Comoros”, it is, without a doubt, the most picturesque island in the archipelago, very suitable for fulfilling the fantasy of emulating Robinson Crusoe on a deserted islet.

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Zanzibar

The Zanzibar Archipelago it's a archipelago the Indian Ocean located off the coast of Tanzania , made up of three main islands — Unguja , Pemba and Mafia — and many other small islands. The islands of Unguja and Pemba have formed an independent entity for several centuries ( Sultanate of Zanzibar). and Republic of Zanzibar ), colonized by the United Kingdom ( Zanzibar Protectorate ) or incorporated into Tanzania ( Zanzibar Revolutionary Government ). Mafia Island has always been integrated into mainland Tanzania. Stone Town, the center of Zanzibar City (the capital), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with historic buildings, mosques, and narrow streets. Visitors can also take advantage of the fun scene of parties on the beaches and in bars and nightclubs.

Zanzíbar

How to get to Zanzibar

It can be reached by sea or by air.

Plane or light aircraft: if you can fly by plane it is much better because it goes lower and the trip is beautiful. Prices are very competitive and sometimes even cheaper than the ferry. There are some who make the journey from Dar es Salaam (one of the main cities in Tanzania) to Zanzibar.

Ferry: There are several daily services from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar that link it in 60 minutes.

What to see in Zanzibar

stone town

Zanzibar It is much more than beaches. Its fascinating history influenced by Persians, Arabs, Portuguese, British has almost invariably reached our days. The old part of its capital, Stone Town, was declared a World Heritage Site by the unesco in the year 2000 , being one of the most important cities of culture Swahili . This old city sits on a triangular-shaped peninsula on the west coast of the island and covers an area of 96 ha.

Unguja

It is the largest of the islands that are part of the Zanzibar archipelago. Belongs to the United Republic of Tanzania . It is also known as Zanzibar, which is also the name of its largest city, which often leads to confusion between the archipelago, the island, the city and even the autonomous entity that integrates Tanzania. It is located 50 km south of the island of Pemba , and another 25 km from the African coast. It has an area of 1,666 km² with a length of 83 km and a width of 37 km.

Darajani Market

While Darajani is primarily a foodie's paradise, with plenty of vendors selling fresh ingredients and homemade delicacies, visitors can also find some random items such as new electronics, spare tires, and trendy clothing shipped from abroad. . Travelers should be prepared to haggle for the best price, especially with aromatic spices, one of the best souvenirs of a trip to Zanzibar.

Jozani Chwaka Park

It is a protected area of about 50 km² and is the only Natural Forest Reserve that the island has to offer. this park It has been on the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites since 1997 and has been a Biosphere Reserve since 2016. It has several habitats, including swamp forests, evergreen scrub, mangroves, and a wide variety of wildlife, including sykes (white-collared monkey), red colobus monkeys, wild pigs, antelope, chameleons, and birds.

Kendwa Beach

It is located in the northwest area, so here you will also have a good option to watch the sunset being a southward continuation of Nungwi Beach. It is a beautiful, quiet and wide sandy beach with turquoise waters and a wide range of activities. Popular with tourists and locals mainly for its party atmosphere at night and water sports during the day. You can get there by bus, taxi or car . You can also walk from Nungwi Beach North, at the northern end of the island.

Nungwi Beach

It is the tourist area par excellence. It is located in the north of the island. This beach is very wide, especially at low tide. The Indian Ocean, the sea that washes the coast of Zanzibar, has very high tides. When it goes down, the beach becomes a good place to walk and do activities. It is a very good place if you want to disconnect and focus your vacation on the beach.

Bwenjuu Beach

It is located to the east of the island and unlike the northern beaches, this part of the coast is very quiet, with hardly any tourism.

the beach is in beautiful at high and low tide. But, when there is low tide, bathing is more complicated because you have to walk a lot. Still, if you like authenticity and calm, it's a good choice.

Jambiani Beach

situated to the east, a natural continuation of Bwenjuu Beach, is another good option if you like less crowded beaches. It is a very long beach that joins the Paje area with that of Jambiani. The atmosphere is local. The huge beach of fine golden sand. Another advantage of this area is the possibility of go on excursions and activities which will help you move faster from one place to another

Pongwe Beach

Also located in the east, but further north than the previous beaches. The sand is spectacular and a phenomenon occurs that early the sea is 300 meters from the shore of the beach and then return at 4 pm. there you you'll find with hermit crabs, conches and pieces of coral. It is very quiet to go unnoticed, not at all crowded, ideal to disconnect from a stressed life being a good balance between a quiet but tourist area with fine sand and calm water.

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Madagascar

It is an island nation made up of the largest island of Africa and the fourth largest in the world and numerous small outlying islands, washed by the Indian Ocean and located off the coast of Mozambique in southeastern Africa. It is separated from the mainland by the Mozambican channel . Its isolation from continental lands has caused it to become one of the most peculiar countries in the world. With an extension of 587,100 km² , it could be said that it is the most famous island in Africa, thanks to the animated films of the same name. On June 1960 became independent from France and established itself as a republic.

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How to get to Madagascar

The island has two main international airports. One is Antananarivo, the capital of the country, and it is the one you will surely arrive at. The other is Nosy Be, an island located to the northwest that is a famous beach destination, to the point that many people go directly to this place without visiting the rest of the island. Several airlines fly to the country. Air Madagascar (flag airline, not highly recommended as it often suffers from delays and cancellations), Ethiopian, Air France, Alitalia, Kenya Airways, Turkish, among others. Obviously it will depend a lot from where you start your trip. In case you leave Spain, Turkish offers 5 weekly flights in winter and 3 in summer. From France there are also good connections. From South America, you may want to fly first to South Africa and then to Madagascar

How to get around Madagascar

By plane: it has a very dense network of domestic flights and They are a good option, especially to try to save time when it comes to long transfers. Air Madagascar has flights, through its low cost (Tsaradia) but they are expensive, and often suffer from delays or cancellations.

Train: the railway lines of Madagascar are more reserved for the transport of goods. Only two lines are open for travellers: Fianarantsoa - Manakara on the Fianarantsoa east coast network, and Moramanga - Tamatave in the east.

Taxis-brousse: They are a kind of mini buses that are a very good way to move around the country, widely used by the locals and very cheap that will allow you to learn about the local customs first-hand and travel the country at a slow pace.

Bus: they are in better condition than the brousse but they don't have much difference. There is a category of buses called "cotisse", which are buses but of a better category and express, that do not stop every so often and with your assigned seat.

Rented car or van: this option is usually almost mission impossible. There are not many landlords and the ones that exist They charge very high costs for the risks involved in driving in the country.

What to see in Madagascar

Antananarivo

(Tananarive, in French ) is the capital from Madagascar , as well as from the homonymous province located within the region of Analamanga. It is a noisy city spread over 18 hills, with street markets, a lake and a palace. It has a population of more than 1,500,000 inhabitants, which makes it the most populous city in the country and it is located in the center of the island, about 145 km from the eastern coast, which is the closest. Today it is a modern capital as well as the main administrative, economic, demographic and judicial center of Madagascar.

Itasy

Is a region of center Madagascar . It borders the region of analamanga northeast, Vakinankaratra south and bongolava To the northeast. The capital of the region is Miarinarivo . It is the smallest of the 22 regions in an area with 6,993 km² and it is the most densely populated region after Analamanga. Although it is one of the most populated in the country, it represents a magnificent area of lakes, waterfalls, geysers and truly beautiful landscapes.

Isalo National Park

A paradise of diversity with multiple ecosystems located in the south of the country (approx. 700 km from Tana), where in addition to being able to see the famous Lemurs and other animal species, you can enjoy spectacular landscapes full of rock formations, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and more. It is possible to do trekking trails for half a day, full day, or even 2 or 3 days with camping included.

Avenue of the Baobabs

Or Alley of the Baobabs, is a remarkable group of baobabs of the Adansonia grandidieri species that line a dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of western Madagascar. Its amazing landscape attracts travelers from all over the world, making it one of the most visited places in the region. It has been a center of local conservation efforts.

Tsingy de Bemaraha

Located about 200 kilometers north of Morondava, it is like an enchanted stone forest, with sharp limestone pinnacles that also populate the Ankarana reserve in the north. The park is home to two outstanding geological formations, the Great Tsingy and the Little Tsingy. Together with natural reserve from Tsingy de Bemaraha, the national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tsingys are karst plateaus where groundwater has undermined the elevated highlands.

Island (Nosy) Be

It is a small volcanic island of 312 km² consisting of a main island and an archipelago. It is off the northwest coast of Madagascar, one of the fragments that broke off from the mother island 150 million years ago and the largest in the archipelago, in the Mozambique Channel. With its volcanic origin, it is shaped differently from the rest of the African continent and the other islands of the Indian Ocean with some truly unique views that can be reserved for those who decide to venture inland and see the 11 volcanic lakes populated by crocodiles.

Island (Nosy) Sakatia

Located a short distance from Nosy Be it is the island of orchids A magical island of indescribable beauty, such as the view from the highest peak at sunset, the transparent water of the natural pools under the sacred mountain, full of giant tortoises, or the sound of whales jumping in the sea at night. The island, which is protected as a Nature Reserve by the government, has a mountainous configuration of volcanic origin, between rocks and fertile soil, barely six kilometers long and two kilometers wide. It houses a few hundred inhabitants in three villages.

Salary Bay

It is a bay located in the south of Madagascar, on the shore of a paradisiacal lagoon where you can enjoy the magnificent sunrises and sunsets, bathing in turquoise waters and excursions on foot, by canoe or by boat and discover the seabed, whales, baobabs and dunes of White sand. In this place you will have the feeling that time has stopped: only the sound of the waves, the rocking of the canoes and the song of the birds will accompany you.

(Nosy) Hao Island

It is a picturesque and charming little island off the west-southwest coast that offers white sand beaches and crystal clear aquamarine waters. Also known as Had Island, the atoll has a complex underwater topography of reefs that offer excellent snorkeling due to the wide biodiversity of corals and fish that live there. The locals who live here are either working in the island resort or involved in the fishing trade and they use traditionally built wooden fishing boats.

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Malagasy cuisine

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The food in Madagascar is quite simple. Rice is the base of almost any dish, and it is always served with some kind of meat (chicken, zebu or even river or sea fish) or vegetables. A lot of cereal and legumes in general are consumed, with spices such as pepper, coriander, vanilla and cloves. The gastronomy is a mix between Asian and European, all served in different ways: sometimes roasted or "grilled", and others more like pot or pan food, with some kind of sauce and vegetables all mixed. You can of course also eat on the street, but rather fried, misao, cookies, buns that are sold more for breakfast or snack. Not "elaborate dishes". There are street stalls or bars called Hotelys that also serve the typical food of meat with rice.

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Mauricio

The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation located approximately 2,400 kilometers off the southeastern coast of Africa. With an area of 1,865 km² and 330 km of coastline it is a volcanic island of lagoons and palm fringed beaches with coral reefs lining most of the coastline. Comprised of the main island of Mauritius and other smaller islands, it has become one of the most popular island destinations in Africa. It is known as a plural society where all the ethnic groups present: Hindus, Muslims, Creoles, Chinese and Europeans live in peace. preserving all ancestral cultures. In the cities, architecture buffs will find a unique style that combines influences from the Dutch, English, and French colonization periods, as well as India and Africa.

How to get to Mauritius

Airplane: count with one international Airport on port louis located in the southeast of the island, next to the city of Mahebourg, the main city in the area. The airlines that fly up Mauricio are Air France, with direct flights from Paris and Air Mauritius from Paris or London.

To get from the airport to the hotel, the only way is the taxi . the rates are stipulated and admit very little negotiation, being the price of the transfers depending on the location of the hotel on the island. It must be borne in mind that, despite that the distances are small, the roads are very slow and the journey time can be almost two hours.

What to see in Mauritius

port louis

Built in 1735 is the capital, main port and the largest city of Mauritius. It is surrounded by a 800 meter high mountain range, called the Port Louis Moka Range. During the 1700s, the French had chosen this particular location for international trade due to the shelter provided by the aforementioned mountain range. The city preserves many buildings colonial. One of them is a fortification called Fort Adelaide or La Citadelle, built by the British in 1835. Port Louis is the second most important financial district in all of Africa (behind Johannesburg).

Botanical Garden

The Mauritius Botanical Garden, also known as Pamplemousses Garden and SSR Botanical Garden, is located near Port Louis and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mauritius. It is the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere built in 1767 and covers an area of about 37 hectares. The botanical garden is famous for its giant water lilies, spice garden, and unique collection of 85 varieties of palm trees from Central America, Asia, Africa, and the islands around the Indian Ocean.

Black River Gorges National Park

It's a park which is spread over an area of 6,574 hectares in the mountainous southwestern part of Mauritius. It was built in the Black River Gorges Nature Reserve in Mauritius to save the natural vegetation of the island and make it one of the most important tourist spots in Mauritius. You can walk through the vegetation and reach the highest point of the island, which is the Black River Peak. this park it protects most of the island's remaining rainforest and is home to many species of wild animals and birds.

Grand Bassin

Also known as Ganga Talao, it is a lake located in an isolated mountainous area in the Savanne district, in the heart of Mauritius. It is located about 600 meters above sea level. It is a sacred lake for the Mauritians of Hindu faith and it is said that the water inside the lake communicates with the waters of the holy Ganges of India so the Hindus declared it sacred lake. The Hindu community makes a pilgrimage there every year on the "Great Night of Siva". By the lake is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and other gods including Hanuman and Lakshmi. Overlooking the lake is the Mangal Mahadev statue (Shiva statue) which measures 33 meters, making it the tallest statue in Mauritius.

Ile aux Cerfs Island

Île aux Cerfs Island, known in English as the Deer Island, is an island off the east coast of Mauritius in the Flacq district of around 100 hectares. It is famous for its sandy beaches, its beautiful lagoon and its wide selection of activities and facilities. Today there are no more deer on the island, but you will surely find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Ile aux Aigrettes

It is a small coral island of 25 hectares off the coast of the city of Mahebourg. The island has been declared a nature conservation site and is today being preserved by the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation. Due to the remarkable work done by the Mauritius Wildlife Fund, the island has become an international standard for the protection of natural resources and endangered species. There you can see some of the rarest birds in the world, including the kestrel.

Gabriel Island

Gabriel Island, also known as Îlot Gabriel, is located near Round Island and Flat Island, in the far north of Mauritius, about 10 kilometers north of Cap Malheureux. The distance between Gabriel Island and Flat Island is only 750 meters. The size of the island is 42 hectares and the highest point is 28 meters. It is a protected nature reserve being famous for its beautiful virgin beaches, with crystal clear waters that surround the entire island. It is a very popular dive site, offers excellent dive sites and is the ideal destination for a relaxing day on the beach.

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Mauritian cuisine

The main dishes of Mauritian food are made up of spicy and spicy rice dishes, meats and vegetables prepared in curry, and different fish and seafood.

Tropical fruits such as papaya, mango, coconut, pineapple, lychees and guava complete the varied gastronomic offer such as:

Paratha: handmade flour bread. It is usually stuffed with different vegetables, meat and fish, and it is common that it is served accompanied by different sauces.

Rougaille: Prepared with a local tomato variety known as pommes d'amour “apples of love”, plus onions, herbs, garlic, ginger and peppers. It is usually served with meat and fish.

Dhal Puri: a pancake made with lentil flour filled with a vegetable curry.

Biryani: rice cooked with spices and meat or fish. It is usually served accompanied by cucumber salad.

Gâteau-piment: a savory ring-shaped appetizer prepared with lentils and peppers.

Samoussa: triangular-shaped salty appetizer stuffed with meat and vegetables.

Mine Frit: Stir-fried noodles cooked in a large wok with soy sauce, vegetables and meat.

Vindaye fish: fish marinated in vinegar, mustard, turmeric, onion, garlic, ginger and peppers. It is a meal that is served cold and is usually accompanied with rice.

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Sao Tome and Principe

Santo Tomé y Príncipe

This country of only two islands is located near the Equator, in the center-west of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea, about 250 km from the coast of Gabon. It is the second smallest country in Africa and has very few international connections. Here you will find soft sandy beaches combined with Rugged volcanic coastlines and impressive rock formations. Principe Island, which is the smaller of the two, has an area of 136 km² and is home to to the Principe Peak, located in the south of the island, and which is part of the forest area of the Obo Natural Park. They are covered by a beautiful green jungle with landscapes virgin and exuberant and with a very interesting Portuguese colonial past where mass tourism has not yet arrived

How to get to Sao Tome and Principe

It has very few international air connections only with international flights with Gabon, Ghana, Angola and Portugal to the island of São Tomé. Therefore It only has a connection with Europe through Lisbon, whose Portuguese airline TAP flies several times a week (with a one-hour stopover in Accra, where you don't have to get off the plane) and once a week the local airline STP Airways flies, which also flies flights to Principe Island. To go from the airport to the center of Santo Tomé you have to take a taxi since there is no regular bus.

What to see in Sao Tome and Principe

The capital, São Tomé

It is located on the northeast coast. There you can visit: the presidential palace, or the people's palace, which is the official residence of the president of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe; Avenida Marginal 12 Julho with various buildings from the colonial era of the 19th and 20th centuries that are very beautiful; the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora de Graça, which is the most important Catholic church in the capital; the Mercado Velho and Mercado Novo; the Avenida da Independencia and the Avenida de Conceiçao which are two of the main arteries of the city, where you can find pharmacies, banks, restaurants, etc.

Mount Coffee

La Roça Monte café is one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1858 by Manuel da Costa Pedreida. It is located in a mountainous area at an altitude of 670 meters and is therefore the ideal place to plant coffee. To this day, the Roça Monte Café continues to grow Arabica coffee and cocoa in small quantities and also has a very interesting museum where it explains not only the history of the Roça but everything related to coffee production.

Sao Nicolau Waterfall

In fact, there are several waterfalls throughout the downtown area of Sao Tomé, but the Sao Nicolau waterfall, with a 30-meter drop, is one of the star points in this area. It is well worth a visit as it is very easy to get to and the surroundings are very beautiful, as they are of an impressive green and it gives you the feeling of having been transported to Jurassic Park.

Ôbo Natural Park

It is made up of two areas, one on the island of São Tomé, the largest with an area of 235 km² , and a smaller one on the island of Príncipe with an area of 65 km² . There are several local agencies related to ecotourism that organize treks of up to several days to enter the Obo National Park. A really nice excursion is the route that goes from the Botanical Garden to Lake Amelia.

St. Catarina

This town it is the last which can be reached by road that does not connect to the south because the Obo National Park begins, so you have to return to the north and then to the capital to go down to the south of the island. Just before reaching the town of Santa Catarina, on the way to this end of the road, there is a tunnel that crosses the road, next to the sea and surrounded by palm trees. Just for this image it is worth going down to this point. From this town, the rest is jungle

Praia dos Tamarindos

It is the first beach you find, leaving Santo Tomé about 30 minutes by car. It is very close to Morro Peixe and is difficult to access with the last kilometers horrible coming by a bumpy dirt road. There is a car park very close to the beach.

Blue Lagoon

This beach is beautiful, not only because of its wonderful blue, but also because there are dozens of baobabs from the road to the shore of the beach; a really strange phenomenon. To get there you have to deviate a bit from the main road, but the road is not in bad condition. You can observe the baobabs up close and browse at the stalls where They sell souvenirs. Lagoa Azul is a good point for snorkeling or diving in the north.

Inhame Beach

It is the beach where the Praia Inhame Eco Lodge accommodation is located. The beach is large, paradisiacal and desert-like, beautiful and calm, perfect for bathing.

It is less spectacular than the others. but it also has a lot of charm since it is surrounded by a spectacular tropical jungle.

beach pool

Located to the south of Santo Tomé, it is not easy access but compensates for the terrible state in which the road with the spectacle of nature that it offers and as its name indicates, it is a beach where a kind of pool created by rocks is formed, where the sea, with the force that characterizes it for these areas, filters through the rocks creating small waterfalls.

Jale Beach

It is a huge, virgin beach with only 3 small bungalows at the beginning of it (the Jale Eco Lodge ). It is very nice to spend a night on this beach and enjoy nature, tranquility and the sea. Both on this beach and on Praia Inhame you can see turtles laying their eggs, of course depending on the time of year you travel.

island of rolas

It is a small volcanic island south of the island of Santo Tomé that has something very special: it is practically the center of the world since the equator passes through this island and the Greenwich meridian is very close. Most of its coastline is made up of volcanic rock such as Basalt, so it has few beaches, although some of them are very beautiful, such as Praia Café, with turquoise water, Praia Pesqueira, which is very close to Praia Café, and the praia Bateria, which can only be accessed by sea.

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Gastronomy in São Tomé and Príncipe

It is a very poor country, so most of them eat what nature gives them and basic products that they import like rice or sugar. In São Tomé you have to try all the fish you can, Cherne, Azeite, Barracuda, Vermelho, Bonito, Corvina, Dorada, Bica, Pargo, all of them are going to be fresh and they are cooked on the grill with a very rich dressing. In addition, the octopus or crabs are also a delight. They also have a lot of fruit, coconuts and bananas throughout the year and depending on the time you go you can eat papayas, mangoes, avocados, guavas, pao fruit, passion fruit .

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Boa Vista Island

Isla de Boa Vista

it is island easternmost of 9 islands of the archipelago of the Republic of Cape Verde. It is a sovereign island state of Africa since 1975 with the declaration of independence from Portugal and located in the Atlantic Ocean, in the volcanic archipelago of Cape Verde, about 500 km off the Senegalese coast. It has an area of 630 km² , with a pentagonal shape with about 55 kilometers of white sand and turquoise waters. It is the third largest island in the Cape Verde archipelago, and its large and beautiful beaches are a great attraction for visitors.

How to get to Boa Vista Island

It has the Aristides Pereira International Airport which is the main tourist entrance. located at five kilometers south of the city of Sal Rei the third most important in the archipelago. It has a runway 2,100 meters long and 45 meters wide. Opened in 2007, it is a class 4D airport which makes it possible to get here from many European cities. The island also has a port in the city of Salt King .

What to see in Boa Vista Island

Salt King

It is the capital of the municipality located in the extreme northwest of the island. The city is flat, its streets are made of stones and form a grid. In general it is a quiet town, where most places are within walking distance since the city is not very big. Facing the bay of Sal Rei it is possible to see a small islet with a fort called “Duque de Bragança”, built by the Portuguese in colonial times to protect the bay from pirate attacks.

Estoril Beach

A few steps south of the center of Sal Rei, this beautiful beach that offering turquoise water and white sand makes it the ideal setting for a day off. Some beach bars serve seafood, snacks, and plenty of drinks with tables and lounge chairs on the sand. Several places here rent equipment such as boogie boards, boogie boards, kayaks, and teach surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Cabral Beach

Cabral Beach is a beach on the northwest coast of the island near the town of Sal Rei where there is a hotel and a small group of apartments, as well as a small Jewish cemetery that testifies to the previous presence of a Jewish community on the island. It was the scene of an annual music festival that privileged Cape Verdean musicians and raised awareness to protect the turtles that lay their eggs on the island.

Atalanta Beach

Located in the north of the island of Boavista, it is best known for Cabo de Santa María, where a Spanish merchant ship that gave it its name sank in 1968 on a voyage from Argentina and Brazil. Legend has it that it would be full of gifts for the dictator Franco and his followers. Atalanta's name comes from another ship that disappeared here in 1920 decades ago. While Atalanta is not a swimming beach, it is another windsurfing destination and a place where turtles can lay their eggs between June and September.

Varandinha Beach

Varandinha beach is located in the southwest of the island. It is considered a paradisiacal beach, which is crossed by rocks that divide its wide sand into smaller areas. It is also known for the good conditions it offers for practicing water sports such as surfing. Under the rock formations that exist near the sand there is a natural cave with a view of the sea, known as Bracona. The lack of road connection makes this beach difficult to access, promotes its isolation and contributes to its almost untouched wild atmosphere.

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Gastronomy on the Island of Boa Vista

the typical dish is named cachupa, which is a stew of pork, corn, cassava, carrot and cauliflower (although, like any traditional food, it can contain other vegetables). There is also a variant, rich cap, that has a greater quantity of ingredients, several types of vegetables, banana and chicken meat. the food more Traditional is fish, since with so much sea around, it is what is most abundant .

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Is an island and a municipality of the Republic of Cape Verde which is about 30 kilometers long, and about 12 kilometers wide. In addition, it has a total population close to 50,000 inhabitants and It is one of the main tourist destinations in Cape Verde and the favorite of many. Known for its golden sand beaches, blue waters, and relaxed, secluded atmosphere. Most of the island's hotels are located in Santa Maria, along with the main selection of shops, bars and restaurants with excellent seafood. In addition to relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, surfing, yoga classes, and island tours are offered.

salt island

Isla de Sal

How to get to Sal Island

The International Airport Amílcar Cabral, located to the southwest of the city of Espargos, is the most important of the entire archipelago of Cape Verde. In fact, in its facilities is the main base of operations of the country's airline, the TACV. Although it only has one terminal, it has two levels where there is an operational space, a waiting room, billing areas, arrivals area, shops, banks and passenger service areas. Although it only has four boarding gates, they are more than enough to manage the flow of passengers that its facilities have.

What to see on the Island of Sal

It is dedicated almost exclusively to tourism. Its name is due to the salt industry that emerged between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries. It is a land of wonderful white sand beaches and warm, crystal clear waters, with coral reefs. On the other hand, it has the perfect conditions to practice water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving and fishing. Beyond its volcanic origin, the surface of the island is almost entirely flat and has a warm, dry, tropical climate, which allows tourists to enjoy its beaches 365 days a year.

asparagus

It is the capital of the municipality of salt . It is located around a hill where there is an aviation radar. To the south of the city is the aforementioned Amílcar Cabral International Airport . It is known for its brightly colored houses and friendly people. All the important highways of the island cross it and from here you can go to the city of Santa Maria to the south, Palmeira to the west, Pedra de Lume to the east and Reguinha de Fiura to the north.

Santa Maria Beach

It is the main beach of the island; Its beach is about eight kilometers long, with white sand, surrounded by a magnificent sea that is very faint but equally beautiful, as well as an excellent temperature. El Pontao, which is a small wooden pier where fishermen arrive every morning, splits the beach in two. On the beach itself you will have the option of choosing one of the stalls where you can have lunch or dinner to the rhythm of local music bands.

Salt pans of Pedra de Lume

The Salinas de Pedra de Lume (Unesco), which means “stone of fire”, are located about 5 kilometers from Espargos and about 25 kilometers from Santa María. It is the site of an old salt mine located in the crater of an extinct volcano with salt water that is considered therapeutic. Due to its high concentration of salt in the water, it causes an identical effect to the waters of the Dead Sea.

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Reservá los mejores Paseos y Tours por la Isla de Sal y la Isla Mauricio