About The Chocolate Islands — a local guide to São Tomé
Welcome to The Chocolate Islands — your guide to São Tomé
The Chocolate Islands is an independent guide to São Tomé and Príncipe. We share practical travel information — where to stay, what to eat, and the main sights. Written locally, it’s here so you can skip the guesswork.
Our Story
The Chocolate Islands came out of frustration with out-of-date guidebooks and recycled advice that didn’t match reality on the ground. We live in São Tomé, and built this guide to share what’s actually useful — where to stay, what to eat, and what’s worth your time. No sales pitch, no copy-paste recycled news — just straight-up information.
Mission and Values
Tourism will shape São Tomé and Príncipe in the years ahead. Our aim is to encourage a kind of travel that doesn’t try to change the islands into something they’re not. The Chocolate Islands exists to share the place as it is — small, slow, and full of character — and to point people towards experiences that keep it that way.
Stay in Touch
The Chocolate Islands is written from São Tomé, with help from friends, neighbours, and small operators who actually make this place what it is. We keep it simple and honest, so you can trust what you read here. As I write this, Bilbo the company dog is staring at a lizard on the wall, dreaming of being quick enough to touch it. My coffee from Johnny’s — the best on the island — is going cold. That’s the pace of things here, and that’s the pace this site is written in.
We’re not a tour company, just people who live here — sharing São Tomé as it is, one page (and one cold coffee) at a time.