Motorbike trips in
São Tomé
São Tomé Motorbike Trips – North and South Road Tours
Looking for a raw, unforgettable way to discover São Tomé? A motorbike trip across this lush, volcanic island is hands-down the most immersive way to experience its wild coastline, hidden rainforests, and remote fishing villages untouched by mass tourism.
You can choose between two incredible coastal motorbike routes:
The North Road from São Tomé to Santa Catarina — a scenic ride past black sand beaches, rugged cliffs, and charming seaside towns like Lagoa Azul and Neves.
The South Road from São Tomé to Porto Alegre and Ilhéu das Rolas, where you’ll pass through dense jungle, the mangroves of Malanza, and the Afro-Portuguese culture hub of São João dos Angolares.
Along either route, don’t be surprised if you’re the only traveler in sight. Stop for a swim in a secluded bay, cast a line into the surf, or grab fresh grilled fish from a roadside shack. Just strap a light rod to your back — fishing on the go is part of the adventure.
These roads aren’t just scenic—they’re soul-shaking. Whether you’re a thrill-seeking rider or just want a deeper connection with São Tomé’s raw beauty, a motorbike trip here is the kind of experience that makes your travel stories legendary.
North Road Motorbike Route São Tomé – Ride to Santa Catarina
Ride slowly up São Tomé’s north coast, stopping at Lagoa Azul for a swim and passing small fishing villages on the way to Neves. Beyond the town, the road narrows to the Santa Catarina tunnel and then ends at a collapsed bridge, where the tarmac is broken and vehicles must turn back. This classic ride from São Tomé city to Santa Catarina is one of the most direct motorbike tours São Tomé offers.
Follow São Tomé’s North Road from the city to Lagoa Azul for a swim, then continue past small fishing villages to Neves. From Neves, the road narrows toward the Santa Catarina tunnel and finishes at a collapsed bridge, where the broken tarmac forces all vehicles to turn back. This straightforward coastal ride is a classic: a direct route from São Tomé city to Santa Catarina with simple, memorable waypoints—Lagoa Azul, Neves, the tunnel, and the collapsed bridge—making it one of the island’s most direct motorbike tours.
Motorbike Hire in São Tomé — €30/day (Helmet Included)
Motorbike hire in São Tomé is available directly through us, with well-maintained and fully insured bikes for €30 per day, helmet included. Pickup is in São Tomé city, making it easy to start longer rides such as the South Road to Porto Alegre or the North Road to Santa Catarina. If you’re planning a motorbike tour in São Tomé, daily hire is the most practical and reliable option. For details or to book, contact Jack on WhatsApp 239 9862552.
North Road Motorbike Tour São Tomé
North Road motorbike tour — São Tomé
Overview
São Tomé motorbike trips on the North Road are one of the island's most accessible and rewarding rides. Leaving the capital, the road first runs inland through Guadalupe, a lively town with small shops and roadside stalls. After this inland stretch the route bends back towards the shoreline, where the scenery shifts from farmland to open views of the Atlantic.
City to Lagoa Azul
The first natural stop is Lagoa Azul, a sheltered bay popular with places for swimming. Many riders pause here before continuing north.
Lagoa Azul to Neves
From Lagoa Azul, the North Road motorbike route in São Tomé follows the coast to Neves, a working fishing town with a port and industrial activity. Neves reflects the rhythm of daily island life and makes a natural midpoint on the ride.
Neves to Santa Catarina (end of road)
Beyond Neves, the ride becomes quieter. Villages thin out, and the scenery grows wilder, with palm groves and sections of volcanic rock along the roadside. This final stretch increasingly remote as the ocean draws feels closer.
The road ends at Santa Catarina, where a tunnel and a ruined bridge mark the final point accessible by motorbike. The tarmac stops abruptly here, and riders must slow down and stop before the broken crossing. Many treat this as a striking turnaround point — a reminder of São Tomé's rugged geography and the limits of the road network.
Although the North Road is not long, it remains a classic motorbike tour in São Tomé. The round trip can be completed comfortably in a single day, with time for a swim at Lagoa Azul, a pause in Neves, and a careful ride to the ruined bridge at Santa Catarina before returning to the city
North Road — practical notes
Leaving São Tomé city, the road passes Morro Peixe and reaches Lagoa Azul, a calm bay popular for swimming and snorkelling. On weekends, families gather under the baobabs while fishermen haul their catch — an easy first break 30–40 minutes into the ride from São Tomé city to Santa Catarina.
Continue to Guadalupe, where informal petrol is often sold in glass bottles by the roadside. Seasonal fruit stalls are common — bananas, papaya, and whatever is ripe — and they're part of the rhythm of rural travel here.
Beyond Guadalupe lies Neves, a working port town with the island's brewery and simple Santola crab restaurants. Many riders stop here to eat before pressing on.
After Neves the traffic thins and the surface grows rougher. Palms hang over the tarmac and waves hit the black rock below. The last landmark is the Santa Catarina tunnel, cut through the cliff. Just beyond stands the collapsed bridge where the road stops completely. This is the turnaround point. Warning: the bridge is broken and unsafe to cross; riders unfamiliar with the area are sometimes caught out when the road ends suddenly.
South Road Motorbike Tour São Tomé
São Tomé’s South Road motorbike tour runs from the capital to the island’s southern edge, passing fishing villages where petrol is still sold in bottles and where Forro and Angolar are heard alongside Portuguese. The road ends at Porto Alegre; from nearby Ponta Baleia, small boats cross to Ilhéu das Rolas and the Equator monument marking the divide between north and south. You may be lucky enough to see some wildlife along the way.
South Road motorbike tour — São Tomé
Overview
The South Road motorbike tour São Tomé is the island's longest and most varied ride, running from the capital to the far south. Riders leave São Tomé city through farmland and plantations, passing villages where petrol is sold in bottles and conversations mix Forro and Angolar alongside Portuguese. The route bends through São João dos Angolares, the main settlement on the east coast, before continuing south into quieter country.
From Angolares to Porto Alegre
From Angolares, the road becomes increasingly remote. The traffic drops away, villages are smaller, and stretches of forest and cultivated land frame the road. Eventually the asphalt ends at Porto Alegre, a poor fishing community in a mangrove setting. This is not a resort but a working settlement, where wooden boats line the shore.
Ponta Baleia & Ilhéu das Rolas
A short distance further is Ponta Baleia, where small boats cross to Ilhéu das Rolas. The island is best known for the Equator monument, which marks the divide between north and south. For most riders, Porto Alegre and Ponta Baleia are the natural finishing points of the South Road.
Beyond Porto Alegre (tracks only)
Beyond Porto Alegre, however, rough and unsealed tracks continue via Nguembu toward Praia Pescaña, and further to Praia Inhame and Praia Piscina. These tracks are slow, demanding, and poorly maintained, suitable only for confident riders with off-road experience. Attempting them requires caution and extra time, but they offer access to some of the island's most secluded beaches.
Plan for a full day
Travelers should allow a full day for the South Road motorbike tour. It is not a quick ride, but a journey through São Tomé's contrasts: farmland, plantations, rainforest, fishing villages, mangroves, and finally the crossing to the Equator itself.
Safety notice
The South Road ends in Porto Alegre. Beyond, only rough and unsealed tracks continue to Praia Pescaña and further beaches. These are slow and demanding and should only be attempted by experienced riders.