Ethical Travel in São Tomé

Book tours and activities through locally-based operators, not international booking platforms that take a commission and contribute nothing to the island economy. Ask who owns the business, where the guides are from, and where the money goes.

Eat at local restaurants as well as the tourist-facing ones. Use local transport. Buy chocolate and coffee from producers directly, not from airport gift shops stocking imports.

If you are hiring a car, hire from a locally-owned operator who knows the roads and can help you if something goes wrong. International agencies have no presence on the island.

The plantation estates (roças) are not theme parks. Many are still working, or are home to families descended from the workers who built them. Enter with respect. Ask before photographing people. Do not wander into residential areas unannounced.

The history of the roças is complex and painful. The cocoa and sugar wealth of Portugal was built on enslaved and indentured labour here. Understanding that history, rather than aestheticising the ruins, makes for a more honest engagement with the place.

Do not touch sea turtles or encourage them to approach. If you do a turtle watching experience, follow the guide's instructions exactly. Artificial light and noise during nesting disrupts the process and causes females to abort nesting attempts.

Do not remove shells, coral, or any natural material from beaches or reefs. The reefs around São Tomé and Príncipe are in reasonable health compared to much of the world. Keep them that way.

On dolphin and whale watching trips, a reputable operator will maintain safe distances and not chase animals. Our boat tour operates to responsible wildlife watching guidelines.

Ask before photographing people. This is a basic courtesy that is often overlooked in tourist photography, particularly in markets and villages. Most people are happy to be photographed if you ask first.

Photographing children requires particular care. Do not photograph children without the knowledge of a parent or guardian.

The islands are visually extraordinary and there is no shortage of dramatic landscapes, architecture, and wildlife to photograph. The restraint required around people costs nothing and makes a significant difference to how the local community experiences tourism.