This Island Has 27°C Temperatures in December But Almost No Tourists

This tropical island sits approximately 250 kilometers off the northwestern coast of Gabon as Africa’s second-smallest nation. The islands lack major resort development or cruise ship terminals. Instead, visitors find two volcanic islands with limited but adequate infrastructure designed around sustainable tourism principles.

Current tourism numbers remain deliberately low. The government has prioritized environmental protection over rapid tourism expansion, particularly on Príncipe Island where UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status restricts development.

December Weather That Defeats Winter Blues

December ranks among São Tomé’s finest months for weather conditions. Temperatures stay consistent between 26-28°C with cooling Atlantic trade winds. The dry season reduces rainfall compared to wet months, though brief afternoon showers still occur regularly.

Ocean temperatures maintain warmth around 25°C year-round. The islands sit outside Atlantic hurricane paths, ensuring stable weather patterns throughout December. Clear skies are common, though tropical clouds can develop in mountainous interior regions.

Beaches Where Solitude Still Exists

Praia Banana on Príncipe Island features a curved coastline with fine sand and calm waters. The beach has minimal development beyond occasional local vendors. This pristine stretch represents what tropical beaches offered before mass tourism development.

Praia Jalé serves as an important sea turtle nesting site between October and February. Leatherback and olive ridley turtles use this beach for egg-laying during nesting season. Local conservation groups monitor turtle activity and offer guided viewing opportunities.

Praia das Conchas provides excellent shell collecting opportunities along its western-facing shoreline. The beach offers unobstructed sunset views with no hotel or resort construction blocking ocean vistas. Natural volcanic activity has created unique black sand areas mixed with traditional golden sand.

Chocolate Paradise Beyond Tourist Trails

São Tomé’s cacao heritage runs deeper than most visitors realize. Plantation houses scattered across both islands tell stories of colonial history while serving as windows into sustainable agriculture practices.

Roça São João operates as both working plantation and cultural center, where visitors can walk through groves where cacao pods hang like ornaments from ancient trees. Claudio Corallo represents artisanal chocolate making at its finest. This Italian chocolatier moved to São Tomé decades ago and now produces some of Africa’s most prized chocolate using only local beans.

Many abandoned plantations create an almost mystical atmosphere. Roça Bombaim and Roça Água Izé stand partially reclaimed by jungle, their colonial-era buildings draped in vines while cacao trees continue producing wild chocolate in forgotten groves.

Adventures Beyond the Beach

Pico Cão Grande rises 663 meters above sea level within Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé, creating one of Africa’s most striking geological landmarks. This needle-shaped volcanic plug pierces the sky like an ancient monument to volcanic power.

Getting close requires hiking through dense rainforest with a local guide. The trail winds through groves of giant ferns and endemic orchids that exist nowhere else on Earth.

Obo National Park covers a third of São Tomé with virgin rainforest and over 100 unique orchids. Birdwatchers consider these islands comparable to the Galápagos for endemic species. The park hosts 230 bird species, with 28 found nowhere else.

Where to Stay Without Compromising Paradise

Omali Lodge occupies tropical gardens on São Tomé’s outskirts, offering 30 rooms in pastel blue stone buildings with views of gardens and pool. The property features the island’s only tennis courts and serves breakfasts with local fruits.

Bom Bom Island Resort sits on a tiny, forest-clad islet off Príncipe’s northern side, connected by a 140-meter wooden walkway. The 19 spacious bungalows include air conditioning and private verandas.

Roça Sundy transforms a historic plantation into an eco-retreat on Príncipe, where guests sleep in restored colonial buildings surrounded by rainforest.

Getting There: Current Travel Logistics

Flight Connections: TAP Air Portugal operates direct flights from Lisbon to São Tomé International Airport. Additional connections are available via Accra with TAP Air Portugal, and through Luanda with TAAG Airlines. Recent searches show fares starting around $322.

Visa Requirements: Visitors can enter for tourism up to 15 days without a visa. You must pay a 20-euro entry fee upon arrival. Yellow fever vaccination proof is required when arriving from affected countries.

Local Transportation: São Tomé relies on road infrastructure with buses and taxis available. Car rental provides flexibility for exploring, though roads can be challenging during rainy season.

Currency: The São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra serves as official currency, though euros are widely accepted. Portuguese is the official language, with English spoken at tourist businesses.

Why December 2025 Represents Perfect Timing

Tourism infrastructure continues developing thoughtfully rather than explosively. New flight connections make access easier while visitor numbers remain manageable. Conservation efforts on Príncipe Island ensure protection of unique ecosystems while creating opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange.

December 2025 offers something increasingly rare in tropical travel: genuine discovery without guilt. Your presence supports local communities directly through small-scale lodges and family-run restaurants. You’ll experience African island culture without the filter of mass tourism infrastructure.

São Tomé and Príncipe represents what tropical travel used to be before airports filled with crowds and beaches lined with resorts. It’s not just warm weather in December it’s a chance to experience paradise as it was meant to be. And if you’re looking for even more off-the-radar Christmas escapes, check out our feature on 10 Places in Africa Where You Can Spend Christmas on the Beach, including Anakao, Madagascar – a remote treasure still untouched by mass tourism.