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|  | SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE ISLANDS COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | São Tomé e Príncipe comprises two main islands (Saõ Tomé and Príncipe) and the islets Cabras, Gago Coutinho, Pedras Tinhosas and Rolas. These lie approximately 200km (120 miles) off the west coast of Gabon, in the Gulf of Guinea. The country is rugged and has a great deal of forest cover and few natural resources. The islands lie on an alignment of once-active volcanoes, with rugged landscapes, dense forests and virgin, palm-fringed beaches. These islands provide unspoiled beauty and isolation from the world now rarely found anywhere else. The history of the islands is dominated by the slave trade and slave-worked plantations. The town of São Tomé is picturesque, with colonial Portuguese architecture and attractive parks. There are several restaurants in the capital. Reservations are nearly always required, not for lack of space but to allow the proprietor to obtain sufficient food in advance. Grilled fish and chicken are popular. Most dishes are highly spiced. Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy. 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995. This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but strengthening prices helped boost export earnings in 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, but lacking a formal poverty reduction program with the IMF, it has not benefited from subsequent HIPC debt reductions. Sao Tome's external debt stands at over $300 million. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. Sao Tome is optimistic about the development of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea. The first production license was sold to a consortium led by US-based oil firms. Much of the 2005 budget is dependent upon the sale of additional production licenses. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | The islands lie on an alignment of dormant volcanoes, with rugged landscapes, dense forests and virgin, palm-fringed beaches. Still almost totally undiscovered by the tourist trade, indeed only open to tourists since 1987, these islands provide unspoiled beauty and isolation from the world now rarely found anywhere else. The history of the islands is dominated by the slave trade and slave-worked plantations. These plantations, now mostly nationalised, still remain a major feature of the landscape.
São Tomé
The island of São Tomé, with its capital of the same name, represents 90 per cent of the total surface of the country. São Tomé is a picturesque town, with colonial Portuguese architecture and attractive parks. There are a number of roças (cocoa plantations) on the island that are worth visiting: Agostinho Neto, the largest plantation in the country, is a clear example of São Tomé's colonial past; other roças are Monté Café, Ribeira Peixe and Agua Izé, where visitors can tour the plantation by train. Other attractions on the island include the Boca de Inferno (Hell's Mouth), a sea water fountain several metres high; the Cascada São Nicolãu waterfall near Pousada Boa Vista; the Ilheu da Rolas (Turtledove Island), a small island off São Tomé crossed by the equator; the Pico de São Tomé, the highest mountain in the archipelago (2024m/6800ft); the Porto Alegre, on the southern tip of the island; the ancient fishing town of São João dos Angolares; and the fortress of São Sebastião, which also houses a museum with a collection of religious and colonial art.
Príncipe
The small island of Príncipe is located 150km (94 miles) from São Tomé and its main town is Santo Antonio, which has preserved a distinctive colonial architecture and atmosphere. Dominated by two cocoa plantations, additional attractions for visitors are the Ilheu Bom Bom, a tiny island situated off Príncipe's northern coast, where one of the country's few tourist resorts is located; and the Pico de Principe, the island's summit (948m/3128ft). | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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