Baía das Agulhas

Baía das Agulhas is a bay on Príncipe's uninhabited southern coast, and the name, bay of needles, refers to the volcanic plugs that rise behind it out of the forest in a row of sharp towers, the eroded cores of old vents left standing when the softer rock around them washed away. There is no road: boats run round the coast from Santo António. The forest behind is among the least disturbed on the island.

The landscape

• The volcanic spires - the eroded plugs rising out of the forest behind the bay.
• The uninhabited coast - the southern shore with no settlement or road.
• The boat approach - the run round the coast from Santo António.
• The intact forest - among the least disturbed woodland on Príncipe.

When to go

June to September is the drier gravana season with calmer seas. Swell cancels boat trips. Cloud often hides the spires.

Practical notes

There is no road and access is by boat, which is cancelled in swell. Cloud frequently obscures the spires. Landing is not always possible.

Nearby

Pico Papagaio is north, and Santo António is northeast.

Key facts