Praia Piscina

Praia Piscina takes its name from the rock pools at one end of it, basins in the volcanic shelf that fill at high water and hold clear calm water once the tide drops, so that swimming there works even when the open sea is rough. The beach itself is pale sand backed by palms on São Tomé's southern coast, one of a run of good beaches along that stretch, and it is quiet outside weekends.

What you actually see

• The rock pools - the natural basins in the volcanic shelf that give the beach its name.
• The pale sand - the beach between the rock and the palms.
• The palm backing - the coconut stand behind the shore.
• The southern coast - the run of beaches along this stretch of the island.

When to go

June to September is the drier gravana season. The pools work best at falling and low tide. Weekends bring local visitors.

Honest expectations

The pools depend on the tide and are covered at high water. Facilities are minimal and a fee is collected at the track. The track down is rough.

Nearby

Praia Jalé is east, and Porto Alegre is southeast.