Santo António

Santo António is the capital of Príncipe and holds around a thousand people, which has it described repeatedly as the smallest capital city in the world, a few streets of low colonial buildings in fading pastel around a square, with a river running through and the forest starting almost immediately behind. The whole island was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2012. Everything on Príncipe is arranged from here.

What you actually see

• The colonial streets - a few blocks of low pastel buildings around the square.
• The scale - around a thousand people in what is called the world's smallest capital.
• The river - the water running through the middle of the town.
• The biosphere designation - the 2012 listing covering the whole island.

When to go

June to September is the drier gravana season. Flights from São Tomé are small and weather-dependent. The island is wet year round.

Honest expectations

There is very little in the town itself and half a day is generous. Flights are small and cancelled in weather. Accommodation on Príncipe is limited and expensive.

Nearby

Banana Beach is south, and Roça Sundy is northwest.