The Details
Belo Monte – Príncipe Collection is a very special luxury hotel in a spectacular setting. This beautifully restored country house is a beautifully converted plantation estate from the colonial era. It’s set in extensive grounds and has an iconic private beach, Praia Banana, made famous by the 1991 Bacardi rum advertisement. You can spend your time relaxing in the gardens or head down to Banana Beach and make use of the hotel’s snorkels and kayaks.
There are a wide range of activities on offer to guests staying at the Belo Monte. With tourism still in its infancy, experiences remain wonderfully authentic. Join local guides on walks through Príncipe’s ancient primary rainforest, snorkel in crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life, or take a boat trip to the island’s remote northern beaches. As evening falls, return to Belo Monte’s dramatic clifftop setting for cocktails on the terrace, watching the sun sink into the Atlantic as bats emerge and dance through the warm tropical twilight.
A particular highlight is a visit to the historic Roça Sundy, where you can discover Príncipe’s celebrated cacao heritage. Watch cacao beans being dried and refined before enjoying a tasting of some of the world’s finest chocolate, produced from the island’s exceptional cocoa.
Príncipe is often referred to as the jewel in the crown of these islands, with an even more remote and exclusive feel than its larger neighbour, São Tomé. Travellers who make the effort to get here are richly rewarded with a lost-world island paradise of pristine rainforest and remarkable natural beauty, a quality that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in today’s world.
