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Diogo Vaz
ℹ️Practical info — Diogo Vaz
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Book cocoa plantation tours in advance as they are not always available spontaneously.
- Bring strong insect repellent, especially when exploring the plantations.
- A light rain jacket is useful year-round as short tropical showers are frequent.
- Try raw cocoa beans straight from the tree when guides offer them - a unique experience.
🍽 Food
Right at the Diogo Vaz plantation you can taste their in-house premium chocolate.
Buy fresh papayas and mangoes from small street stalls around the farm.
Ask for the catch of the day at small local eateries near the coast.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
The best place to buy high-quality chocolate and cocoa nibs directly from the producer.
Locals often sell small hand-carved wooden items near the main roads.
In the early morning hours, a guided walk among the cocoa trees is magically peaceful.
Find a quiet spot by the water for relaxing moments after the chocolate tour.
Water temperature…
Diogo Vaz is located in western São Tomé, in the Lembá district, and is one of the most famous cocoa-growing areas in the world. The eponymous roça was founded in the late 19th century during the height of the Portuguese cocoa boom and was named after the explorer Diogo Vaz, who took part in the expedition that first reached São Tomé in 1471. The plantation is now run by a French family who have developed it into a modern, organic, bean-to-bar-certified chocolate manufactory. The beans are fermented, dried and processed on site in a small chocolate factory whose bars are served in top restaurants in Paris, New York and Tokyo. Visitors can tour the plantation, explore the old drying facilities, the chapel and the former plantation manor, and join tastings. The surrounding hills also offer beautiful hikes and a glimpse into the daily life of worker families who have lived here for several generations.
- Location: São Tomé & Príncipe
- Nearby: Generosa (6 km)
- Population: ~632 (2025)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jul–Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
| Rain mm | 125 | 115 | 162 | 176 | 129 | 44 | 23 | 19 | 35 | 100 | 142 | 130 |
Geography
Facts
- Home to one of the island's oldest active cocoa plantations.
- Production site for internationally acclaimed organic chocolate.
- Situated on the scenic northwestern coast in the Lembá District.
- Roça Diogo Vaz spans approximately 400 hectares of cultivated land.
- A significant destination for sustainable agro-tourism.
- Provides employment for hundreds of local residents.
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Sights in the town Diogo Vaz (1)
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