Nova Estrela

Nova Estrela lies on the east coast of Príncipe Island and is one of the autonomous region's younger settlements. The name, „New Star“, refers to a cooperative founded in the late 1980s when former plantation workers built up their own village structure. Today, Nova Estrela is best known for its modern fishing cooperative, which uses outrigger canoes (cancos) and small motorized pirogues to catch tuna, wahoo, dorado and flying fish. The cooperative runs a small ice factory and markets part of the catch directly to Santo António and the capital São Tomé. Because the village lies far from artificial light sources, it is regarded as one of the best stargazing spots in the Atlantic, the Milky Way appears here with a clarity that attracts astronomy enthusiasts. The cliffs also offer views of the dramatic uninhabited islets Pedra da Galé, Bom-Bom and Caroço, part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and key seabird nesting grounds.

Nearby cities

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Esperança (Valley)

The Esperança valley is an oasis of tranquility and fertility where life proceeds at a leisurely pace.

Abade

Abade is a fishing village on the northeast coast of Príncipe where the Atlantic rolls ashore with a rare gentleness.

Esperança

Esperança bears the name of hope and is a shining example of the joy of life in the interior of Príncipe.

Abade (North)

The northern part of Abade is a place of wide horizons and maritime freedom where the gaze wanders boundlessly over the Atlantic.

Paciência

Paciência lies on the edge of Príncipe's rainforests, a place where the name says it all and nature's tranquility heals the soul.

Paciência (Upper Village)

The upper village of Paciência lies at the foot of Príncipe's steep mountains, a place of cool mornings and deep silence.

Paciência (Coast)

The coastal part of Paciência is a place of gentle bays and rhythmic sea sounds where time seems to stand still on the golden beaches.

Santo António

Santo António, the charming capital of Príncipe Island, is a town gently nestled on the banks of the Palhota River.

São Joaquim (Forest Edge)

The forest edge of São Joaquim is a place of transition where civilization shakes hands with the dense Obô jungle.

Picão

Picão is a place of colors and dense green hidden in the mountainous hinterland of Príncipe.

Picão (Hills)

The Picão hills are an oasis of green where clouds often gently brush the canopy of the forest giants.

São Joaquim

São Joaquim is a historic hamlet in the heart of Príncipe where ruins of an old Roça tell of the power of time.

Belo Monte

Belo Monte perches on a headland in northeastern Príncipe, offering arguably the most breathtaking view of the entire archipelago.

Belo Monte (Coast)

The coastal part of Belo Monte is a place of dramatic cliffs and azure sea where the Atlantic reveals its full primal force.

Belo Monte (Hinterland)

This part of Belo Monte leads deeper into the untamed interior of Príncipe where the forest giants darken the sky.

History & landmarks

Port of Santo António

The small but vital Port of Santo António is the logistical backbone of Príncipe Island.

Regional Government Palace

The Regional Government Palace in Santo António is the administrative center of the autonomous region of Príncipe.

Santo António Market

The Santo António Market on Príncipe Island is a colorful meeting place where local products from the rainforest and the sea are offered.

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is the religious landmark of Santo António on Príncipe.

Ponta da Mina Lighthouse

The Ponta da Mina Lighthouse is located at the eastern tip of the Santo António Bay on Príncipe.

Eddington Monument

The Eddington Monument at Roça Sundy commemorates the 1919 scientific expedition during which Sir Arthur Eddington proved Einstein's theo…

More places

Roça Infante D. Henrique

This plantation on Príncipe, named after the famous Portuguese prince, stands out for its well-preserved administrative buildings.

Pico Bastião

Pico Bastião is a distinctive geological formation on Príncipe Island.

Príncipe Children's Leisure Center

The children's leisure center in Santo António is the hub for play and education for the children on Príncipe Island.

Logistics Port of Santo António

The logistics port of Santo António is Príncipe Island's only maritime link to the outside world.

Fort of Santo António da Ponta da Mina

This fort was built in the 17th century to protect the bay of Santo António on Príncipe from maritime attacks.

Príncipe Parrot Sanctuary

Deep within the protected biosphere reserve of Príncipe lies a special conservation area for the endemic Príncipe parrot.

Príncipe Rainforest

The Príncipe rainforest is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is considered one of Africa's best-preserved ecosystems.

Pico Papagaio

Pico Papagaio, also called Parrot Mountain, is a prominent, cone-shaped elevation on Príncipe that rises like a green pyramid from the fo…