Pestana Equador Ilheu das Rolas

The Tatô programme is intended to protect, preserve and study the population of sea turtles in São Tomé. The four main species are the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). They spawn at night, when the sand is fresher. 

This small monument, erected in 1936, marks a geodesic point on the Equator. It is worth a visit due to its symbolism: with a foot on either side of this imaginary line, you are in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere at the same time.

The Rolas Islet can and must be seen on foot. The Hotel suggests three different paths marked out by colours. The Red Path goes through lookouts, the Equator Landmark and the Praia Café. The Green Path goes up to the Caves, on the other side of the islet. The Blue Path goes inland towards the Lighthouse.

Hundreds of species of colourful fish, bottle-nose and spotted dolphins and, between June and October, humpback, pilot, sperm and killer whales (both real and false). Tropical waters are rich in marine life and the pleasant temperature tempts people to try out deep diving.

The names of the beaches have a rhythm of their own: Café, Tambor, Pesqueira, Pombo, Escada, Santo António and one called Bateria which can only be accessed by boat. Also visit the Caves, where salt water jets attest to the volcanic origin of the island.