Paradise does exist, and it’s located about 250 kilometres off the coast of west Africa. The remote two-island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest country in Africa (after Seychelles) and one of the smallest countries in the world. It’s also one of the least-visited countries in the world and is unknown to most people. Let’s be clear: They are missing out. CNN Travel voted São Tomé & Príncipe (often called “São Tomé” or STP for short) one of the 20 best places to visit in 2020, and no wonder.

It’s not only amazingly safe but also truly breathtaking, with soaring volcanic peaks and rich jungle forests that would look right at home in Jurassic Park. They teem with wildlife, incredible birds and endemic plants, including hundreds of species of orchids, that have earned them the nicknames of “Africa’s Eden” and the “African Galapagos”. The entire island of Príncipe is even a designated UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve.

Both islands are fringed by some of the most stunning beaches in the world. Golden or blinding-white sands beckon, many devoid of tourists, while warm, pristine waters offer great snorkelling and fishing, and the chance to see rare sea turtles at certain times of the year.

You can step back in time and visit a roça – one of the islands’ colonial-era plantations. The rich plantation history of STP revolves around coffee and cacao, so it means you’ll get a literal taste of history on these fascinating tours, with shots of caffeine and delectable chocolate.

The islands were uninhabited until Portuguese explorers discovered them in the 15th century and established them as a colonial outpost. Today, São Tomé and Príncipe is distinctively West African, but with an intensely strong Portuguese influence that you’ll feel in everything from the music, culture and customs.

São Tomé and Príncipe is incredibly safe, its people are super-friendly and inviting, it’s an eco-friendly paradise with breathtaking, otherworldly scenery at every turn, and it hasn’t yet succumbed to the pitfalls of overtourism. These tiny, far-flung islands in this unspoiled area of Africa won’t remain hidden for long, so go as soon as you can.

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