ISLAND
With only 16 km long and 8 km wide the Island is very small, and if it weren’t for the numerous peaks that rise all over the south of the Island, it would be very easy to cross from north to south. As it is, the Island can be divided into two halves, precisely because of its difficult geography. In the north are the humanised and populated areas, to the south is the Obo Natural Park. The only urban area is the city of Santo Antonio, where you can find the only proper infrastructures that call for such classification. A fair share of the around 9000 inhabitants of the Island live in the city, and the rest is divided by the smaller villages and the fishing villages spread around the northern half of Principe. Communities have settled by the old farms, the Roças, and live within its walls and buildings.
GENERAL INFORMATION
THE SAINT LOURENÇO FEST - THE FLORIPES ACT
The greatest cultural event of the year is held on August 15 at the start of the Saint Lourenço Fest. The Floripes Act is a street play that is happening all over the city, and that starts as soon as dawn, in a fest of music, colour, and dance. Between the beating of the drums, the sounds of the horns typical of the fest, the groups spread around the villages that surround the city calling everyone to join in the main square at the centre of Santo António, the capital. The Floripes Act is then carried out for three days – in which there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the festive environment that endures all through August in the centre of the city. Dozens of small food & drinks shacks are built in the square and music is played all through the day, and at night the place comes to life. During August almost everyday is a party, and at weekends there are free live concerts with some of the main bands of the sister Island São Tomé coming in to play.
There is a boat connecting Príncipe to São Tomé, without an official schedule, and there are 5 roundtrip flights per week between the two Islands. There aren’t any car rental companies but if you ask around you will find people who do it, both cars and motorbikes. There isn’t a public transport service and the best way is to use the motorbike taxi service that is provided by many young boys, mostly parked in front of the market in town. Asking for a ride on any tar road is common and you will probably manage a lift. There are two of them, one linking the airport to the city and another from the city to Terreiro Velho, on the East side of the Island. All other roads are dirt roads, and only in the north.
The main economic activities are fishing and subsistence agriculture. Cocoa production and tourism are now entering a new phase of development, a quite steep growth is projected for the next years. Malaria seems to be under control, with no registered cases in the last year and there are minimum health care conditions on the Island. Crime rates are almost inexistent and people are very friendly and hospitable. Everyone speaks Portuguese and some form of the native Creole. It is not easy to find a local that speaks good English. There are no international ATM’s but it is possible to get cash from the local Bank if you own a VISA card. Most of the foreign currencies can be exchanged at the Bank or the hotels and even in some supermarkets, as is the case of the Palhota or the Mirario.