Sundy Praia Lodge

Hidden away 130 miles off the coast of West Africa, Sundy Praia is a tented luxury hotel at the wild northwest tip of the island of Principe.

At Sundy Praia, you can lose all sense of time. Awaking to the chatter of forest parrots, you will readjust to nature’s clock, perhaps practicing yoga in the morning sun, relaxing on the beach in the afternoon, dining beneath a sea of stars, before drifting off at night to the lullaby of sea on sand.

A place of gentle rhythms and sensuous fragrances, of whales and turtles, forest hikes and cooling swims, it is a place to awaken the senses and free the mind, warmed by the sand between your toes.

Imagine journeying by boat across a mosaic of warm, cobalt shallows. Imagine stepping from the boat onto a deserted beach, the sand warm between your toes, the breeze stirring in the trees. Imagine this is your wedding, the place you get to say ‘I do’. Imagine.

TENTED VILLAS
Merging seamlessly with their forest surrounds, our 15 tented-villas lie hidden among a scattering of tropical almond and banana trees, each gazing down to the sea. Once part of the second largest cocoa plantation on Principe, this leafy sanctuary exists in perfect harmony with its forest surrounds.

The scent of tropical flowers lies rich and heavy on the air, the lush forest canopy is alive with the chatter of parrots and weavers, kingfishers and monkeys. Beyond the beaches, where turtles sometimes come ashore to nest, humpback whales are a common summer sight, drawn with their calves to the warm, sheltered waters of the bay.

DINING
Principe is blessed with an abundance of natural produce, its forests filled with fruit and nuts, its waters brimming with tuna and Wahoo. Inspired by this natural larder, our international chefs refine the best of the island’s produce and traditions, creating seasonal menus bursting with original flavours and fresh, organic ingredients.

THE RESTAURANT
Inspired by the natural riches on the doorstep – tuna and wahoo, passion fruit and pineapple, herbs and spices from our organic plantation farm – our chef adapts local traditions and tastes to create refined, delicate dishes, with wines carefully selected to complement his flavours.

DINE IN THE DARK
The ultimate in romantic fine-dining, with our chef showcasing his best signature dishes in a sumptuous tasting menu, paired with wines that perfectly complement his refined use of flavors. After dinner, guests will be take back by buggy to their tented-villa – or on to the Pool Bar if they prefer, for a nightcap or two beneath the moon.

DISCOVER SUNDY PRAIA
‘Leve leve,’ the people on Principe will tell you. ‘Slowly, slowly’. And that’s exactly what most guests at Sundy Praia do, slowing to the rhythms of sea on sand, soaking up the sun from beach or pool.

SUSTAINABILITY
Lying in perfect isolation some 130 miles off the West African coast, Principe’s forests shelter an abundance of endemic birds and plants, reptiles and amphibians – little wonder the island is sometimes referred to as Africa’s Galapagos.

But this is no desert island: Principe has its people, too, living in the colourful main town, São Antonio, or scattered in pretty fishing villages along the coast.

Our goal is to maintain and build harmony between the people and their island, and Sundy Praia is a vital part of that goal, providing a model of sustainable, responsible tourism, with the people of Principe involved at its core.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We believe that the people of Principe hold the key to the sustainable and responsible development of this remarkable island, as well as to the conservation of its precious biodiversity.

Community engagement, therefore, is absolutely vital. At Sunday Praia, nearly 60 percent of our staff come from the island itself, and the remaining 40 percent from São Tomé, while the oils and creams in your room are all produced by locals at the organic farm we have established at Paciencia.

Similarly, most of the food at Sundy Praia has been sourced from products grown and harvested on the island, with many of chef Angelo’s herbs picked from an experimental herb garden we’ve cultivated at Paciencia.

EXPERIENCES
Sundy Praia is a sustainable tourism project that provides unique experiences through interaction with the local community, allowing guests to discover the extraordinary qualities of Príncipe Island through the practice of responsible tourism.

4X4 EXPERIENCE • EXPLORE THE SOUTH
This excursion will take you around the South of Príncipe Island, beginning with the traditional fishing village of Praia Abade. There’s a stop at the Nova Estrela (New Star) Viewing Point to enjoy a panoramic view of the Ilhéu Boné de Jóquei (Jockey Cap Island), followed by the Terreiro Velho Viewing Point with its spectacular view of the national park to the east, and São Joaquim, to the west.

4X4 EXPERIENCE • PLANTATIONS TOUR
Learn all about the secrets of organic farming at the plantation house, Roça Paciência. Savour the different aromas and tastes of Príncipe Island’s aromatic herbs and medicinal plants, visit the gardens and see how the products are transformed into delicious jams, tropical muesli, toiletries and beauty products.

4X4 EXPERIENCE • EXPLORE PRINCIPE
This is a great way of getting to know the island’s culture and outstanding scenery in a single day. It includes a visit to the smallest capital in the world, and its loveliest corners.

You’ll also be able to observe close up some of the secrets of our organic farming and experience different aromas and tastes, as well as enjoying a marvellous traditional local meal. Come and be a Principiano for a day.

SPAWING AND HATCHING OF SEA TURTLES
This trip consists in accompanying the monitoring of female sea turtles about to lay their eggs on the beaches of Principe Island, between September and April. You’ll get to learn about sea turtles and the conservation of this threatened species. Without a doubt, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

BOAT TRIPS • BAY OF NEEDLES
Enjoy some of the most spectacular views of the west side of the National Park, seen from the sea. Baía das Agulhas, so called because so called because of the phonolite towers rising up out of the skyline, is one of the most sheltered spots on the edge of the National Park. It will give you some tranquil moments, surrounded by nature in its purest state.

BIOSPHERE TRAILS • SANTA JOAQUINA
Visit the largest Roça (Plantation House) on Príncipe Island, with its Cape Verdean traces. Come with us on a trail that will take you to the old lookout point for ships and enjoy a picnic with the best view over the town of Santo António. On our way back, help promote the sustainability of the planet and learn about a new project that involves transforming glass into jewellery.

BIOSPHERE TRAILS • PARROT MOUNTAIN
Pico Papagaio is one of Príncipe Island’s most famous mountains. Visible from the town of Santo António, it is approximately 700 metres high and is formed from volcanic rock. Surrounded by secondary and primary rainforest, it lies within the boundaries of the National Park.

During this walk that will take you to the top of the mountain, you’ll see monkeys, native birds, orchids and medicinal plants. Besides all that, the views you’ll get of the island are simply spectacular!

BIOSPHERE TRAILS • INFANTE PLANTATION HOUSE
Roça Infante D. Henrique is an old plantation house abandoned by the colonialists after the island’s independence. Today it is covered in vegetation and is situated about 18 km from Santo António.

On the way to Roça Infante, we also pass the plantation house, Roça da Ribeira Fria, where we can sometimes visit Sr. Romão, a farmer in this part of the island, and try his fresh produce.

During the walk along the trail leading to the Infante estate, we’ll see monkeys, native birds, orchids and different medicinal plants, as well as rocky formations typical of volcanic islands. We carry on until the Praia General Fonseca, an old harbour used by the Roça to dispatch its produce, where a boat will then take us back to the hotel.

BIOSPHERE TRAILS • BIRD WATCHING
São Tomé and Príncipe has between 21 and 29 endemic species of birds. Take your binoculars and venture out to discover them. Their sounds and colours are unique and unforgettable. An experience not to be missed.

ZEN MOMENTS
Sundy Praia is the perfect place to get rid of stress. Let yourself be transported into a world of well-being, surrounded by essences, flowers, candles and smooth stones. Renew your feeling of inner peace and release all stress and tension.

Our treatment menu includes massages for women, men and couples; body and face care and techniques for total relaxation. And to enhance the benefits of your beauty treatments, you can purchase some of the natural products made here on Principe Island.

Rooms: 15

Price: from 1.183 EUR per night

Source: www.sundyprincipe.com