São Tomé’s Lost Plantation
Tucked away where the Atlantic kisses the southeastern coast of São Tomé Island, at the mouth of the Mussakavu River, lies one of the island’s most haunting treasures — the ruins of Roça Santo António de Mussakavú. Once a proud plantation, today it stands far removed from its former glory, offering an unforgettable trekking experience for true adventurers and lovers of wild, unspoiled nature.
It’s important not to confuse these weathered ruins with the Roça Santo António Ecolodge — a carefully restored plantation now offering top-tier accommodations. Where the Ecolodge welcomes guests in comfort, Mussakavú invites only the most intrepid explorers to journey into its embrace.
Abandoned decades ago, Roça Santo António de Mussakavú is now a stunning but challenging trekking destination, recommended only for seasoned walkers and fearless explorers. For those who crave something even more exclusive, a half-day trek to the even more remote site of São Miguel is an option.
Mussakavú is among the most isolated places in São Tomé and Príncipe. No roads lead here. To reach it, travelers must first journey to Porto Alegre, then embark on a six-hour trek across the dense southern jungles of the Ôbo National Park. Only then, at the mouth of the Mussakavu River, does the ghostly silhouette of the old plantation house reveal itself, standing firm against time and the forest’s slow, relentless reclaim.
Historical accounts from 1905 describe the estate's heyday: an elaborate main house where the manager lived with his family and a new hospital under construction. Today, only fragments of this grandeur remain, silent and stoic by the shore, exactly where early photographs captured them over a century ago.
Accessible only by foot or by sea, Roça Santo António de Mussakavú was once a dependency of the grand Roça Porto Alegre. Today, it stands not as a memory lost — but as a raw, vivid chapter of São Tomé’s untamed spirit, waiting for those brave enough to write themselves into its story.
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Did you know that
By 1905, Roça Santo António was under the watchful eye of its manager, Arlindo Wenceslau da Silva Marques, while its distant owner enjoyed life far away in Lisbon.
Explore
Go explore the surroundings and talk to the last inhabitants of the roça. Last time we visited, a lone family of fishermen was still living there.
Go and picture yourself framed against the breathtaking backdrop of Pico de Caué. Capture unforgettable photos from the rarely seen back side of Pico de Cão Grande. While most visitors photograph the iconic front view of Pico Cão Grande, few venture to capture it from behind — making your shots truly rare and memorable.
Nearest hotels
- Roça São João dos Angolares, Santa Cruz: 0,5kms
- Hotel Campismo Praia Grande, Monte Carmo
- Gombela Ecolodge and Farming
- Domus Praia Jalé, Água Côco
- N’Guembú Nature Resort: 0,6 kms
- 7 ventos, Alto Douro
