The Pestana Ecuador is located on the
Rolas Islet, a
one-minute walk from the beach and around 75 km from the capital of São Tomé e Príncipe - considered by CNN one of the 20 best places to visit in 2020. It is an
authentic natural paradise with white sandy beaches, for a romantic, sporting or leisure holiday. Access is only by boat, from Porto Alegre (Ponta Baleia) on the island of São Tomé.
This mini resort has
direct beach access where you can enjoy the sun loungers. Enjoy the
saltwater pool, relax in the
SPA and have fun on the
volleyball court. For your meals, the hotel offers
one restaurant and two bars.
All the
rooms have an incredible view with lawn and a porch and have
free Wi-Fi access and air conditioning.
LOCATION
To reach this hotel, you must fly to the São Tomé and Príncipe international airport and take a transfer that crosses the island's southern coast before reaching Porto da Baleia. Here, in a small pier concealed by the dense rainforest, a boat is waiting to take you on an eager journey to
Rolas Islet.
DESTINATION
White sand beaches, dotted with reclining coconut trees and tempered by a slight warm breeze, have always been a part of the collective idea of
paradise. If you are looking for a secluded, remote, safe and friendly place, welcome to the
Pestana Equador hotel.
On this islet, famous for being the place where an imaginary line marks the Earth's zero latitude, there is a physical landmark and a borderline where the
northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere
meet, as well as a sunken landmark so that divers can also locate it in their preferred environment.
But diving is not the only reason why the Pestana Equador is a must-see destination for all those who are looking for virtually untouched lands. Hiking through the island unravels an
ancient and largely untouched
forest where black volcanic rocks form mysterious
caves which gush water and primordial sounds as if the world had just been created. The numerous coves, bathed by the
turquoise, clear and inviting sea, draw a striking contrast between the white sands and the black stones, and you'll certainly want to stop there for a dip.
ROOMS
Back to your room, the woodwork, the tropical decor details and the fresh flowers create a quiet and
comfortable atmosphere to help you relax. Take a rest in the comfort of your room with
Wi-Fi, A/C, and fresh water.
SERVICES
Once you reach the Pestana Equador, you will be greeted with a
fresh towel and coconut water to replenish your energies.
Dive Tribe runs
boating, scuba diving, snorkelling with sea turtles and whale watching trips. Book at Reception 24 hours in advance.
This amazing place, where you can see
whale migration routes and watch both the imposing
leatherback turtles and the mythical
giant tortoises spawn, is about to become a
World Biosphere Reserve, and it is also one of the best places to start or deepen your relationship with the deep blue sea. Here, where visibility reaches up to 100 feet and water temperature averages 28 °C, you will find the perfect conditions for your
maiden dive or for a more advanced certificate.
The routes are easy enough to follow, but if you want to make sure that you will know every single plant and nook on the islet, our
resort guides can take you up to such unforgettable places as the
Equator Landmark, the Lighthouse and the Viewpoints Route.
Once you're back, the largest natural pool in Africa awaits you for a well-deserved rest and a refreshing dive. Alternatively,
Santo António beach is just a few steps away, an idyllic beach dream turned reality.
But the Pestana Equador is all about resting. The lounge
chairs by the pool and on the beach invite you to catch up on your reading and on your sleep. To make up for these moments of rest, you can take a boat tour around the island and go
snorkeling in Chinha Bay, book
fishing tours, go birdwatching, or study the local flora. There is a
volleyball
court and several completely safe zones for children.
Absolutely perfect for a romantic getaway or a family trip, the Pestana Equador is also a perfect place for children to play and run freely, taking full advantage of the great weather, the
islet's safety and the tranquility of the sea.
The Pestana Equador also has a
power generator that supplies the hotel and the contiguous village. Much of the island's population works in the resort and you can placidly walk around the entire perimeter.
RESTAURANTS
This
self-sustaining eco resort provides most of its food and desalinates its own water. All vegetables and fruits that you will eat here are locally produced. Thanks to an acute
seasonality and sustainable consumption, you know your meals follow nature's rhythm. You can be sure that the mangoes, guavas, pineapples, bananas, soursops (locally known as sape-sape), bananas and breadfruit come from
the hotel's numerous plantations. Our sweet potatoes, lettuces, cucumbers, tomatoes and plantains couldn't be any more
organic, biological and fresh.
