Sundy Praia

Breathe in the sights, sounds and scents of Príncipe’s paradise forest

Hidden amongst tropical rainforest on the north-west tip of a paradise isle, you’ll find the small, but perfectly formed Sundy Praia hotel. An eco-lodge with just 15 tented villas, opulence is evident in every feature. Here you’re nature’s guest, with the azure Atlantic on your doorstep, and a canopy of trees forming an emerald embrace around the rooms and facilities.

Gleaming white awnings shelter each luxurious lodge. Decorated with natural materials that bring the outside in, four-poster beds and stone-carved, free-standing baths add a sense of grandeur. Larger villas come with a private plunge pool, and wrap-around verandas offer the perfect place to relax, cocktail in hand. Neatly cobbled paths dappled with sunshine will lead you to the shared facilities, and down to the golden sand of the Sundy beach.
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Begin your day with an espresso made from locally sourced, sustainably cultivated coffee beans grown in the high mountains of São Tomé, followed by breakfast in the restaurant – a sinuous pavilion where every plate is a work of art. When it comes to dinner, a talented local team led by an international chef serve up an inventive menu, and local produce and flavours lead the way. To work up your appetite, the hotel offers guided excursions, the perfect way to explore the island’s many treasures. A boat trip to the Bay of Needles takes in spectacular scenery and offers brilliant snorkelling in crystal-clear water. Once you’ve soaked up some sun, it’s back to your own Eden for a sunset drink before dinner.

Enjoy your stay!

14 Rooms | 0 Floor | 1 Restaurant |

4.7 /5

165 reviews

Considerate Collection

Adventure and Activity

Beach Resort

Honeymoon

Considerate Collection

Actively sustainable luxury hotels

Environmentally Conscious

On the northern tip of Príncipe Island, Sundy Praia sits within a UNESCO biosphere reserve on an archipelago often referred to as ‘Africa’s Galapagos’ for its dense wildlife-filled jungle. The eco resort is ‘invisible by design’, implementing reversible construction principles during the build such as screw-in mechanisms (rather than concrete) for the tented villas. The resort’s recycling initiatives include transforming all used glass into ‘glass sand’. Rates for Sundy Praia include a conservation and community contribution (€25 each guest per night) which goes directly towards funding local initiatives – from its local non-profit partner Fundação Príncipe’s conservation work and “eco-repreneurs” to primary schools. Sundy Beach is sea turtle nesting ground (various protection measures for the hatchlings are in place, and there’s turtle-safe lighting between the pool and beach), and you can birdwatch from your villa’s veranda. Biosphere trails run along the island for hikers, and Sundy Praia pays a fee on behalf of guests for entrances to Príncipe’s Natural Park.

Cultural Custodians

Sundy Praia celebrates local artistry throughout the resort, including locally made coconut-crafted cups, upcycled glass bottles which are made into modern vases and candle holders by local artisan Flávia, and oversized pendant lamps in the restaurant (handmade by an artisan in São Tomé). The resort runs a series of artisan workshops, in addition to a basket-weaving apprenticeship programme - guests can learn about the island’s tradition of basket-weaving, buy locally-made baskets, and interact with the basket-weavers. This programme provides sustainable livelihoods for the apprentices and their families. Local dancers and musicians often perform during dinner, inviting guests to learn some traditional steps in the Deixa and Tchabeta songs. Much of the island’s agricultural heritage is tied to cacao production, which the hotel honours by making its own Paciência organic chocolate (handpicked from Sundy’s cacao farm which guests can visit by taking a marked trail to Roça Sundy).

Community Minded

The communities of Príncipe are integral to everything Sundy Praia and its parent company, HBD Príncipe, does – starting with its local workforce, providing ongoing employment and training opportunities for Santomeans. Guests can join guided visits to local fishing villages to learn about island life and traditional fishing methods (these fishermen also supply the hotel’s restaurant, in authentic dishes like the Calulu fish stew). The hotel organises trips to the Waste Valorisation Cooperative in Porto Real (launched and supported by HBD Príncipe and its non-profit partner, Fundação Príncipe), where local women support their families by transforming glass bottles into recycled glass jewellery and producing compost from food waste – generating a reliable source of income from products that reduce the pressure on the island’s natural resources. HBD Príncipe has also built homes throughout its Terra Prometida (‘Promised Land’) project, helping to relocate local families away from the poor conditions at Roça Sundy’s former plantation buildings.