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Belo Monte balustrade terrace overlooking the rainforest and ocean on Príncipe Island

Belo Monte: A Hilltop Hotel on Príncipe Island

At Belo Monte, Príncipe reveals itself from above. Set on a lush hillside in the island's north-east, it's the only Príncipe Collection hotel perched on a hilltop, with wide views over rainforest and out to the Gulf of Guinea. From the terraces, the day seems to slow: clouds drift, palms sway, and the horizon holds your attention in a way that makes you forget to check the time.

The forest canopy below becomes a tapestry of greens, from pale, feathery coconut fronds to lime-green alocasia, the "elephant ears", and in the distance the spinach-coloured crown of the island's iconic Ocá tree (Ceiba pentandra), the kapok that rises high above the canopy as a powerful symbol of Príncipe's identity and biodiversity.

A 1920s plantation house, thoughtfully restored

Belo Monte began life as part of a small cacao plantation established in the 1920s. Today, after a thoughtful restoration led by architect Didier Lefort, known for blending timeless elegance with cultural sensitivity and a deep respect for place, the historic house feels both elegant and easy to live in. 

Inside, you'll find high ceilings, chandeliers and a sense of old-world character, balanced by open doors, generous windows and fresh colour that invite the island's light and greenery into every room. It's heritage without stiffness. A place designed for lingering, reading, talking, and watching the landscape change.

"Every detail at Belo Monte is rooted in Príncipe. From the people who welcome you to the experiences that connect you to nature and community. It's a hilltop manor where rainforest meets the sea, and where guests can truly slow down and feel the island's rhythm," adds Maria Eliza Vaz, the Brazilian Director of Hotel Operations of Príncipe Collection.

Fortified stone gateway and bell tower framed by palms and tropical gardens at Belo Monte

A short walk from Banana Beach

From here, the coast is close. Within walking distance, five pristine beaches stretch along the shoreline, a rare luxury on an island that still feels wonderfully untouched. Among them is Banana Beach (Praia Banana), familiar to many from the iconic 1991 Bacardi commercial. It's a detail that becomes part of your own holiday story and the perfect excuse to recreate the mood: a Bacardi on the terrace as the light fades, and the next day, fresh coconut water at the beach, toes in the sand with the rainforest behind you.

Back at the hotel, days naturally drift between shaded lounges, the outdoor pool, the library, and long, easy meals in the restaurant and bar. Even the simplest moments, like morning coffee or a late-afternoon pause, come with a view. Guests are welcomed with a chilled cup of erva-príncipe tea, and you may notice the hotel's resident birds doing the same, dipping in for a sip of water as the gardens settle into their quiet rhythm. 

As evening falls, a flock of African grey parrots calls out their goodnights, wheeling across the sky, the kind of small, unforgettable moment that makes you slow down without trying.

Aerial view of Praia Banana near Hotel Belo Monte, two guests in turquoise shallows for a calm swim

What is erva-príncipe? The island in a cup, and a signature massage

Erva-príncipe appears again and again, not as a theme, but as something genuinely rooted in the island. Known locally as fiá-chalela, it's used in cooking and traditional remedies across São Tomé and Príncipe, valued for its digestive properties and its ability to help repel mosquitoes. 

Many locals also turn to it to ease stress, promote relaxation, reduce swelling, and support detoxification. At Belo Monte, you'll experience it in thoughtful ways, including the Erva-Príncipe Signature Massage, a deeply calming treatment that helps you fully settle into island time.

And if you'd like to take a small piece of Príncipe home, ask about locally grown organic erva-príncipe to brew as tea. It's a simple ritual, but one that has a way of bringing you back to this hillside; the breeze, the birds, the soft light. Long after you've left.

HOTELS AND RESORTS BY HBD PRÍNCIPE

Things to do around Belo Monte: a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Beyond the hotel, Príncipe's wild beauty is never far away. The island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the most memorable way to meet it is to step into it. 

Join a birdwatching experience and discover endemic species while the rainforest fills with the chirping of thousands of birds. Follow the Oquê Pipi Waterfall Trail through the Parque Natural do Príncipe to the island's largest waterfall, where a crystal-clear natural pool invites a swim. For a different perspective, head to Baía das Agulhas, on the edge of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, for spectacular views of volcanic plugs and beaches, with time to stop for a swim in the bay. And in season, there is turtle watching on Praia Grande: threatened species including green, olive ridley, hawksbill and leatherback turtles nest between November and January, with hatchlings emerging between February and April.

Malachite kingfisher perched on a branch in the rainforest, Príncipe Island

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Belo Monte?
Belo Monte sits on a hilltop in the north-east of Príncipe Island, São Tomé and Príncipe, overlooking rainforest and the Gulf of Guinea. It is the only Príncipe Collection hotel set on a hilltop.
 

How far is Belo Monte from Banana Beach?
Banana Beach (Praia Banana) is within walking distance, one of five pristine beaches along the shoreline below the hotel.
 

What is erva-príncipe?
Erva-príncipe, known locally as fiá-chalela, is a herb used in cooking and traditional remedies across São Tomé and Príncipe. It is valued for its digestive and calming properties and is served at Belo Monte as a welcome tea and used in the Erva-Príncipe Signature Massage.


What is the history of Belo Monte?
Belo Monte began as part of a small cacao plantation established in the 1920s and was restored by architect Didier Lefort, preserving its heritage character while opening it to the island's light and greenery.
 

What is there to do near Belo Monte?
Príncipe is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Guests can go birdwatching, hike the Oquê Pipi Waterfall Trail, visit Baía das Agulhas, and, in season (November to April), watch nesting and hatching sea turtles on Praia Grande.

 

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