Praia das Pombas (Beach of the Doves) on the northern coast is consistently ranked as the finest beach on São Tomé Island. The sand is pale gold, the water warm and clear, and the beach is long enough that you can find a quiet corner even at weekends when families from the capital make the 15km drive north. There are no beach bars or resorts to speak of — bring your own food and water.
The drive there from São Tomé town passes through villages and the old plantation landscape of the north. The road is paved but can be slippery after rain. Snorkelling is good off the northern end of the beach; the reef is modest but the fish life is reasonable. Come early in the day before the afternoon cloud rolls in from the interior mountains.