Visit Roça Porto Real

On the western side of Príncipe Island, where lush forest folds over rolling hills, Roça Porto Real rises as a place where the island's colonial past and its community-driven present intertwine in striking ways. One of the most emblematic plantations on the island, Porto Real is a perfect starting point for travellers wanting to understand how Príncipe is turning its history into a sustainable and inclusive future.

A colonial giant shaped by the landscape

Just a few kilometres from Santo António, Porto Real is both a locality and a community — and once the largest of Príncipe's major roças. Its convenient access from the capital makes it an appealing stop on the island's quieter western side.

In colonial times, Porto Real sprawled across terraces and hilltops in the characteristic layout of a roça-terreiro: a main house, employee quarters and long rows of sanzalas arranged according to the rugged terrain. The former slave and worker dwellings formed a U-shape, spread across two tiers above the main house, and once totalled 82 units — a clear sign of the plantation's scale.

Wandering through Porto Real today, travellers encounter poetic ruins slowly reclaimed by the forest, each corner echoing with remnants of its once-bustling agricultural life.

The forest-claimed hospital

No structure on the site is as captivating as the old plantation hospital. Once more important than the hospital in Santo António, it now stands in dramatic decay. Roots, lianas and branches dominate the façade, even engulfing the old doorway.

This hauntingly beautiful ruin has become a cherished cultural landmark. Every bride on the island ascends its staircase for a traditional pre-reception photo shoot — a ritual that blends romance with the island's layered history. The hospital also hosts occasional celebrations, and its other colonial buildings, such as the main house and the workshops, remain impressive despite their abandonment.

A community hub for creativity and sustainability

While the buildings crumble, the community's energy does not. Porto Real is today a lively centre for social projects and sustainable development.

Travellers can experience community-based tourism, with performances of Tchabeta — a Cabo Verdean-influenced dance — and hearty traditional meals like meat or fish catchupa, often served at the local primary school.

Equally inspiring is the Cooperative for Waste Valorisation, run by a group of ten women transforming organic waste and glass into useful products. From this effort emerged one of Príncipe's most innovative initiatives: a glass-jewelry workshop housed within the old plantation. Since 2016, artisans trained in Ghana have been turning discarded glass into striking, colourful jewellery. Visitors can tour the workshop, learn about the recycling process, and purchase unique pieces.

Looking ahead: education, heritage and new infrastructure

Porto Real is also central to future regional development plans. A Centre for New Citizenship Training is set to be established here, chosen for its strategic location near the capital and for the historical importance of the site. Part of the project includes a Museum of Industrial Archaeology, which aims to reinterpret the island's plantation heritage through its surviving architecture and artefacts.

Plans for additional facilities, such as a feed-production plant, highlight the community's vision of integrated rural development.

Why visit?

Roça Porto Real is a destination for travellers who appreciate depth: layered history, dramatic ruins, community resilience and a sense of authenticity that the island guards closely. Here, Príncipe transforms decay into opportunity and memory into forward momentum.

For those seeking culture, connection and a glimpse into the island's evolving future, Porto Real is an essential stop.