Samoa is likely one of the most underrated locations of the South Pacific, however one we guess will make its method to the top of your bucket record by the top of this text.
Samoa’s coast is lined with beautiful sandy seashores, adopted by volcanic cliffs. The crystal clear sea is teeming with vibrant coral and an abundance of unique reef fish and sea turtles. There are jungle-covered volcanoes and generally it feels such as you’re in Jurassic Park and also you marvel when T-rex will make an look. You’ll see palm timber in all places crammed with coconuts which can be small however oh-so-sweet. And there’s the waterfalls, so many and a number of the most lovely waterfalls we’ve ever seen. Samoa is a real tropical paradise, however even when enjoyable on the seaside isn’t your factor, there are many things to do and see to maintain you entertained.
Top things to do on Upolu Island
Upolu, the principle Island, is the place the vast majority of the Samoans reside and it’s additionally the place your aircraft will land. Apia, the capital and the one metropolis in Samoa can also be discovered on this island. The southern a part of the island is lined with luxurious resorts and whereas tourism in Samoa isn’t practically as developed as in the encircling Pacific islands, it’s turning into evident that this space will finally flip right into a vacationer scorching spot.
1. To Sua Ocean Trench
To Sua interprets to ‘Big Swimming Gap’ which was shaped by a cave-in of an historical lava tube system that connects to the ocean. It’s this swimming gap that introduced our consideration to Samoa, and we’re positive we’re not the one ones whose consideration it caught. To Sua Ocean Trench is the preferred and most iconic attraction in Samoa and one you shouldn’t miss out on.
The ocean water comes in by an underwater cave and it’s heat and filled with fish. You’ll really feel the present gently rocking you from aspect to aspect and after rainfall you’ll hear rainwater dripping down the perimeters. It’s paradise.
Top tip: Even at excessive tide the water just isn’t very deep so be very cautious when leaping in.
Entrance charge: 20 WST
2. Lalomanu Seashore
Lalomanu Seashore has been voted one of many top 10 seaside locations in the world by Lonely Planet. Whereas this seaside is commonly thought of essentially the most lovely seaside in Samoa, it nonetheless feels surprisingly pristine and doesn’t get crowded in any respect.
Lalomanu is totally beautiful with its countless stretch of white sand lined with palm timber and vibrant fales. That is the right spot to watch the solar go down whereas listening to the turquoise water gently breaking on the shore.
Top tip: Due to its place, you’ll be able to see each dawn and sundown on Lalomanu Seashore.
The place to keep: spending no less than one evening in seaside fales is a should. Taufua Seashore Fales are incredible and have essentially the most superb views.
3. Big Clams Sanctuary
How massive can a clam get? Ten centimeters? Half a meter? Seems they’ll develop up to 1.2 meters in size! Loopy, proper? These massive boys are tremendous fairly too and you could find them in vibrant shades of inexperienced, yellow, crimson and blue.
Big clams are solely discovered in the nice and cozy waters of the Pacific and Indian ocean and in Samoa you’ll be able to see them up shut in a sanctuary simply off the coast. There are tons of of them and it’s an odd feeling swimming previous them as they slam shut.
Top tip: It’s most secure to go to the sanctuary at excessive tide.
Entrance charge: 10 WST
The place to keep: Return to Paradise Resort presents the consolation of a full measurement resort with out the painful value.
4. Fia Fia Night time
Fia Fia means gathering or celebration and Fia Fia nights are organised in all larger resorts or fales and most of them permit outdoors company to be part of in. Fia Fia nights function a historically cooked meal (umu) normally consisting of lots of taro (the ugly brother of a potato), adopted by a dance & fireplace present. These fia fia nights might be lots of enjoyable and an effective way to get accustomed to the Samoan tradition.
Top tip: When you have the chance to attend the Fia Fia evening at Return to Paradise Resort you’re in for a deal with! These guys have been successful awards (sure, there’s a Fia Fia competitors) for extra years than they’ll depend.
5. Cultural Village in Apia
The Cultural Village in Apia is the lunch model of a fia fia evening nevertheless it additionally offers much more perception into the cultural and historic background. You’ll begin the go to by weaving your individual plate, they’ll present you the way an umu (earth oven) is made, you then’ll get an introduction to Samoan arts and crafts and end it off with an up and shut show of conventional Samoan tattooing earlier than consuming the simply cooked umu.
Top tip: The Cultural Village is freed from cost however we encourage you to tip generously.
The place to keep: Taumeasina Island resort is the last word luxurious resort on a non-public island related by a bridge to Apia. For a extra reasonably priced possibility try Olivias Lodging.
6. Palolo Deep Reserve
After we first heard of Palolo Deep we didn’t anticipate a lot, in spite of everything it’s positioned proper subsequent to the port so how good can it probably be with all that boat visitors and air pollution? Nicely, it seems it’s freaking superb!
About 100 meters from the shore you’ll see a pole and that’s the place you’ll need to go. The swim begins in the shallows the place you’ll solely discover lifeless corals, however as you make your method additional away from the coast, you’ll be seeing an increasing number of fish and small clusters of coral might be getting larger and greater with each stroke you make. Then, as you attain the pole one thing superb occurs. The ocean flooring abruptly and steeply drops down and a complete new underwater world opens up in entrance of your eyes! The corals turn into extra vibrant and the fish extra various. There are large faculties of tiny yellow fish opening up a passage as you swim by, in addition to larger and extra colourful reef fish. We’ve seen swordfish preparing to catch lunch and puffer fish blowing up in entrance of our eyes. Palolo Deep is a snorkeling paradise!
Top tip: Take your flippers with you because it’s fairly a swim and the present can get actually robust.
Entrance charge: 5 WST
Top things to do on Savai’i Island
Savai’i is the larger and extra pristine island of Samoa. Though larger in measurement, not many individuals reside right here and solely about 20% of holiday makers ever cross over. What can I say… 80% of holiday makers are severely lacking out!
Savai’i is commonly referred to because the ‘actual’ Samoa. It’s wilder and in our opinion it’s much more lovely than Upolu. 2-Three days can be the right period of time to see the highlights in Savai’i however for us, it could have been straightforward to spend per week simply in Manase, shifting between our terrace and the seaside, making an attempt to discover the right mix of solar and shade solely to break it up with the occasional swim amidst wild sea turtles. So if this seems like one thing you prefer to to do extra of, go forward and add just a few days to your Samoa itinerary.
7. Alofaaga Blowholes
Over 100 years in the past Mt. Matavanu erupted, protecting massive components of Savai’i with lava and creating a number of the most breathtaking and surreal landscapes.
Alofaaga Blowholes are a major instance of the ability of Mom Nature. When the waves come in, water pushes by the lava tubes and blows up into the air over 30 meters excessive. This can be a spectacular sight which is able to make you’re feeling extremely small and humble.
Top Tip: Go to the blowholes at excessive tide to see them at their full energy.
Entrance charge: 5 WST
8. Falealupo Seashore
Falealupo is a small village on the westernmost level of Savai’i. Asphalt roads didn’t make it this far but and it looks like time stopped in this little nook of the Earth.
Falealupo Seashore is essentially the most lovely seaside on Savai’i with it’s pinkish sand and palm timber leaning over water. That is the one place in Samoa with an unobstructed view of the sundown so you’ll be able to see the solar drop into the ocean. Falealupo Seashore can also be lovely underwater with it’s humorous coral clusters and colourful reef fish.
The place to keep: Se’eti Seashore Fales has the yummiest meals in the world.
9. Swim with wild sea turtles
Simply in entrance of the village of Manase you can find essentially the most lovely reef in all of Savai’i and on the sting of this reef you’ll discover sea turtles munchin on the ocean grass. They’re very punctual creatures and dangle round there day-after-day at excessive tide.
Top tip: Don’t go to “Swimming with turtles” since they maintain them in captivity. As an alternative, seize your snorkel and discover them in the wild simply in entrance of Stevenson’s Resort or Tanu Seashore fales.
The place to keep: Tanu Seashore Fales for a finances possibility or Stevenson’s for reasonably priced luxurious.
10. Afu Aua Waterfall
We’re avid waterfall chasers and we’re pleased to report that Afu Aua is likely one of the greatest falls we’ve ever visited! This 30m waterfall created a giant plunge pool surrounded by rocks and jungle which is ideal for a refreshing swim. The water is simply chilly sufficient to provide you with that refreshing kick after a stroll in the Samoan solar, but additionally heat sufficient that you would be able to spend hours floating round and leaping off the rocks.
Top tip: Don’t get tempted to leap in on the first waterfall. As an alternative stroll up to the top of the trail and dive in below the third and largest waterfall, so definitely worth the wait!
Entrance charge: 10 WST
How lengthy to keep in Samoa
Samoa consists of two predominant islands and some smaller surrounding islands. The primary islands are known as Upolu and Sava’i, and are each equally beautiful however fully totally different. Most vacationers will solely go to Upolu and spend 5-7 days suntanning in a resort, however if you would like to discover each islands (which it is best to!) we advocate you put aside 8-10 days in Samoa. This may permit you not solely to see all the foremost factors of curiosity but additionally provide you with a while to unwind and work on that tan. We spent practically Three weeks in Samoa and cherished each second of it.
Getting to Samoa
Faleolo Worldwide Airport is the one worldwide airport in the nation and it’s positioned on Upolu Island, 40 kilometres west of the capital Apia. There are common flights from New Zealand, Australia and a number of the surrounding Pacific Islands. Whereas ready in your baggage you’ll most definitely be welcomed by an acoustic band carrying flower necklaces and enjoying conventional Samoan music. Talofa, and welcome to lovely Samoa!
Getting Round
Samoa is small and roads are few. Each islands have one predominant street that follows the shoreline, and on Upolu there are a few further roads crossing the island, so navigating is slightly straightforward. The roads are nevertheless in poor situation, and the pace restrict is low, so even when distances are quick, it could take you significantly longer than anticipated to get from A to B. These are the obtainable choices for transport:
Public Bus: The buses in Samoa are an expertise in itself and one we can’t advocate sufficient, however solely whenever you’re not in a rush. Other than a few bus terminals there aren’t any official bus stops so you might have to wave them down by the aspect of the street. Whereas timetables do exist, the buses are virtually by no means on time, they usually cease at supermarkets, take detours and generally even break down. However taking an previous and colourful bus is one thing you shouldn’t miss out on in Samoa as it’s a true cultural expertise and we promise you’ll have enjoyable so long as you retain an open thoughts. The buses haven’t any aircon and a few don’t even have glass home windows, they get crammed and the music is loud, however the conversations are nice and the grins are actual.
Taxi: There’s no Uber service in Samoa and taxi meters appear to be non-compulsory and sometimes tempered with. At all times haggle and agree on a value earlier than getting right into a taxi. As a normal rule of thumb, any journey inside Apia is about 5 WST, the journey from Apia to the airport is 50 – 60 WST.
Rental Automotive: Renting a automotive might be one of the best and most dependable method of getting round in Samoa. We’ve seen rental choices as little as 80 WST per day in the outskirts of Apia.
Ferry: The ferry connects each islands and departs each two hours between 6 am and Four pm from Monday to Saturday, and twice a day on Sunday. Tickets might be bought simply earlier than departure and you may take your rental automotive over with the ferry. The ferry terminal on Upolu is conveniently positioned simply 5 minutes from the airport.
We’ve met a number of travellers (additionally solo feminine) who opted to hitchhike their method round Samoa. They felt protected doing so and didn’t have points getting a journey. Samoans are very pleasant and hospitable, most of them will gladly provide you with a journey and let you know all types of tales on the way in which. It’s also doable to lease a scooter however we’d solely advocate it for brief journeys because the street situations are poor.
In our opinion, Samoa is a real gem of the Pacific and a spot we’d return to in a heartbeat. It presents the right mixture of soppy sandy seashores, jungle lined mountains, beautiful waterfalls, sort folks, island vibes, fascinating traditions and mesmerising underwater life.
So, are you satisfied, did Samoa make it in your bucket record but?
In regards to the authors: Tom and Zi are the creatives behind Craving Journey. They met whereas solo travelling by SEA and fell in love. As soon as that journey was over they each had to return dwelling – to the other sides of the world, however they couldn’t stand the space in order that they discovered a method to make it work. They give up their jobs, packed up their baggage, bought what didn’t match into stated baggage and hit the street to journey full time. By their weblog and Instagram account they goal to carry you all of the insights on a lifetime of journey, exploration and journey.