The South Pacific island nation of Samoa charms with its excellent beaches and surfing, coral reefs with diving and snorkeling, volcanic mountains and rainforests, as well as with the traditional, laid-back Polynesian lifestyle. Known as the home of tattoo and Polynesian dances, Samoa is a major ecotourism destination with plenty of little family-owned resorts, offering a truly exotic holiday experience.
Polynesian chiefdom located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, Samoa - formerly known as Western Samoa - consists of the western part of Samoan archipelago (the eastern part is American Samoa). The two volcanic main islands of Samoa are called Upolu and Savai'i. Samoans are Polynesian people who have their own language and a strong traditional culture, where extended family, village community and the traditional chiefs still have an important role. Samoans are religious people who practice Christianity as well as their ancient customs and rituals.
Cultural shows and fia fias (dinner parties) with local food and dance are great ways to get acquainted with Samoan culture. There are also plenty of locally owned beach fales (bungalows) and family accommodations in villages throughout Samoa that are good places to stay if you want to immerse yourself into the local lifestyle. Diving in Samoa is good but still undeveloped, and the colorful coral reefs around the islands offer good snorkeling in Samoa. Samoa is a popular destination also for sailing.
The capital city of Samoa, Apia is situated on the island of Upolu and offers some vivid nightlife, restaurants and shopping, including a public market. It is a small town with not many attractions, but there are many accommodation options, including most of the hotels and hostels in Samoa, as well as tour operators that can arrange all kinds of tours and activities around Samoa. The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Vailima village on Upolu is dedicated to this famous Scottish author and located in his restored former mansion. The island of Upolu is also home to many lovely beaches and waterfalls, as well as good spots for surfing and hiking. Golf in Samoa can be enjoyed in three golf courses on Upolu, and kayaking in Samoa is also available on Upolu and around a few smaller islands.
Savai'i, the larger of the two main islands in Samoa, is less developed and more traditional than Upolu. It is a good place to experience the traditional Samoan culture with small villages, colonial-style churches and traditional thatched-roof houses, as well as eerie lava fields, lush rainforests, caves and pristine white sand beaches. You can travel to Savai'i by ferry from the western edge of Upolu. You can find many nice local accommodations and ecotourism projects on the island. The village of Falealupo on Savai'I, located 20 miles away from the international dateline, is the westernmost inhabited place in the world. The small island of Manono between Upolu and Savai'i is a beautiful place with beaches, four villages and no cars. Sports fishing in Samoa is very good and boats can be hired for fishing trips. The rainforests and mangrove swamps of Samoa offer good birdwatching with 11 endemic bird species. Nature trails are also available.
Traveling to Samoa is done by air or by boat. Samoa has one international airport on the island of Upolu with flights to Samoa from Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles and from a few other South Pacific nations. Book your flights well in advance during the holiday period between December and January, as many Samoans living overseas are visiting home for their holidays at that time. You can also visit Samoa with your own yacht, and there is a passenger boat service to Samoa from nearby Tokelau Islands.
Polynesian chiefdom located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, Samoa - formerly known as Western Samoa - consists of the western part of Samoan archipelago (the eastern part is American Samoa). The two volcanic main islands of Samoa are called Upolu and Savai'i. Samoans are Polynesian people who have their own language and a strong traditional culture, where extended family, village community and the traditional chiefs still have an important role. Samoans are religious people who practice Christianity as well as their ancient customs and rituals.
Sights & activities in Samoa: beaches, trekking, fishing & surfing
Samoa offers a great deal of activities and natural attractions to make a great holiday destination. It is home to some of the best beaches in South Pacific, although they do not have many facilities. There are beach resorts and secluded, privately owned beaches around Samoa. In addition to beaches, mountain areas and rainforests great for trekking in Samoa can also be found. Volcanoes and lava fields can be visited on the island of Savai'i. Surfing in Samoa is excellent but requires good skills.Cultural shows and fia fias (dinner parties) with local food and dance are great ways to get acquainted with Samoan culture. There are also plenty of locally owned beach fales (bungalows) and family accommodations in villages throughout Samoa that are good places to stay if you want to immerse yourself into the local lifestyle. Diving in Samoa is good but still undeveloped, and the colorful coral reefs around the islands offer good snorkeling in Samoa. Samoa is a popular destination also for sailing.
The capital city of Samoa, Apia is situated on the island of Upolu and offers some vivid nightlife, restaurants and shopping, including a public market. It is a small town with not many attractions, but there are many accommodation options, including most of the hotels and hostels in Samoa, as well as tour operators that can arrange all kinds of tours and activities around Samoa. The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Vailima village on Upolu is dedicated to this famous Scottish author and located in his restored former mansion. The island of Upolu is also home to many lovely beaches and waterfalls, as well as good spots for surfing and hiking. Golf in Samoa can be enjoyed in three golf courses on Upolu, and kayaking in Samoa is also available on Upolu and around a few smaller islands.
Savai'i, the larger of the two main islands in Samoa, is less developed and more traditional than Upolu. It is a good place to experience the traditional Samoan culture with small villages, colonial-style churches and traditional thatched-roof houses, as well as eerie lava fields, lush rainforests, caves and pristine white sand beaches. You can travel to Savai'i by ferry from the western edge of Upolu. You can find many nice local accommodations and ecotourism projects on the island. The village of Falealupo on Savai'I, located 20 miles away from the international dateline, is the westernmost inhabited place in the world. The small island of Manono between Upolu and Savai'i is a beautiful place with beaches, four villages and no cars. Sports fishing in Samoa is very good and boats can be hired for fishing trips. The rainforests and mangrove swamps of Samoa offer good birdwatching with 11 endemic bird species. Nature trails are also available.
Samoa travel information and practical tips
The climate in Samoa is tropical and hotter and more humid than on most other South Pacific Islands. The temperatures are constantly warm year-round. Higher inland areas of the main islands have a bit cooler climate. There is a dry season in Samoa from May to October and a rainy season from November to April. December and January are the rainiest months in Samoa. However, most rainfall occurs at night. The sheltered north coasts of the main islands generally receive less rain than the windward southeastern sides. Samoa is situated on the South Pacific's cyclone belt and the season for tropical cyclones is from November to March.Traveling to Samoa is done by air or by boat. Samoa has one international airport on the island of Upolu with flights to Samoa from Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles and from a few other South Pacific nations. Book your flights well in advance during the holiday period between December and January, as many Samoans living overseas are visiting home for their holidays at that time. You can also visit Samoa with your own yacht, and there is a passenger boat service to Samoa from nearby Tokelau Islands.
Photo: YXO, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
Public transport in Samoa is mainly handled by buses. Do not expect to get anywhere very fast, but Samoan buses are still an experience you should not miss. There are also ferries between the Samoan islands. Taxis are cheap and widely available in Samoa, and you can usually rent them for a day for a same price as a normal rental car. Car rental in Samoa is available on the main islands of Upolu and Savai'i.
Rising tourism destination. Traditionally a country that has been dependent on agricultural exports, foreign aid and overseas remittances, Samoa has now an expanding tourism sector with more than 100,000 overseas visitors a year. Samoa is one of the most inexpensive countries in South Pacific, and there are many types of accommodation available. Hotels in Samoa range from small family-owned resorts to luxury hotels, and there are also cheap guesthouses and motels available. You can stay in a traditional Samoan thatched roof house called fale in many places in Samoa. Restaurants in Samoa are rarer outside the capital Apia, but you can find them in the local small beach resorts. Local Samoan, Asian and European dishes as well as fast food can be found in Samoa. Samoa has the best nightlife in South Pacific with many bars and nightclubs concentrated in Apia. That said, do not expect anything grand as in big cities. English is an official language in Samoa and spoken by most locals.
A traditional society, Samoa is a safe destination with friendly and helpful people and low crime rates. However, pick-pocketing and robbery are not unheard of, but you can avoid them with some precautions. Occasional tropical cyclones may also be a threat, but they only occur once in approximately 15 years. Remember that Samoan culture has a concept of ownership that is different from the world outside South Pacific. This means you should always take good care of your belongings, or they might be “borrowed”. Remember also that Samoa is a deeply Christian society, and skimpy clothing should be avoided. Most shops and other services are closed on Sundays, and even walking through villages on Sunday is frowned upon. Regarding to traditional and religious rules, Upolu is a more modern place than Savai'i. Most land in Samoa is communally or family-owned. Many beaches and conservation areas are maintained by local villagers and they will ask a small entry fee.
Short history of Samoa
Samoans are Polynesian people who are thought to originate from Southeast Asia. Samoans themselves say they originate from Samoa, created by the god Tagaloa. Samoa was first settled 3,000 years ago. Samoan kings once ruled most of the South Pacific, but Samoans were later ruled by Tongans. Samoa came into contact with Europeans in the early 1700s, with the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen as the first European to find the islands in 1722. British missionaries and traders started to arrive to Samoa in the 1830s, converting Samoans into Christianity. French, British, Germans and Americans were all interested in colonizing the Samoan Islands, and in 1890s Samoan Islands were officially split between the US (American Samoa), and Germany (Western Samoa that later became independent Samoa). New Zealand occupied the German territory at the awake of the First World War and controlled Western Samoa until 1962.Independence. A long-lasting non-violent protests against the mistreatment of the local population led to Western Samoa gaining full independence in 1962. Western Samoa changed its name to Samoa in 1997. After being plagued by several devastating cyclones in the 1990s, Samoa is now developing tourism and offshore financial facilities.
