Tourist Information for Samoa
Samoa is a place for relaxing and leisure. While away the hours bathing in ocean-fed pools or snorkelling amongst living reefs; snoozing in fale (traditional thatched house) or feeding yourself on Palusami (coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves). Whatever you do, make sure you slow yourself down, pack away your watch and submit completely to island time.
Island of Upolu - Samoa's second-largest and most populated island has a main road that winds around the coast taking you past sublime beaches that are so pristine you feel guilty for putting footprints on them; outcrops of offshore coral that are just pieces of a much larger, more dazzling marine ecosystem; craggy lava cliffs that drop suddenly into a boiling ocean; and verdant plantations and conservation areas that sweep into the island's hilly, rain forested interior. Between the natural spectacles are small villages where a wave and the flash of a smile are commonplace. Even in the confines of the capital, Apia, you'll be warmly besieged by local greetings as you visit its Flea Market, shops, restaurants, bars and traditional churches.
Island of Savaii - Savaii is mostly uninhabited, with spectacular tropical terrain and less signs of modern life to be encountered while exploring it. Most of the island’s villages are speckled along the main coast road and you’re liable to see locals dozing in large fale and bathing in communal rock pools.
Also expect to see a remarkable assortment of weathered churches; pigs scampering about, their tails swishing feverishly as they root around in the dirt or sand; and horses tethered by the roadside or being bathed in the sea, particularly along the island’s east coast.
Away from the villages and their traditional ways is a wonderfully landscape awaiting discovery. Scattered across the island are numerous archaeological sites - fortifications, star mounds and ancient platforms - many of which have been swallowed up by the nearly impenetrable jungle. Savaii is studded with around 450 craters, many of them along the island’s central ridge. There are also magnificent waterfalls, hiking trails and untouched rainforests.
O Le Pupu-pu’e National Park is Samoa’s only national park. Created in 1978, the park’s northern boundary is formed by a ridge between the volcanic 885m Mt Le Pu’e and the 1028m high Mt Fito, which is the island’s highest peak. In the south of the park you will find the rugged O Le Pupu Lava Coast. At the park you can go on a hiking trail which starts opposite the side road to O Le Pupu Lava Coast and heads through the thick rainforest to Pa’ape’a cave. The walk takes about 6 hours return.
Savaii and Upolu are Samoa's largest islands, and the collection of eight smaller islands includes Apolima, Fanuatapu, Manono, Namua, Nuulopa, Nuulua, Nuusafee and Nuutele. Spread out along the coastal highways of Upolu and Savaii, traditional villages with their neat fales lead inland where volcanic craters, lava fields, ancient archaeological sites and forest reserves beckon to be explored.
When to Go
The most comfortable time to visit Samoa is between May and October, during the country's dry season. An extra incentive to visit at this time of year is this is when major Samoan festivals are held. Samoa boasts a pleasantly warm climate. The temperatures are cooled by south-east trade winds from May to November, while December to April is the wet and humid season.
Currency
The Samoan unit of currency is the “Tala” (dollar), which is divided into 100 sene (cents). Banks offer money exchange facilities at the airport for all arrivals and departures. Main hotels also offer money exchange facilities. Branches of the ANZ, Westpac and several local banks in the main towns of Samoa are equipped with ATMs. Be aware that ATMs don't always operate 24 hours, and are prone to running out of notes.
Language
Samoan is the national language, but English is the official language for business. Most Samoans are fluent in both languages.
Electricity
240 volts / AC 50 cycles. Supply can be disrupted especially in outlying areas.
Shopping
Local items include siapo (tapa) cloth, which is made from mulberry bark and painted with native dyes; mats and baskets; kava drinking bowls, shell jewellery and Samoan stamps which can be bought from the Philatelic Bureau.
AVERAGE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (°C) – based on Apia
- JAN
- 31
- FEB
- 31
- MAR
- 31
- APR
- 28
- MAY
- 28
- JUN
- 28
- JUL
- 28
- AUG
- 28
- SEP
- 28
- OCT
- 28
- NOV
- 31
- DEC
- 31
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