Samoa: an itinerary for a week in this South Pacific paradise
If you are looking for a beach vacation on a tropical white sand beach, covered with coconut trees, this is your island! Or should I say … islands. Upolu is the main island where Apia, the capital, is located. Savaii, the largest island, is quite a different experience and should not be missed. There are several much smaller islands along the coast.
While you will want to spend much of your time on one of the glorious beaches, there is much more to do in Samoa. Below is a suggested itinerary for one week. The best thing would be to rent a car for sightseeing. You’ll want to take time each day to relax around a pool or on the beach. Enjoy a relaxed lunch in one of the wonderful open-air restaurants and relax.
Day 1 – Upon arrival at Faleolo airport, you will instantly feel the heat! Constantly around 26-27 degrees Celsius, nighttime temperatures rarely drop below 23 degrees. It is about 45 minutes by car from Apia. You will immediately begin to relax, with your first experience of colorful villages and crystal clear turquoise waters that stretch down to the white foam of the reef. Once you’ve settled in, it’s a good time to take a short walk around town or sample a Vailima beer around the pool. Ask what night the Fiafia is held. There are usually only one or two nights a week when hotels place them, so you need to plan ahead.
Day 2 – Morning – Explore Apia, including the markets. There are two markets – the Beach Rd market on the boardwalk near the Tusitala hotel (Kitano) is for
- clothing
- washing machine
- cover cloth
- carved wooden items, including the traditional kava bowl
- shell jewelry, coconut shell and seeds
You will find that they generally do not negotiate. Ask if they will give you a cheaper price for two and will invariably reply that their boss is not here today so they cannot do this. It is worth the walk to Marketi Fou, the fruit market, where you can stroll among the locals while they do their normal daily shopping. Samoa does not have tropical fruits like pineapples and mangoes all year round. They have two three-week seasons a year. Bananas and oranges are always available, with other fruits like passion fruit, guavas, and fruits I saw at different times.
Afternoon: if you fancy diving, Pololo Deep is on the outskirts of the city and is the only beach near Apia. You will find it best at mid or low tide.
Day 3- Morning: Visit Vailima, home of Robert Louis Stevenson, on Cross Island Road. He was the much loved Tusitala of Samoa, “storyteller”, and lived here for the last years of his life. You can look through the wonderful restored colonial house and walk 40 minutes to the top of Mount Vaea, Stevenson’s final resting place, with magnificent views of Apia.
Afternoon – After lunch, it is a good time to take a forty-minute coastal walk to Piula for a refreshing swim in the natural freshwater pool, which flows into a cave. Situated on the grounds of a beautifully renovated church, you can enjoy the pool, gazing out to sea over the narrow rock wall that separates them. The pool closes at 4 o’clock, when the local women bring the clothes from the children’s church boarding school and the fish come out of their hiding places.
Day 4 – All day – Rent a car and drive over the hill, through the rainforest. Take a look at the hilltop Bahai temple, then head down to the Coconuts Resort, where you can have morning tea or lunch. Leaving Coconuts, follow the coastal road back to Apia, through the many towns and beaches. If you have time to detour to Togitogi Falls, they are beautiful. Or you may want to go back for Papasea – Sliding Rocks. Better when it has rained a lot.
Day 5 – Morning – Take the ferry to Savaii. There are many accommodation options, from beach fales at Stevensons or Janes, Savaii Lagoon ….. an intermediate option or Le Logoto for a more luxurious experience.
Afternoon: Just 2 kilometers along the road is the village of Satoalepai, where you can swim with the turtles. This is a very beautiful place, and while the turtles are in captivity, they have a great pool and are well cared for. They are very friendly and it was the highlight of my trip.
Day 6- All day – Drive through Savaii – Plan to stop at
- Saleaula Lava Fields – An astonishing insight into the effects of the Mount Matavanu eruptions between 1905 and 1911.
- Alofaaga Blowholes – You will need to check the tides as you will want to be as close to full tide as possible to better see the blowholes. You will pay $ 5WS each, which includes a local guide.
- Continue to the Vaisala hotel through towns and beaches. This is the best option for eating, unless you bring a picnic basket.
- Stop at the ruins of the village destroyed by Cyclone Ofa.
NOTE: You should allow enough time for photo stops. This is a very photogenic country, and Savaii has wonderful places for photographers to enjoy their hobby!
Day 7- All day – Experience a night on a fale beach. This could be in Savaii, or after taking the ferry back to Upolu, around the coast, where you have several options for beach fales. If the basics are not for you, you may prefer the luxurious Seabreeze Resort at Paradise Cove, with excellent snorkeling and probably the best view of live coral on the island.
Day 8 – To the airport