Upolu
Apia is the capital city of Samoa, and is located on Upolu Island. Upolu island is the smaller of the two islands in size but is referred to as the main island as it is more populated and developed than Savai'i. One thing to note is that both islands are very quiet on a Sunday with the vast majority of restaurants and attractions closed.
The island is small and it only takes a few hours to drive all around, so it is possible to stay in one accommodation for your entire stay. I would still recommend moving around as it will give you longer to enjoy the beautiful island and activities, reducing the daily driving.
A hire car is definitely the easiest option for transport around the island, however there are local buses you can use. The local buses operate on 'island time' and there is no set bus timetable and route in some of the quieter areas, making it difficult to plan.
If you do decide to stay in one of the larger resorts, the majority do offer day trips to the main attractions.
In terms of restaurants and places to eat, outside of Apia it’s a little bit more difficult than most places. A lot of the accommodation will include breakfast and dinner within the room rate, all the food we had was delicious! Some evenings we visited other resorts for food or lunch if we were driving between places, so there are options to choose from.
I would recommend always having cash on hand, a lot of the tourist attractions are within local villages and they charge a small entrance fees to the waterfalls etc and only take cash. Some of the smaller accommodations also only accept cash, the usually tell you at the time of booking. It’s worth using a cash point in Apia as we found the local pacific island ATMs didn’t accept international cards.
Day 1 and 2 - Apia
Apia is very small and quiet in comparison to most capital cities, but it is still worth a short visit.
Rather than a set itinerary, I'm going to list a few different options of what you can do and see when staying in Apia.
There are also lots of waterfalls throughout the island, all the tourist spots are well signposted from the main roads, so it is easy to spot something and detour.
Places to Visit
Accommodation
There are a few different options for accommodation, we stayed in two different places and both were good value for money. If you just want somewhere to use as a base while in Apia, I would recommend either. There are also resorts available if you are looking for a more holiday and relaxing environment.
Places to Eat
There are a few different options for food within Apia, including local and international cuisines.
Savai'i
Tips Before You Arrive
Savai'i is beautiful and has so many natural attractions, including waterfalls, turtles along the coast and hike's. I would recommend taking cash with you, as ATM's can be difficult to find, although there is one about a 2 minute drive from the port - ANZ. Our international cards didn't work in the Pacific Bank ATM's, but we didn't struggle to find an ANZ in both Apia and then immediately at the port in Savai'i.
A lot of the smaller accommodations, restaurants, shops, petrol stations and entrance fees are cash only.
Petrol stations can be hard to find, especially in the quieter areas, so its best to plan. The island isn't very big and we managed to travel around with out needing to top up on fuel.
Ferry Crossing
Catch the ferry from Upolu Ferry Terminal, approximately 45 minutes drive from Apia and near the airport. If you are collecting a hire car from the airport, you could go straight to Savai'i as the ferry crossings are regular. I'm glad we had a day or two to settle a little and visit the Cultural Centre so we had a better understanding of Samoan cultures and traditions, but either way would work.
There are two different ferry options, check with the hire car company if you are driving over as some only allow their vehicles on the larger boat. The ferry journey is only about 1 hour, it is both for vehicles and pedestrians - boarding the ferry with a car was a little hectic, they direct you to a specific space based on the size of your vehicle and it is a squeeze, however they are pro's so if you follow the instructions you will be fine.
I would recommend booking a vehicle in advance as they do book up fast as a lot of locals use the crossing daily.
If you are walking on as a passenger, you can purchase a ticket on the day and get a local bus from Apia.
Savai'i is larger than Upolu so I recommend staying in a few different accommodations, but if you did want one base it would be manageable. We moved each night and drove in a circuit around the island, which seemed to be the most popular way of doing things.
If you fancy something a little different, you can hire bikes or join a tour and cycle around.
I'm going to outline the route we took, the activities each day and where we stayed but you could easily go in the reverse direction or mix it up if you didn't mind driving a little more.
Day 3
Start the day with catching the ferry, to make the most of the day in Savai'i I recommend arriving in the morning. Once you arrive, head to your accommodation but make a stop off on the way.
Stop1 :Saleaula Lava Field
Molten lava from the 1905-1911 Mt Matavanu eruption buried 5 villages under this wide barren lava flow. Half buried churches, a virgin grave and lava mounds (imprints of tree etc) can still be found as you walk over this fascinating geological expanse.
It’s a really cool place to visit and a beautiful coastal walk if you fancy something a little longer as it only takes around 30 minutes to explore the church and surrounding sites.
There is a small entrance fee and you get a brief introduction to the history of the area and the various different local tales about why the lava didn’t destroy the church and gravestone.
Accommodation
The majority of accommodation is locally run and food will be included in the rates. The larger hotels will often have restaurants on site.
Slightly closer to the ferry port, is another great accommodation - we stayed here the night before our ferry departure. If you choose to stay here then visit stop 1 on your second day to prevent you from driving the same road twice as one road circles the island.
Day 4
On your second day, continue to drive around the island and travelling to your next night accommodation. There are lots of stops you can make on the way, I’ve listed a few below.
Snorkelling
Accommodation
Day 5
On day 5 continue around the rest of the island - today will be spectacular as you visit some of the best spots.
Accommodation
I recommend spending one more night on the island and catching an early ferry back to Upolu so you can enjoy the day, however you could get a ferry back on day 5 if you would prefer.
Day 6
Wake up nice and early and catch an early ferry back to Upolu, it’s best to book the vehicle crossing in advance. In order to board the ferry, on arrival to the port you’ll see a long queue of cars - that’s where you’ll need to join before they open the gates at the boarding time.
Once you arrive back to Upolu, it’s time to continue your lap around the island - before arriving at your accommodation for the night.
Accommodation
Day 7
A full day of exploring, with several spots to visit. In addition to the ones below there are plenty of smaller waterfalls you can visit, they are all signposted from the main road. The majority will charge a small fee and you will park and view the waterfall, rather than walk directly to it.
Coastal Walk
Opposite the car park for the Ma Tree walk, you’ll see the coastal walk signposted. I recommend driving to the car park rather than walking as it’ll take an hour to reach the coast and it’s through a field, via a gravel path. The coastal walk is a must do - the combination of lava rocks, the greenery and the turquoise sea, provides breathtaking views. The walk is around an hour return.
Accommodation
I recommend continuing around the coast and spending the night on the spectacular Laloman Beach.
Day 8
On your last full day in Samoa, enjoy the award winning Laloman Beach, voted by Lonely Planet within the top 10 beaches in the world or visit Namu’a Island a short boat ride away.
In terms of accommodation, if your flight is in the afternoon on day 9 then you could stay one more night on the beach, before driving to the airport or head back to spend the evening in Apia.
Day 9
Say goodbye to Samoa, and have safe onwards travels.
Further Travels
If you want to explore more of the pacific islands then take a look at my itinerary for Fiji.
Upolu
Apia is the capital city of Samoa, and is located on Upolu Island. Upolu island is the smaller of the two islands in size but is referred to as the main island as it is more populated and developed than Savai'i. One thing to note is that both islands are very quiet on a Sunday with the vast majority of restaurants and attractions closed.
The island is small and it only takes a few hours to drive all around, so it is possible to stay in one accommodation for your entire stay. I would still recommend moving around as it will give you longer to enjoy the beautiful island and activities, reducing the daily driving.
A hire car is definitely the easiest option for transport around the island, however there are local buses you can use. The local buses operate on 'island time' and there is no set bus timetable and route in some of the quieter areas, making it difficult to plan.
If you do decide to stay in one of the larger resorts, the majority do offer day trips to the main attractions.
In terms of restaurants and places to eat, outside of Apia it’s a little bit more difficult than most places. A lot of the accommodation will include breakfast and dinner within the room rate, all the food we had was delicious! Some evenings we visited other resorts for food or lunch if we were driving between places, so there are options to choose from.
I would recommend always having cash on hand, a lot of the tourist attractions are within local villages and they charge a small entrance fees to the waterfalls etc and only take cash. Some of the smaller accommodations also only accept cash, the usually tell you at the time of booking. It’s worth using a cash point in Apia as we found the local pacific island ATMs didn’t accept international cards.
Day 1 and 2 - Apia
Apia is very small and quiet in comparison to most capital cities, but it is still worth a short visit.
Rather than a set itinerary, I'm going to list a few different options of what you can do and see when staying in Apia.
There are also lots of waterfalls throughout the island, all the tourist spots are well signposted from the main roads, so it is easy to spot something and detour.
Places to Visit
Accommodation
There are a few different options for accommodation, we stayed in two different places and both were good value for money. If you just want somewhere to use as a base while in Apia, I would recommend either. There are also resorts available if you are looking for a more holiday and relaxing environment.
Places to Eat
There are a few different options for food within Apia, including local and international cuisines.
Savai'i
Tips Before You Arrive
Savai'i is beautiful and has so many natural attractions, including waterfalls, turtles along the coast and hike's. I would recommend taking cash with you, as ATM's can be difficult to find, although there is one about a 2 minute drive from the port - ANZ. Our international cards didn't work in the Pacific Bank ATM's, but we didn't struggle to find an ANZ in both Apia and then immediately at the port in Savai'i.
A lot of the smaller accommodations, restaurants, shops, petrol stations and entrance fees are cash only.
Petrol stations can be hard to find, especially in the quieter areas, so its best to plan. The island isn't very big and we managed to travel around with out needing to top up on fuel.
Ferry Crossing
Catch the ferry from Upolu Ferry Terminal, approximately 45 minutes drive from Apia and near the airport. If you are collecting a hire car from the airport, you could go straight to Savai'i as the ferry crossings are regular. I'm glad we had a day or two to settle a little and visit the Cultural Centre so we had a better understanding of Samoan cultures and traditions, but either way would work.
There are two different ferry options, check with the hire car company if you are driving over as some only allow their vehicles on the larger boat. The ferry journey is only about 1 hour, it is both for vehicles and pedestrians - boarding the ferry with a car was a little hectic, they direct you to a specific space based on the size of your vehicle and it is a squeeze, however they are pro's so if you follow the instructions you will be fine.
I would recommend booking a vehicle in advance as they do book up fast as a lot of locals use the crossing daily.
If you are walking on as a passenger, you can purchase a ticket on the day and get a local bus from Apia.
Savai'i is larger than Upolu so I recommend staying in a few different accommodations, but if you did want one base it would be manageable. We moved each night and drove in a circuit around the island, which seemed to be the most popular way of doing things.
If you fancy something a little different, you can hire bikes or join a tour and cycle around.
I'm going to outline the route we took, the activities each day and where we stayed but you could easily go in the reverse direction or mix it up if you didn't mind driving a little more.
Day 3
Start the day with catching the ferry, to make the most of the day in Savai'i I recommend arriving in the morning. Once you arrive, head to your accommodation but make a stop off on the way.
Stop1 :Saleaula Lava Field
Molten lava from the 1905-1911 Mt Matavanu eruption buried 5 villages under this wide barren lava flow. Half buried churches, a virgin grave and lava mounds (imprints of tree etc) can still be found as you walk over this fascinating geological expanse.
It’s a really cool place to visit and a beautiful coastal walk if you fancy something a little longer as it only takes around 30 minutes to explore the church and surrounding sites.
There is a small entrance fee and you get a brief introduction to the history of the area and the various different local tales about why the lava didn’t destroy the church and gravestone.
Accommodation
The majority of accommodation is locally run and food will be included in the rates. The larger hotels will often have restaurants on site.
Slightly closer to the ferry port, is another great accommodation - we stayed here the night before our ferry departure. If you choose to stay here then visit stop 1 on your second day to prevent you from driving the same road twice as one road circles the island.
Day 4
On your second day, continue to drive around the island and travelling to your next night accommodation. There are lots of stops you can make on the way, I’ve listed a few below.
Snorkelling
Accommodation
Day 5
On day 5 continue around the rest of the island - today will be spectacular as you visit some of the best spots.
Accommodation
I recommend spending one more night on the island and catching an early ferry back to Upolu so you can enjoy the day, however you could get a ferry back on day 5 if you would prefer.
Day 6
Wake up nice and early and catch an early ferry back to Upolu, it’s best to book the vehicle crossing in advance. In order to board the ferry, on arrival to the port you’ll see a long queue of cars - that’s where you’ll need to join before they open the gates at the boarding time.
Once you arrive back to Upolu, it’s time to continue your lap around the island - before arriving at your accommodation for the night.
Accommodation
Day 7
A full day of exploring, with several spots to visit. In addition to the ones below there are plenty of smaller waterfalls you can visit, they are all signposted from the main road. The majority will charge a small fee and you will park and view the waterfall, rather than walk directly to it.
Coastal Walk
Opposite the car park for the Ma Tree walk, you’ll see the coastal walk signposted. I recommend driving to the car park rather than walking as it’ll take an hour to reach the coast and it’s through a field, via a gravel path. The coastal walk is a must do - the combination of lava rocks, the greenery and the turquoise sea, provides breathtaking views. The walk is around an hour return.
Accommodation
I recommend continuing around the coast and spending the night on the spectacular Laloman Beach.
Day 8
On your last full day in Samoa, enjoy the award winning Laloman Beach, voted by Lonely Planet within the top 10 beaches in the world or visit Namu’a Island a short boat ride away.
In terms of accommodation, if your flight is in the afternoon on day 9 then you could stay one more night on the beach, before driving to the airport or head back to spend the evening in Apia.
Day 9
Say goodbye to Samoa, and have safe onwards travels.
Further Travels
If you want to explore more of the pacific islands then take a look at my itinerary for Fiji.