Things to do in Savai'i
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Savai'i
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Dry season, the reliable window, with calmer lagoons, better inland roads and the main visitor season filling fales and ferry space.
Wet and cyclone season, hotter and more humid, with fuller waterfalls, rougher crossings and a small cyclone disruption risk.
South coast surf window in resort material for the island, the opposite season to the calmest north coast snorkelling.
What's on
- Teuila Festival early September
Samoa's national cultural festival, centred in Apia on Upolu, which fills ferries and Apia rooms at both ends of the week.
- Independence Day 1 June
Samoa's independence celebrations, centred in Apia with village celebrations across both islands.
- White Sunday (Lotu Tamaiti) second Sunday in October
The children's Sunday, when children lead church services in white and are feasted by their families in every village.
Best things to do in Savai'i
Saleaula Lava Fields
A black lava plain from the 1905 to 1911 Matavanu eruption, with a lava filled church ruin and the Virgin's Grave.
Alofaaga Blowholes
Waves erupt through lava tubes in an unfenced clifftop at Taga, best near high tide, so stay behind the painted line.
Afu Aau Waterfalls
A spring fed cascade in three tiers near Vailoa, with a wide clear plunge pool that is Savaii's best freshwater swim.
Manase Beach
The sheltered north coast swimming and snorkelling shore, lined with village beach fales and Stevensons resort.
Falealupo Canopy Walk
A banyan climb and canopy walkway in the Falealupo preserve, reported permanently closed, so check locally first.
Swimming With Turtles
A village run turtle pool at Satoalepai where visitors swim with green turtles, with the penned model openly debated.
Pulemelei Ancient Mound
Polynesia's largest ancient structure, a stepped basalt pyramid in plantation jungle that needs a local guide.
Pe'ape'a Cave
A lava tube near Letui home to swiftlet colonies that navigate the dark by echolocation, visited with a village guide.
Where to stay in Savai'i
Manase and Fagamalo, north coast
swimming, snorkelling, the classic stay
Sheltered lagoon water, the Manase fale strip and the Fagamalo resorts, with Saleaula lava fields minutes away.
Salelologa and Lalomalava, east coast
ferry nights, stocking up, the south coast loop
The wharf, market and shops, with Amoa and the Savaiian for resort and hotel comfort near the ferry.
West end, Asau and Falealupo
sunsets, quiet, the far end of the road
Asau Bay activities at Va-i-Moana and fale simplicity at Falealupo, 90 minutes or more from the wharf.
South coast, Palauli
blowholes, falls and surf bases
The sights coast, with Satuiatua as the fale base for surfers and slow travellers on the loop.
Think twice about
- Alofaaga Blowholes rock platform
Unfenced, wet and slippery lava rock. Stay behind the painted line, because falling into a blowhole would almost certainly be fatal.
- Reef passes and exposed south coast breaks
Powerful currents run in lagoon passages and reef breaks. Swim and snorkel inside sheltered lagoon water and take local advice first.
Best restaurants in Savai'i
Vailili Restaurant
The splurge table inside Le Lagoto at Fagamalo, fresh cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner by the sunset beach.
Barefoot Bar and Restaurant
Savaii Lagoon Resort's beachfront restaurant, with a nightly changing menu, seafood and oka as the standouts.
Tusitala Restaurant
The Manase strip's full restaurant inside Stevensons, local cuisine all day with a beach bar and terrace.
Savai'i Harbourside Cafe & Pizza Bar
The ferry town cafe and pizza bar in Salelologa, the huge pizza lunch that fits an arrival or departure day.
CC's Restaurant and Bar
Lusia's lagoon side restaurant in Salelologa, Samoan and international dishes on a terrace over the water.
Outdoor things to do in Savai'i
Mount Matavanu Crater
The crater behind the Saleaula lava, reached by a rough 4WD road from Safotu and a short forest track with a guide.
Mount Silisili
Samoa's highest peak at 1,858 metres, a two to three day guided climb arranged through the Aopo village leader.
Asau Bay
A sheltered west coast bay for kayaking to a coral island, snorkelling and pontoons, based at Va-i-Moana lodge.
Satuiatua
Savaii's known surf village on the south coast, an experienced only reef break with a long paddle out past the reef.
Lano Beach
A village swimming beach on the east coast, a simple circuit stop between Salelologa and the Palauli sights.
Best hotels in Savai'i
Le Lagoto Resort & Spa
Savaii's top tier, a 10 bungalow boutique resort on a secluded Fagamalo beach, named for its sunsets, with a spa.
Savaii Lagoon Resort
A small lagoon front resort at Fagamalo with coral garden snorkelling, kitchenettes and filtered drinking water.
Amoa Resort Savaii
The east side resort at Siufaga, 15 bungalows and villas around a pool with a swim up bar, near Salelologa.
Stevensons at Manase
The resort end of the Manase fale strip, with a pool, a beach bar and rooms on the island's favourite beach.
Va-i-Moana Seaside Lodge
A family run lodge on Asau Bay ranging from open fales to ensuite suites, with kayaks, pontoons and a Friday umu.
The Savaiian Hotel
A small family hotel ten minutes from the wharf at Lalomalava, with a pool and its own north and south coast tours.
Tanu Beach Fales
Open fales on Manase beach at about WST 80 per adult including breakfast and dinner, the classic Savaii stay.
Lusia's Lagoon Chalets
Garden and over water chalets 2 kilometres from the wharf, with a lagoon restaurant, kayaks and snorkelling gear.
Is Savai'i expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | WST 140 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | WST 320 a person |
| Splurge | WST 650 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Pulemelei Ancient Mound: a few days ahead
- Mount Matavanu Crater: a few days ahead
- Mount Silisili: weeks ahead
- Asau Bay: a few days ahead
- Le Lagoto Resort & Spa: weeks ahead
- Savaii Lagoon Resort: a few days ahead
- Amoa Resort Savaii: a few days ahead
- Stevensons at Manase: a few days ahead
- Book the ferry vehicle space, Le Lagoto and Savaii Lagoon Resort well ahead in the May to October dry season.
- Arrange Mount Silisili through the Aopo pulenu'u with real lead time, and a Mount Matavanu guide and 4WD the day before.
- Provision on Saturday for Sunday, when shops close, buses barely run and many sites and restaurants pause.
Is Savai'i safe?
- The real risks are sea currents, the unfenced blowholes, night driving and stray dogs.
- Avoid driving at night where you can, because roads are poorly lit and children and animals are on them.
- Serious medical cases go from Savaii to Apia and may need evacuation onward, so insurance covering evacuation is essential.
Savai'i travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Treating Savaii as a day trip from Apia. Two nights is the honest minimum and three to four is comfortable.
- Building a west end day around the Falealupo Canopy Walk, which is reported permanently closed. Check locally first.
- Assuming card payment works in villages. Site fees, fales and markets are cash in tala, in small notes.
Getting around Savai'i: public transport and more
- Cross by SSC ferry from Mulifanua on Upolu to Salelologa, 60 to 90 minutes, with one Sunday sailing each way in recent patterns.
- Book vehicle space well ahead, because it sells out, while foot passengers buy tickets at the terminal.
- A full circuit of the coastal road takes about four hours of driving without stops, and Samoa drives on the left.
- Taxis wait at Salelologa wharf for arriving ferries. Agree the fare before you set off.
Who Savai'i suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Savai'i your trip
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