Region
Upolu
Sleep in Apia for the first nights and do the island in road trips by hire car: south-coast beaches, To Sua Ocean Trench and the waterfalls; then a beach fale or the Savai'i ferry.
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Key facts · Samoa
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Currency
- Samoan tala (WST)
- Language
- Samoan and English
- Plugs
- I · 230 V
- Time zone
- UTC+13 all year
Rules in force · 6
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Polynesia ↗In much of Polynesia Sunday is kept for church and family: expect shops, tours and some flights to stop, and dress and behave quietly in villages.
- Samoa ↗Most passports receive a free 60-day visitor permit on arrival with an onward ticket, funds and booked accommodation, but rules vary: check the Samoa Immigration Office for your passport before booking.
- Samoa ↗Beaches, pools and waterfalls are village land: pay the customary fee, and follow the evening prayer curfew (sa) by stopping and keeping quiet if you are in a village when it sounds.
- Samoa ↗Drive on the left; check with the rental company whether your licence is accepted or a temporary local permit is required.
Upolu is a compact island with one town. Beaches, pools and waterfalls belong to villages and charge a small fee. A hire car turns the island into easy road trips, and Sunday is a rest day when most things close.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
One or two nights
- South coast of UpoluGuide: planned
Beach fale and To Sua Ocean Trench; 1 h by car.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 5 nights
- Apia 2 + south-coast Upolu 3
- Sunday closures: do not plan a tight tour on a Sunday.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Sua Ocean Trench and the south coast | Apia | 75 min | unknown | Hire car or driver; village and site fees are paid in cash. |
| Mulifanua ferry wharf (for Savai'i) | Apia | 60 min | unknown | Book the ferry and any car ahead; confirm times with the operator. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding culture: keep the big bag at the Apia hotel.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apia | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
| Samoa (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partGo next
Go next
Savai'i
planned2–4 nights
Lava fields, blowholes and quiet villages; car ferry from Mulifanua
Upolu: what we know, and what is coming
1 of 2 places open
On this page
- 2 places with their role: where to sleep, what to do as a day trip
- How to split 5 nights
- 2 day trips with door-to-door time
- Seasons month by month, from the cities’ own tables
- What to do with the big bag between beds
Coming as the guide grows
- Climate strip by zone, with the storm and haze months
- Get in: airports and stations with door-to-door times
- Regional passes and cards, with a buy / skip verdict
- Regional food: what, where and when it works
- A page for South coast of Upolu — Beach fale and To Sua Ocean Trench; 1 h by car.
Meanwhile
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids3 partsIn numbers · Trips here · Local time
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 2, 1 h to 1 h 15
- Nights suggested
- 5 nights
Trips that stop here
Upolu and Savai'i
7 days · 2 nights here
Apia → Lalomanu → Savai'i
Two islands, slower
10 days · 2 nights here
Apia → Lalomanu → Savai'i → West Upolu (near airport)
Slow Samoa
14 days · 3 nights here
Apia → Lalomanu → Manono → Savai'i → West Upolu
Local time
What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.
Apia
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Checking your clock…Pacific/Apia
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