The Samoan People

Samoans are the largest group of full-blooded Polynesians in the world and have retained much of their ancient tradition and culture. Traditional tattooing is an intricate ancient art of Samoa and young Samoan males are tattooed with complex symbolic designs, from the lower chest to the knees. Samoans are a friendly if a not very traditional group of people. The family unit is incredibly important and some villages are made up entirely of extended family members. Samoan (Polynesian) is the native language. However, English is widely spoken and is the official language.

Places to visit in Samoa

Apia

The city of Apia is bustling and friendly, a good starting point for travel around the country on Samoa vacations. There are still some early wooden colonial buildings scattered around the city and the traditional Polynesian lifestyle can be seen throughout the markets, churches and streets of Apia. Nearby and hovering over the city is Mount Vaea which can be climbed reasonably easily. Savaii is considerably less developed than Upolu, dotted with secluded beaches and crowned in the centre by the 609 feet of Mt Matavanu, whose eruptions in 1905 caused the people to migrate to neighbouring Upolu.

Namu’a Island

Namu’a Island is only a short boat ride from Upolu but once you are on this tiny private island, Upolu seems light-years away (though it’s clearly visible across the strait). There is no electricity so everything is lit by oil lamps at night. It is the perfect place for relaxing and swimming. If you are more active, you can climb up the steep central peak or snorkel the surrounding reef.

Manono Island

The tiny, tranquil island of Manono is where cars have been banished and therefore serenity reigns. Visitors should undertake the 1½-hour circumnavigation of the island via the path that winds its way between the ocean and people’s houses. You will be greeted cheerfully by the locals. The trail’s most beautiful section is Manono’s less-populated northern edge where little bays offer terrific views.

Aleipata

At the southeastern end of Upolu, the Aleipata district has good snorkelling and the beaches here are among the most beautiful in the world. Try walking into the sea off the spectacular white beach at Lalomanu. If you are lucky, you might spot a turtle,

Samoa is a great stopover en route to Australia and New Zealand, travelling around the Pacific or around the World. It is also a fabulous one-stop vacation destination. To sum up, Samoa has excellent beaches, great watersport facilities and exotic scenery to satisfy most hedonists.

Things to do in Samoa

The Samoa Cultural Village is open every weekday and a visit is a must. Knowledgeable hosts take visitors through all aspects of Samoan cultural and traditional life, with workshops on weaving, woodworking, siapo cloth making, traditional tatau, dance and music. Guests are also treated to an 'ava (kava) ceremony and lunch from the umu (hot-stone oven).

The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum & Mount Vaea National Reserve is where you will find the Scottish author's former residence. It is an entrancing place with perfectly manicured gardens. Stevenson's mansion, substantially destroyed in the cyclones in the early 1990s, was lovingly rebuilt and opened as a museum in 1994 on the centenary of Stevenson’s death. It contains many artefacts collected over time as this Scottish writer lived here for some time.

Also, your trip to Samoa needs to include a visit to one of the many markets selling fruit and vegetables as well as hand-crafted carvings. Maketi Fou is the best market to visit. This 24-hour market is a must-see shopping and social experience. Though primarily a produce market, pretty much everything is sold here. You will find siapo (decorated bark cloth), woodcarvings, coconut-shell jewellery, lava-lava (wraparound sarongs) and T-shirts. 

The Mount Matavanu Crater was created by the devastation a century ago caused by the eruption of the volcano. It is accessed by taking a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Once at the crater, the views of the crater and the surrounding countryside are breathtaking.   

Fishing in Samoa

Samoa is recognized as one of the top game fishing spots in the world. The waters of Samoa’s surrounding reefs are a playground for masimasi, marlin, albacore, wahoo, sailfish, giant trevally, dolphin fish (mahi-mahi), barracuda, dogtooth tuna and yellow-fin tuna. Combine that with the attraction of crystal clear waters and some of the Pacific's most picture-perfect scenery, and you will be pleased with a visit to Samoa. You can join one of the professional fishing operators and charters and head to sea for a few hours If you have not done much fishing before, an experienced crew offers lessons for beginners. For a truly authentic experience, you can join a local fishing trip as some villagers own the fishing rights. 

Globetrotting with Goway" blog articles

For some additional reading, the following articles are from our blog “Globetrotting with Goway”….. a great source of information for those people who are, or who want to be, world travellers!

Enjoy a Serene Slice of the South Pacific on a Samoa Vacation

Rich Culture and Untouched Nature in Samoa

Discover Samoa

Don’t forget Samoa on South Pacific Vacations!

Top Five Overlooked Beach Destinations

Samoa Vacation Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Samoa vacations. 

Learn about the history and culture of Samoa, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Samoa's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, and 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips and our visa and health information will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Samoa for yourself. Start exploring...book one of our Samoa vacations today!

Extend Your Stay in the Pacific 

Consider an additional stopover after or before one of your Samoa tours at one of Goway's other South Pacific destinations. You can choose from our selection of Australian vacations, New Zealand vacation packages, Tahiti vacation packages, one of our Fiji resorts or perhaps take a Cook Island vacation.