The island nation of Samoa is a tiny dot in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. But although this tropical paradise lacks a lot of girth, it abounds with adventure opportunities. Here are 5 things you probably won’t do anywhere else, but can experience in less than a week on the main island of Upolu.
Ride a Rock Water Slide
Just a few minutes outside the capitol Apia, you’ll find the Papasaea Sliding Rocks. This beautiful river gorge features a series of waterfalls – several of which flow over smooth rock that is coated with algae and just the right pitch to give visitors a wild ride. Sit on your butt (or go head first if you’re brave enough!) and rocket down until you splash into a pool below. Other than a slightly bruised behind, it’s actually relatively hard to get hurt, and it’s guaranteed to get your heart pounding.
Snorkel in a Tide Pool
Tide pools are throbbing with life and normally seen only from above. But take your mask and snorkel and step into one of these pools at low tide, and you’ll feel like you’re swimming in an aquarium. The crystal clear water is free of wave surge, as warm as a bath and packed with a so many fish it will make your head swim. Often tide pools are no bigger than a school bus, yet you can float for an hour and not get bored. Look for little black versions of these guys – they are air breathing fish that hop from pool to pool. We saw hundreds of them around the pools on Namua Island.
Sleep in a Beach Fale
Traditional fales are simple raised platforms with a thatched roof and mosquito net. Resorts all over Samoa have fales built right on the beach – close enough that the waves run right underneath your front porch. Fancy fales have woven mat shutters that can be lowered to protect you against the wind, but often they’re just exposed to the elements. Being cold isn’t really a problem in Samoa because the equatorial location means it’s consistently warm year round, and there’s no better way to fall asleep than with a light breeze and the sound of waves a few feet away.
Swim in an Ocean Trench
The To Sua Ocean Trench is a sinkhole connected to the sea by an underground passageway. Climb down the 5 story tall ladder and jump off the platform. You’ll find yourself swimming in clear salt water surrounded by dangling tropical vines and ferns that cling to the edges of the sheer cliffs of this bizarre grotto. Drops of water gently drip on you as you float beneath the surface of the earth staring at the blue sky above. If you go to Samoa, it’s probably the one thing you absolutely shouldn’t miss if only because it’s so unique.
Jump off a Waterfall
In the Togitogiga National Reserve on the southern part of the island you’ll find a series of waterfalls with warm clear water ripe for swimming. Even more enticing for those who like adventure (after all, we’re married to it!) are the ledges from which you can jump into enticing pools. They are deep enough that you have little fear of hitting the bottom, even from heights as tall as a 3 story building.
Getting Around: Most sights in Samoa can be reached by local bus, but most visitors hire a car (around US $50 per day) or book a tour through their hotel in Apia. It only takes around 2 hours to drive across the island. Driving is on the left side of the road but it’s easy to manage – most of the driving is on country lanes with little traffic.