Upolu



Upolu is the most important of Samoa's islands. The Region of Upolu also includes all other islands of the country apart from the so-called "big" island of Savaii. Upolu was formed by a massive volcano, but there have been no recent eruptions. The island is 75 km long and contains Samoa's capital, Apia, which is in the middle of the north coast and Faleolo International Airport, which is towards the western end of the island. The island is fringed by reefs and has some beautiful beaches. Inland is hilly, with tropical vegetation and numerous waterfalls.

Upolu was affected by a major tsunami on 29 September 2009. Twenty villages in its eastern, southeastern and southern sides were destroyed or badly damaged. Deaths exceeded 100 and more than 3000 people were made homeless. Considerable tourism infrastructure was affected but several facilities have been rebuilt. In addition to its impact on land, the tsunami also had considerable impact on the area's coral.

Cities

 * , the capital of Upolu, situated on the north coast. This is a rapidly modernising city, backed up with considerable history. The population is close to 40,000.

Other destinations
There are many attractive villages throughout the island and on Manono island. Upolu also has some interesting natural reserves, lovely waterfalls, good diving and snorkelling and fantastic beaches. There is more information in the "See" section below.

Understand
Be respectful whilst traveling around the villages and the quiet outskirts of Upolu. Samoa is a very traditional society and it is important to respect Fa'a Samoa, the "Samoan Way". See Samoa.

Talk
The Samoan language is the official language, but many Samoans speak English fluently.

Get in
Most visitors arrive by plane at Faleolo International Airport, which has flights from various countries. The other options are Fagalii Airport, with flights from American Samoa, and boat service from Tokelau and American Samoa. For more information, see Samoa.

Buses
Old traditional buses are a must do. They are quite cheap, but can be uncomfortable. Buses leave from two locations in Apia: behind the flea market on the waterfront and next to the produce market "Marketi Fou". Ask the drivers for information on which buses to catch to your planned destination.

Car rental
You can hire cars from Apia, sometimes for less than WS$50 a day. Rental companies include:



Scooter rental
Scooter rentals are around WST$65 per day.

Fill the tank in Apia as opportunities for refills are limited elsewhere.

See






Do

 * Surfing. There is good surfing in many locations but it is only for the experienced as the reef can be dangerous. Several resorts specialise in surfing. Check the web before committing to a surf tour operator as one or two do not have good reputations.
 * Fishing. There is an abundance of fish in Samoa's waters. Charter companies mainly operate from Apia's harbour, and one operating from Sinalei Resort on the South Coast.
 * Golf. Two courses are close to Apia: the Royal Samoan Country Club, for a long time Samoa's only golf course, and a more recent development, the Faleata Country Club, which is close to the sports complex constructed for the South Pacific Games. On the south coast the Sinalei Reef Resort has a nine-hole pitch and putt course.
 * Snorkelling. There are around 900 fish species and 200 types of coral in Samoa's waters. One company that rents equipment on Upolu is
 * Beaches. Upolu has lengthy stretches of beautiful beaches. All beaches are Customary Land (owned by a village) and you may be asked to pay a small fee for their use. It would not be appreciated if you tried to argue.

Eat
Most restaurants are in Apia or at the hotels around the island.

The usual kinds of European, Asian and fast foods are available, but be sure to try the "umu", which is made in a traditional pit-oven, using red hot lava stones heated by charcoal. Whole pigs, fruits, chickens, fish, etc., are placed among the rocks for many hours, and covered with banana leaves. The food has an absolutely delicious smoked flavour, and meats are as tender and juicy as possible. Traditional food can be purchased from Apia. If you must, you can also visit the only fast food outlet in Samoa, McDonald's, which is on Centre Road, Apia.

Drink
Vailima was the local beer but now brewed in Fiji. Taula is 100% Samoan owned and brewed beer. Bottled water is recommended.

See Samoa for more information.

Sleep
In addition to hotels in Apia there are some good resorts, guest houses and fales on other parts of the main island and outer islands. Some hotels damaged by the tsunami are still recovering and are not listed here.

Stay safe
Do not walk alone at night, and stay with people you know and trust. Free roaming dogs can be a safety problem in the capital Apia. The Government of Samoa (GoS) passed the Canine Control Act in 2013 as a first step toward addressing dog management. Most dogs ignore you and don't see you as a threat if you ignore them.

Go next
No visit to Samoa is complete without a visit to Savaii. This is the larger but less developed of the two main islands.