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Samoa Islands
Picture Samoa Islands  Large Picture American Samoa and Western Samoa, where two civilisations meet yet history converges ... Click an icon in the Map of Samoa for more pictures The Samoa islands comprise of Western Samoa and American Samoa. Upolu is the main island in Western Samoa, with Apia, the capital on the north coast and the international airport at Faleolo, 35km to the east. Apia is a sprawling town of satellite suburbs and villages. Its focus is along its beautiful harbour setting where the major concentration of Samoa hotels and restaurants are found as well as the offshore Palolo National Marine Reserve which is a great snorkelling and diving spot. The south coast is more rural and has some quiet coastal villages and stunning tropical palm fringed beaches, some with good offshore surfing and a few small hotels and resorts alongside pleasant sandy beaches and lots of simple beach fales (bungalows) run by locals. The interior of Upolu is hilly with several villages, waterfalls and lovely forest trails. Neighbouring Savai'i lies 22km from Upolu's western tip. Ferries take about an hour and a half, and flights from Apia just 20 minutes. Savai'i is larger than Upolu but much of the island is wild. Savai'i is even more traditional than Upolu and many villages operate beach fales (bungalows) which allows visitors to sample their wonderful way of life. The rainforest here is fantastic and accessible by walking trails and guided 4WD tour. There are several active volcanoes on Savai'i (the last eruption in 1911) and parts of the south and west coast are quite rugged with lava flows and blowholes. The best beaches, surfing breaks and snorkelling are along the north and south west coasts where it is custom to pay a small fee to the local village to use them. American Samoa lies about 80km to the south-east of Upolu and is connected by daily flights from Apia as well as having its own international airport. Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa but is hardly opened up to holiday tourism. Lacking many great beaches, the wild coastline offers great views, some of the most pure coastal rainforest in the South Pacific and interesting archaeological sites. The island is covered in dense tropical rainforest, much of it protected by National Parks and most of the north coast is inaccessible. Pago Pago Town, the main centre, has a stunning deep water harbour with magnificent mountain views. The lifestyle here is heavily influenced by USA, of which it is a dependency, and the people of less traditional upbringing. The Manua Group of islands about 60 miles to the east offers several striking islands with gorgeous beaches but even less of a tourist infrastructure than the main island. This is the supposed birthplace of Samoa and Polynesia and has rich archaeological sites. |
 Samoa Holidays & Hotels Talk to a Beautiful Pacific Travel Consultant Now: London: 0208 123 8622 USA: 619 618 0229 Australia: 02 8005 1232 Fiji: 672 2600 Samoa Resorts Search |
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