By air
Maota (MXS), near Salelologa; the ferry from Upolu takes about an hour
Australia & New Zealand · Samoa
Savai'i, Samoa
Samoa's big, quiet volcanic island
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October; bring patience for the ferry in any season
Don't miss
Alofaaga Blowholes
Saleaula Lava Fields
Afu Aau Falls
Falealupo canopy walk
Satoalepai turtle sanctuary
Manase beach
Mount Silisili
Things to do
The Alofaaga blowholes
Swimming with turtles at Satoalepai
The lava fields
The Falealupo canopy walk
A drive around the island
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Author and original uploader was CloudSurfer at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
A lavalava, reef shoes, cash, a torch, insect repellent, a rental car booking
A quieter corner
The Saleaula lava fields, where a church stands half-buried in a lava flow from the early twentieth century
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Savai'i?
May to October; bring patience for the ferry in any season. What to pack: A lavalava, reef shoes, cash, a torch, insect repellent, a rental car booking.
How do I get to Savai'i?
Fly into Maota (MXS), near Salelologa; the ferry from Upolu takes about an hour.
What is there to do in Savai'i?
The Alofaaga blowholes, swimming with turtles at Satoalepai, the lava fields, the Falealupo canopy walk, a drive around the island. A quieter find: The Saleaula lava fields, where a church stands half-buried in a lava flow from the early twentieth century.
What should I eat in Savai'i?
Umu feasts, fresh fish, taro and breadfruit, coconut everything, cocoa Samoa.
About Savai'i
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
Savai'i is the largest island of Samoa, west of Upolu across the Apolima Strait, a shield volcano whose villages ring the coast road.
History
Samoan tradition holds Savai'i as the cradle of Polynesia, and its villages keep some of the strongest chiefly customs in the islands. Eruptions of Mount Matavanu in the early twentieth century buried villages on the north coast under lava, and the island has stayed rural and lightly visited since.
People
Savai'i's villages are traditional and close-knit, with evening prayer curfews and Sunday rest; visitors travel the coast road from fale to fale and are greeted everywhere.
Known for
- The Alofaaga blowholes
- Lava fields and a buried church
- Beach fales at Manase
- Swimming with turtles
Did you know?
Savai'i is among the largest islands in Polynesia yet has only a few tens of thousands of residents.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.