Samoa Itinerary for Beaches, Adventure, and Food!

This Samoa itinerary includes everything you need to enjoy the island and its culture. My trip to Samoa was prompted by my cousin’s wedding, and we had a fabulous time exploring the island with family! You’ll see the whole cousin crew in my pictures. We were in Auckland before this and were in Fiji after (with a week in Vanuatu as well). Add some days to your trip, as you’ll likely need to transfer in either Auckland or Nadi to get to Samoa.

This itinerary will take you to the best beaches, ocean trenches, and giant clams. The plan spans both Samoa’s beautiful islands, Upolu and Savai’i.

If you want all the places mentioned (restaurants, hotels, hikes, caves, beaches, and more) easily accessible in a Google Maps List, download my Samoa Guide!

This post contains affiliate links.

Practical Tips for your Samoa Itinerary

Tips

• Bug spray: the mosquitoes can be quite relentless, and there was an outbreak of Dengue Fever when I visited in July 2025. Bring a bug spray that has DEET in it.
• Cash: I suggest getting out $300 worth of cash to start. At the airport, after you exit immigration, there is an ATM on your right. Many restaurants take cards, but you will need to pay for parking, entrance fees, and falas in cash.
• Samoa is pretty religious, and many activities and sites are closed on Sundays.
• You must buy bottled drinking water.

Getting around Samoa

It’ll be most convenient to rent a car in Samoa. The roads are good, and you’ll have control over your itinerary. I rented a car from Sak’s Rental and had a great experience. They offered a small discount for booking early and were easy to communicate with via email. Originally, I got a Nissan Juke, but we were recommended to upgrade to an SUV Vanguard as we were 5 people in the car.

Just a heads-up: I had to send a deposit via Western Union ahead of time. They accept credit cards (but no American Express) or cash. Don’t let this scare you; it was really easy to do online.

The Sak’s team was great. They met us right at the airport with the car, and we opted to add their insurance since we were paying in cash. They also arranged our ferry ticket for the car to get from one island to the other, which was incredibly convenient and worth the small fee. The ferry tickets are released before you’ve arrived in Samoa, and if you don’t get them with your rental car, you’ll have to buy them in person at the ticket office in Apia (if your preferred time is available).

Ferry trip: book the 1 pm departure and the 4 pm return.

I don’t suggest driving at night in Samoa, but driving around Apia to get to restaurants is totally fine.

The extra fees were:

• A temporary driver’s license for Samoa is required for 21 WST.
• Faleolo airport delivery or pick up outside operating hours is 80 WST (as we arrived at 10 pm).
• There is a 50 WST service charge to book ferry tickets, and the cost of our return-trip ferry ticket was 190 WST.

Driving around Samoa

Wifi in Samoa

I found getting Wifi in hotels in Samoa to be surprisingly difficult, and never free. Even at the five-star resort we stayed in, we only got one hour of free Wifi per day. The eSIM (Airalo code ATTIYA8345 for $3 off or Saily) charges felt very high, but honestly, they’re necessary. I don’t recommend relying on hotel Wifi throughout your Samoa Itinerary.

Eventually, my brother was fed up with the costs and went to a local SIM card shop and got 30GB of data for this trip on my mom’s SIM card. Her phone became the de facto hotspot for 13 different people. The SIM card was cheap, but the issue was finding time to go get it; he had to wake up early one day and do it before our activity started.

So, either plan to spend money on your eSIM like I did or get a SIM card at the airport on arrival.

Falas and Beaches

Falas are traditional beach bungalows along the shore. They are typically oval, made with concrete, and have a thatched roof. They are owned directly by families. Many falas are available for rent at beaches, and you may pay up to 50 WST for day use. Because this is someone’s personal property and not provided by the beach itself, it’s worth paying for the shade and space.

Some restaurants also have beach umbrellas you can use if you’re eating there. We found most beaches to be relatively empty.

A note for women: it’s uncommon for local women to wear bathing suits; they typically wear shorts and shirts in the water. As tourists, it’s polite to cover up when entering a restaurant, walking around, or only wear a bikini when you’re directly entering the water. Just something to be aware of to respect local culture (as it’s noted a lot in signs around beaches).

Samoa Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Apia

Spend 2 nights at Samoana Boutique Hotel, Lava Hotel, or Talofa Inn.

Accommodation + Morning

Accommodation note: I stayed at Dave Parker Eco Lodge as part of a large group for my cousin’s wedding. The views over the coast were very beautiful, but it was a little inconvenient getting to and from town. Staying in town would have given us more access to breakfast and dinner options. Breakfast isn’t included, and Wifi is also charged. I think there are better options in town, which is why I suggested the hotels above. However, it’s worth noting that this was the most cost-effective option.

Dave Parker Eco Lodge

Pick up your rental car, check into your accommodation in Apia. (You may have done this the night before, as we did, because our flight arrived at 10 pm).

Kick off your Samoa Itinerary by visiting the Taufusi Market. It’s colorful and a fun way to get an insight into the country. Keep your eye out for some souvenirs (as you’ll have the chance to return here later at the end of your trip). I liked the natural earrings and wraps.

Afternoon

Then drive to the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. The former home of the author of Treasure Island, turned museum. The entrance fee is about 20 WST per adult. You’ll walk through his library, old furnishings, and the garden. He actually wrote Treasure Island before moving to Samoa, so sadly, the island wasn’t the inspiration. I was convinced it was until I learned otherwise.

Next, visit the Tiapapata Arts Centre for coffee and lunch. The center is so peaceful, and I really liked the pottery pieces.

Evening

Head back to your accommodation for some chill time before getting dinner in the evening. For some local culture and adventure, check out this fire show and buffet at
Le Manumea Hotel. I got to see a fire show at my cousin’s wedding, and it was amazing!

Day 2: Ocean Trench & Beach Vibes

Have breakfast at your accommodation or around town at Nourish Cafe.

If you don’t want to plan anything yourself (or aren’t renting a car), then I suggest this full-day tour that includes all the highlights on the island with admission tickets included.

Today you drive south. First up: To Sua Ocean Trench. This is a stunning 30-meter deep sinkhole/swimming pool of turquoise water framed by tropical gardens.

It’s a must-do on this Samoa Itinerary! Entrance is 20 WST. We spent over an hour here just playing around!

The views over the coast are beautiful here too. There are showers and changing rooms.

Then go to Lalomanu Beach for beach time and lunch.

We ate at Anita’s Beach Bungalows. Get one of the amazing fresh fish dishes. Either the Oka with Taro or the Poke. The main difference between the two is that the Oka is made in coconut cream, and the Poke is made in a teriyaki sauce. I got Oka almost every day in Samoa, but nothing compares to the first time I had it on the beach! It is sooo delicious.

Head back to Apia before sunset, freshen up, and go to dinner. I liked Amanaki Restaurant.

Day 3: Coffee, Clams & Coast

Spend 2 nights at Coconuts Beach Club Resort & Spa, Miti Maninoa Ocean Club, or Sinalei Resort. I really liked this location, as you can have dinner at each of these three spots to get some variety. The lunch at the ocean club is really good. We stayed at Sinalei Resort because my cousin’s wedding was there.

If you went on the full-day tour yesterday and want to do some hiking, instead go to Samoa’s Volcanic Crater, Lake Lanoto’o, with a guide.

Morning

In the morning, have breakfast and check out of your accommodation, as you’ll move to the other side of the island. Before you leave Apia, stop at a shop for some chips/snacks for later, or stop at Hana’s Minimart.

Then visit Aleisa Coffee in the hills for local coffee. It’s a 50/50 if they actually serve coffee, but you can buy a bag of beans to take home, as we did. There is a coffee machine, but it wasn’t working when we stopped by. You can walk through the coffee bushes and check out the production.

Next, drive to the Giant Clam Sanctuary. Here you snorkel with massive clams in crystal clear water. It’s one of the highlights of this Samoa Itinerary! Visit during high tide so you have some space between yourself and the corals and clams around 11 am. The sanctuary is closed on Sundays.

Note: to protect the clams, you’re not supposed to wear sunscreen, so I suggest you wear a long-sleeved shirt, and also, I suggest you put on sunscreen a while before you enter the sanctuary.

There will be a local man who manages the sanctuary. Entrance is 20 WST, and you can also borrow a snorkel set. Only 10 people are allowed in the water to see the clams at a time. To enjoy the area, you can rent one of the falas for 50 WST. If someone doesn’t come running up to you to pay, then tell the manager, and he will keep the money for whichever family owns the fala you choose.  Otherwise, parking is another 10 WST.

The clams are out by the flagpole. It’s an easy swim, and on the way, look out for the bright blue clams.

You may even be lucky and see some feeding sea turtles. It was amazing!!!

Then head over to Salamumu Beach, a very empty and chill beach. The beach has a few falas (that seemed totally abandoned when we visited), but they do belong to locals, so if someone asks for payment, that’s legit.

Afternoon + Evening

Drive to your accommodation and on the way stop at Keke’s Shop and Bakery. This is the best grocery store on this side of the island. It’s got packaged snacks, toiletries, and also great bakery items. You should stop by here for lunch/snack items when you go to the beach over the next few days. There is also an ATM here.

Check into your accommodation.

Sinalei Resort is beautiful.

Have a late lunch or early dinner at Miti Maninoa Ocean Club. The Oka and taro chips here are so good. Other options are Coconuts Beach Club Resort or Sinalei Resort.

Food note: It seems a little uncharacteristic for me to recommend you only visit these three resort-type restaurants. I didn’t visit any local spots besides peeking my head into a fried chicken place. However, if you drive along the main road, you may find people selling barbecued meat, and this could be an interesting lunch or dinner option.

Day 4: Waterfall, Lava Fields & Swim

Have breakfast at your accommodation.

Then, visit the Togitogiga Waterfall. Entry is free and there are changing rooms available. Be brave and swim in the natural pool. The water is cold but refreshing!

After that, drive out to the Lava Field Coastal Walkway. There is parking for a few cars at the trailhead. Be sure to walk all the way to the end of the coastal trail to get the lava field.

There are interesting arches along the way.

Next, drive to Tafatafa Beach to spend the afternoon, or head back to your accommodation and chill by the beach there.

Have dinner at Coconuts Beach Club Resort, Miti Maninoa Ocean Club (there is free wifi here), or Sinalei Resort.

The fish cakes at Sinalei Resort are really delish.

Day 5: Ferry to Savai’i

Spend two nights at Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge.

Today you’ll move over to Savai’i, Samoa’s bigger but more rustic island. You’ll have a slower pace in this part of the Samoa Itinerary, so enjoy it.

Take the 1 pm ferry (with your rental car!) to Mulifanua Wharf Ferry Terminal. You’ll have received the ferry tickets from the rental car company when you pick up the car. Stop at the grocery store (Keke’s Shop and Bakery) on your way out of your accommodation and get some snacks.

Once on Savai’i, drive to the Afu Aau Waterfalls.

And then check out the Alofaaga Blowholes on your way to Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge.

Make sure you arrive with enough time to drive in daylight and still visit the waterfalls, blowholes, and then get to the lodge. You need about 2.5 hours of driving time plus some extra time at the sites, which is why I suggest leaving at 1 pm.

Have dinner at your accommodation. The seafood at Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge is amazing!

Day 6: Savai’i Day

Today is your day to fully relax.

Your only activity is the Church Ruins in the Lava. It’s about a 1-hour drive from Va-i-moana.

Get lunch at Barefoot Bar and Restaurant.

Have dinner at your accommodation. My sister loved the steak at Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge!

Adventure on Savai’i

For some adventure, visit the caves on Savai’i. You likely need a guide (and a good torch) to navigate the caves. You may be asked to pay 20 WST for the guide and around 20 WST entrance fee.

• Paia Dwarfs Cave: Stop in Paia to ask for a guide or ask your accommodation to organize this for you. The Google Maps pin is incorrect, and you’ll likely not find it.
• La’auolola lava tube Caves: You need a guide and will pay a 20 WST entrance fee
• Pe’ape’a Cave: There is a 10 WST entrance fee, and the torch is included!

Pe’ape’a Cave

There are also a few different hikes on the island. The highest peak is Mount Silisili. Be warned, it’s a 2-3 day hike. You’ll need a guide and generally your own equipment, from what I saw online. There might be companies that can arrange gear, but check with your accommodation on the island for how to do this exactly.

A shorter option nearby is Mount Matavanu. You can organize this through your hotel, or I found one source saying you can get a guide from the village of Safotu. Apparently, the trail is easy enough to do without a guide once you pay the entrance fee. Please double-check with your accommodation.

Day 7: Back to Apia

Spend 1 night back in Apia at Samoana Boutique Hotel, Lava Hotel, or Talofa Inn.

Ferry back to Upolu from the Salelologa Ferry Terminal in the afternoon and return to Apia.

Make last purchases of souvenirs at the market in the evening and have a final dinner.

Fly out on a late evening flight or spend the night and travel in the morning to end this Samoa Itinerary.