Savai’i
Samoa’s largest island, across the strait from Upolu: lava fields from the last eruption, blowholes on the south coast and villages along a road that circles the shore.
- Arrival
- Faleolo International · APW
- To the island
- Ferry from Mulifanua, about 60 to 90 minutes
- Private jets
- Land at Faleolo; Maota’s strip is about 700 m
- Best time
- May to October
The city
Across the strait, the larger island.
Savai’i is the largest island of Samoa and the less visited of the two. The crossing from Mulifanua, six minutes from the international airport on Upolu, passes the small islands of Manono and Apolima before landing at Salelologa, the main township, on the south-east coast. From there a road runs round the island through villages and past black lava and white beaches.
The weather is Upolu’s: warm in every month, with heavy storms from November to April and a drier season from May to October, when most visitors come.
- Saleaula lava field Black rock from the eruption of the early twentieth century, with the walls of a church still standing in it.
- Taga blowholes Where the swell is forced up through the lava shelf of the south coast in tall columns of spray.
- Afu Aau Waterfall A waterfall in the forest, falling into a freshwater pool.
Arriving
By jet to Upolu, then by sea.
Jets land at Faleolo, Samoa’s international airport on the west coast of Upolu. The ferry wharf at Mulifanua is a few minutes away, and daily boats carry cars and foot passengers across to Salelologa in an hour to an hour and a half.
- Nadi 1 h 55
- Papeete 3 h 35
- Auckland 4 h 05
- Los Angeles 10 h 20 long-range jet
- Singapore 12 h 20 long-range jet
When to go
May to October.
Highs stay close to 30 °C, the air is humid and the sea is near 28 °C. The long-term averages show heavy rain in every month; May to October is drier, and most visitors come then.
- 30° J 419 29°
- 30° F 325 29°
- 30° M 332 29°
- 30° A 261 29°
- 30° M 205 29°
- 29° J 165 28°
- 29° J 133 28°
- 29° A 155 28°
- 29° S 180 28°
- 29° O 257 28°
- 30° N 270 29°
- 30° D 372 29°
Flying to Savai’i?
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