Upolu: National Park, Caves and Coast

O le Pupu Pue National Park was established in 1978 as Samoa’s first national park and was also the first national park in the South Pacific. On Upolu, hiking and cave experiences come together with a deep swimming pool, a snorkeling spot and a coastline lined with beach fales. If you are considering which part of your trip you would like to focus on, these varied natural sites offer concrete points of reference for planning.

Putting Upolu in context as a destination

Upolu is 75 kilometers long and has a total area of 1,125 square kilometers. To put it in geographical context, it is also useful to consider Samoa: four of Samoa’s ten islands are inhabited—Upolu, Savai’i, Apolima and Manono. This lets you consider Upolu as a specific island destination while keeping Samoa’s broader context in mind.

Nature experiences and the coast

In O le Pupu Pue National Park, a hike to the Pe’ape’a Caves is a concrete starting point for anyone interested in hiking and caves. A guided tour can be arranged through the park’s visitor information center. If you would like to plan a guided tour, check its availability before your trip.

Piula Cave Pool is a freshwater spring pool with a cave formed by an ancient lava tube. This makes the site distinctive for two reasons: the spring pool and the cave formation. Its geological character sets it apart from both a hike in the national park and a coastal experience.

To-Sua Ocean Trench is a 30-meter-deep swimming pool accessed by a long ladder. Its depth and ladder access shape the nature experience here. Local conditions may vary; check what to expect before your visit.

At Savaia Giant Clam Sanctuary, you can snorkel and look for giant clams. A small fee is charged, and you’ll use a mask, snorkel and fins to look for them. If this experience is important to your plans, take the fee into account and check local conditions in advance.

Lalomanu Beach is on Upolu’s south coast and is lined with beach fales. Nearby, on Namu’a Island, open fales are available for day visits and overnight stays. Check current availability before your trip. The beach, snorkeling and caves offer different points of focus, which you can weigh according to your interests.

Getting around and choosing a hotel location

Ways to get around Upolu include a private car, scooter, taxi and bus. Faleolo International Airport is in the northwest of the island. When choosing a hotel location, you can consider this information alongside your travel interests: think about which experiences you would like to shape your stay and which of the listed transport options you plan to use.

Samoa in the broader travel picture

The broader destination of Samoa also includes cultural sites and traditions. At Sopoaga Waterfall, there is an area for demonstrations of umu preparation and coconut husking. Robert Louis Stevenson Museum is associated with the story that the Scottish poet and author Robert Louis Stevenson fell in love there. According to Samoan tradition, Pa Sopo’ia Cave is an ancient route taken by ancestral spirits to Devil’s Haden at Cape Mulinu’u, their final meeting place before Pulotu, the spirit world.

Other points of interest in Samoa are in and around Apia. Palolo Deep Marine Reserve is a five-minute walk from the center of Apia; actual walking time may vary. Samoa Cultural Village is on Beach Road in central Apia. Papase’ea Sliding Rocks are in Se’ese’e in the Faleata district, about a 15-minute drive from Apia. There are two sliding areas: one for children and one for adults. Driving time may vary depending on conditions.

Discover more destinations: Falease'ela, Solosolo, Aufaga, Lalomanu, Tafatafa, Tuana'i, Gagaifoolevao, Tuamasaga.

For the broader travel overview: Samoa.