When you think of surfing, some of the first locations that come to mind might be Australia, Indonesia, or - of course - Hawaii. But anyone who lives to surf should include Samoa on their bucket list.
The south shores of both islands are great all year round, while the northern shores are best in the southern hemisphere summer/northern hemisphere winter. Samoa is definitely a location for the more experienced surfer, as many of the waves break directly onto the reef and the currents can be harsh. All surfers should make sure they stick with the locals as you need to know the rips and currents; but if you do, you’re guaranteed a great time.
Savai’is hot spots are Lano and Aganoa Beach, Manase and Fagamalo; on Upolu it’s from Apia east to Cape Utumauu, and on the south coast from Matautu to Matatufu. You’ll often pay a fee to catch your waves but it’s a feel-good one as it often goes to the education of children in the village.
If you’re heading to Samoa for a surfing holiday, these operators could be useful:
A dedicated surf resort, Salani employs well-trained boatmen as surf guides; their sole job is to get you safely into the best waves, very important with the nature of Samoa’s waters. The resort is optimally located to take advantage of the best of Samoa’s surf, culture and natural beauty.
Aganoa Lodge Samoa is located on a five-acre oceanfront parcel bordering the Tafua Rainforest Preserve, with exclusive access to a glorious white sand beach and crystal clear lagoon. It’s a full-service, all-inclusive Surf Lodge, featuring fully-guided surfing experiences for a maximum of eight guests.
Want the inside scoop on where the best surf is on any given day? And the downlow on the secret Samoa surf spots only the locals know? Manoa Tours take their boat or vehicle out daily to the best spot - depending on wind, tide and swell direction - to get their guests the best waves.
Every stay in Samoa should include at least one night in a beachside fale and Vaiula Beach Fales have a great range to suit all groups. Samoa Surf Secrets operates right out of Vaiula and have several spots within a 15 minute boat trip. The north coast waves are 30-45 mins away via car so it’s a perfect spot.
For more information:
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