The Sa'anapu - Return to Paradise Beach is the very best Samoa beach walk and ranks as one of the finest in the South Pacific. To give you an idea on time, if you set out from Sa'anapu early morning you would comfortably return in the afternoon having made it all the way to Return to Paradise Beach and back with long stops on the way for swimming and snorkelling.
This entire coastline is set away from the main highway and apart from the occasional local villagers fishing and washing in the sea, you are unlikely to come across anyone else. However, be prepared to pay a custom fee of about ST$3 if someone comes up to you - this is standard practice in Samoa and is paid for access of the beach. And you'll need to take your own food and water.
Sa'anapu is one of only three access roads into the region - the beach here is attractive but offers little privacy being backed by a village. A 15-minute stroll beyond the road takes you to the small budget retreat at Virgin Cove with fine sand and good swimming. A little further on is the finest white sand beach in Samoa - Lotoalofa, backed by virgin forest and dotted with natural freshwater pools. The snorkelling here is very good. You pass a small island before coming to a fine bay with mangrove forests. Although there is no beach here, it's easy to follow the coastline at low tide. Beyond the bay, the coastline becomes more rocky - there's a shaded trail through coastal rainforest just a few metres in from the coast with lots of side trails to secluded coves and tiny beaches - you'll find numerous rock pools here, several of which act as natural jacuzzis with the waves.
Once you reach the village of Salamumu, you can walk along the coast for almost 5 miles all the way to Return to Paradise Beach (named for the location of the 1951 Gary Cooper film). This beach is often quite crowded on weekends (by Samoan standards) as it has good access from the main highway - entry along this road will coast ST$5 per person. The village of Salamumu is connected to the main highway by a 5km dirt track. Along the way are numerous rock pools and secluded bays and about half way is the stunning Matareva Beach, a fine expanse of sweeping sand with great snorkelling.
Samoa Tour Companies
Our top 10 things to do in Samoa
1) - Stay in a Traditional Beach Fale,
explore secluded locations in the real samoa
2) - Circle Island Tour, Upolu & Savaii,
tropical waterfalls to golden beaches
3) - Woodcarvers of Uafato Forest Reserve, Upolu
experience fa'a samoa, village life and traditional handicrafts
4) - Alofaaga Blowholes and Coastal Walk, Savaii,
lava flow, black sand beach, craters and blowholes
5) - Saanapu to Return to Paradise Beach Walk, Upolu
stroll for miles along secluded beaches and rock pools
6) - Visit Manono Island,
traditional fishing villages, archaeological sites;
7) - Falealopu Rainforest Preserve, Savaii,
canopy walk, sea arches, sacred rainforest;
8) - Swim with Turtles at Satoalepai, Savai'i,
lava flow, rainforest, waterfall and turtles
9) - Fia Fia night,
traditional dancing, fire dancing and feast
10) - Visit American Samoa,
organised overnight trips
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