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Samoa.
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Travelling to Samoa: what to know before you go

Samoa is a Polynesian island nation in the South Pacific, made up mainly of two large volcanic islands, Upolu and Savai'i. Life follows fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way, built around family, village and church. Visitors come for lagoons, waterfalls, lava fields and beach fale huts, and should expect a slow, gentle pace and simple tourism infrastructure outside Apia.

Where to go

• To Sua Ocean Trench. A deep, round swimming hole on Upolu's south coast, open to the sea through a lava tube, reached by a steep wooden ladder and surrounded by gardens.
• Lalomanu Beach. A long stretch of white sand at the south-eastern tip of Upolu, lined with open-sided beach fale where guests sleep metres from a lagoon, with meals usually included.
• Apia. The small capital on Upolu's north coast has a busy produce and craft market, a harbourside promenade and the white Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
• Saleaula lava fields, Savai'i. Lava from eruptions in the early twentieth century flowed through villages on Savai'i's north coast, leaving the ruins of a church and a 'virgin's grave' that the lava flowed around.

Best time to visit

The drier season, roughly May to October, has less humidity and calmer weather and is the most popular time to visit. The wet season, from November to April, brings heavy downpours and the risk of tropical cyclones, mainly from December to March.

Staying online in Samoa

Mobile coverage is good in Apia and most villages along the coasts of Upolu and Savai'i, with 4G in many areas. Signal weakens in the mountainous interior, at some remote beaches and in parts of Savai'i. Wi-Fi is available in hotels and some cafés in Apia, but beach fale accommodation often has slow or no internet. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, and download maps offline before exploring.