Lower Sauma Ridge Trail, National Park of American Samoa

Best time to travel: June-Sept
Walk difficulty: Easy
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • National park distributed across three islands: Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta‘ū
  • The park preserves and protects coral reefs, tropical rainforests, fruit bats, and the Samoan culture
  • Popular activities include hiking and snorkeling

Manu’a Islands

Best time to travel: June-Sept
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • The Manuʻa Islands consists of three main islands: Taʻū, Ofu and Olosega
  • The latter two are separated only by the shallow Āsaga Strait, and are now connected by a bridge over the strait
  • Manu’a was the political centre of the region for many centuries, until the rise of the Tu’i Tonga maritime empire, which led to a shift in power from the eastern islands of Samoa to its western islands

Ofu Beach, Ofu

Best time to travel: June-Sept
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $$

  • Ofu and Olosega are parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manu‘a Island Group
  • These twin islands were formed from shield volcanoes
  • The most recent volcanic eruption was in 1866
  • Archaeological field work in the 1980s unearthed artifacts including ceramics, adzes, and worked shell and bone pieces
  • Dating of the artifacts suggested that Ofu has been continuously inhabited by humans for about 3,000 years

Aunu’u

Best time to travel: June-Sept
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $$

  • Aunuʻu is a small volcanic island off the southeastern shore of Tutuila
  • It has a land area of 0.59 square miles; and a population of 436 people
  • Aunuʻu Crater contains the freshwater Faimulivai Marsh, the largest such wetland in American Samoa
  • Since the 1960s, the Aunuʻu people’s main economic activity has been growing taro and producing faausi

Mount ‘Alava, National Park of American Samoa

Best time to travel: June-Sept
Walk difficulty: Moderate
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Mountain in the National Park of American Samoa, on the volcanic island of Tutuila
  • The summit of the mountain can be reached via the Mount Alava Trail
  • The mountain overlooks Pago Pago Harbor

Jean P. Haydon Museum, Pago Pago

Best time to travel: June-Sept
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Museum in Pago Pago dedicated to the culture and history of American Samoa
  • It contains a collection of canoes, coconut-shell combs, pigs’ tusk armlets and native pharmacopoeia
  • It also houses exhibits on natural history, tapa making, traditional tattooing, as well as a collection of war clubs, kava bowls, and historic photographs
  • It is the official repository for collections of artifacts for American Samoa

Matafao Peak, Tutuila

Best time to travel: June-Sept
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Mountain on the island of Tutuila
  • The mountain is a remnant of a volcanic plug
  • The name “Matafao” is said to refer to the fact that, from its peak, in fair weather, one can see as far as Mount Fao on Upolu Island