Apia Samoa i Sisifo

Apia is the capital of the nation of Western Samoa and lies on the island of Upolu.

The port is in busy Apia harbour at the mouth of the Vaisigano River, where Polynesian music and traditional native dancing provide a welcome.

Town is an enjoyable walk of about 20 minutes. Many taxis are available for local tours or a short ride into town.

Printable map.

Apia is Samoa’s capital, in the Tuamasaga district on Upolu Island’s northern coast. It is the nation’s principal port and only city. Although a little run down, it has good bars and restaurants, and its beachfront makes for a beautiful walk.

Robert Louis Stevenson loved Samoa enough to spend his last years there. His stately home, Vailima, is now a museum, and a 45-minute climb reaches the author’s tomb below Mount Vaea’s summit. At high tide, snorkel at Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, a shallow reef with a blue hole, coral walls and remarkable marine life.

A taxi to Aggie Grey’s Hotel, made famous by James A Michener, takes about five minutes. Most passengers walk there for a Bloody Mary.

Places to see and things to do:

Falefa falls, Mafa pass and Fuipisia falls; Vailima museum in honour of writer Robert Louis Stevenson; Papasee sliding rocks; Samoan museum; and snorkelling at Palolo marine reserve.

Taxis are cheap and plentiful, and the Samoa Visitor’s Bureau publishes an Apia price list. Agree the fare before travelling, as passengers who appear wealthy may be overcharged. A full-day taxi can cost about the same as a rental car; US$50-75 per hour is an approximate fair rate.

A sea-wall walk is enjoyable, but best saved for a milder day, such as 25 degrees.

Free-roaming dogs can present a safety issue in Apia. The Government of Samoa (GoS) passed the Canine Control Act in 2013 as an initial dog-management measure. Most dogs ignore people who do not treat them as a threat.

Return to Paradise Beach: 1hr drive one way from the pier.

Lalomanu Beach is a 1hr drive one way.

Lotofaga Beach is a 1 hr drive one way.

Apia Public Market is a good place for Siapo (tapas cloth), ‘ava (kava), hand-carved kava bowls, produce and donuts. Most trinkets appear to be made in China and are the same items seen around the world. The market is active 24 hours a day.

Tala (WST): Tala per US Dollar is approximately 2.60.

Samoa has a decimal currency of Tala (dollar) and Sene (cent), with 100 Sene = $1Tala. All major currencies can be exchanged for Tala. Banking hours are Monday to Friday, 9am–3pm. Many Apia shops and most hotels have EFTPOS, accepting Visa, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX and Cirrus. Some retailers also take US, Australian and New Zealand dollars, but local money is needed at markets, smaller shops and most petrol stations.

ATMs are in and around Apia and on Savaii. Credit cards work in the machines, but a PIN number is required to withdraw cash.

Languages: Samoan (Polynesian) and English.

Internet contact with family and friends is straightforward through many Samoan cafés offering free WiFi to customers. Major hotels, resorts and cafés also provide Internet terminals for guests or WiFi.

Shops and department stores open 8am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am - 1pm Saturday; they are closed on Sundays.