10 Best Places to Surf in Samoa 🌊

1. Boulders – Aganoa Beach (Upolu)

If you want big waves, breaks like Boulders are located just a 10 to 12-minute boat ride east of the surf resort hotspot of Maninoa or you can drive down the 3 km (1.9 mi) 4WD road to Aganoa Black Sand Beach, pay your surf fees, and make your way from there. Perfect when there’s a big south swell, this wave can get two to four times overhead! When you’re not ripping this lefthander, enjoy the stunning location of one of the most beautiful bays in Samoa, as listed in the 10 Best Beaches in Samoa. It’s best to attempt this one between April and September. On the downside, this is just about the only break that gets crowded on good swell days during the peak surf season.

Location: Off the east coast of Aganoa Black Sand Beach, signposted along Main South Coast Road at the western end of Sa’agafou village on the south coast of Upolu. Remember to pay the beach fees.

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2. Aganoa Beach (Savai’i)

With a variety of surf breaks a paddle or a short boat trip from the shore, Savai’i’s Aganoa Beach provides an effortless destination for surfers. The west-facing beach on the south side of Savai’i dubbed as the “Surf Coast” is home to Aganoa Right, Aganoa Left and Middles, offering you plenty of fun just outside of Aganoa Lodge. Accessible by boat, there’s also the long K-Land, the fun right of Pastor Point, and the terrifying Coconuts. Savai’i’s only beginner wave, Little Left breaks softly on the reef pass at the end of Aganoa Beach’s lagoon. Learn more about staying at the lodge in the 7 Best Surf Resorts & Lodges in Samoa.

Location: Aganoa Lodge, signposted off the main road in Fa’a’ala village on the southeast coast of Savai’i.

© Samoa Tourism Authority

3. Salani (Upolu)

A favourite of the Salanai Surf Resort, Salani Right boats multiple take-off spots and will barrel at any size. South is the preferred swell direction, while the wave is longer with a southwest swell and shorter with a southeast swell. Ride into the large and clearly defined channel to ride back up. On the other hand, Salani Left is a long fast-breaking barrel ride over a coral reef, best rode at medium tide with a southeast swell. Check out more highlights from Samoa’s main island in the 10 Best Places to Surf in Upolu.

Location: Salani, end of Salani Road, southeast coast of Upolu.

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4. Coconuts (Upolu)

One you can keep an eye on from the resorts and beach fales of Maninoa (Coconuts Beach Club, Sinalei Reef, Ocean Club and Lupe’s Beach Fale), Coconuts is a solid fast hollow outer reef righthander. It needs a decent southwest swell and a northeasterly wind to be at its best. While most get to this wave by boat, you can also do an epic paddle of around 825 m (900 yards) to get to it. Find out more about the accommodations mentioned in the 7 Best Surf Resorts & Lodges in Samoa.

Location: Maninoa, right in front of Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa, south coast of Upolu.

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5. Wackas (Upolu)

Close to Coconuts, Wackas is a 5 to 8-minute boat ride out southwest of Maninoa Beach, located off the river mouth of Tafitoala village. Wackas is a fun left with many faces. However, it’s not quite protected from southeasterly tradewinds. This one is a favourite for those staying at Sina PJ Fales and Surf.

Location: Tafitoala village, on the south coast of Upolu.

© Samoa Tourism Authority

6. Tafatafa (Upolu)

A reeling righthand break, Tafatafa, also known as Rustys, is easily accessible by boat from Vaiula Beach Fales and from Salani Surf Resort. The fast righthander can be a long ride on a southwest swell or ride shorter sections on a southeast swell. The break also needs northerly winds, so it’s best to head out early or late. Learn more about the surf camps mentioned in the 6 Best Surf Operators & Guides in Samoa.

Location: Note that Tafatafa Beach is not at Tafatafa village. The turnoff to the beach is signposted along Main South Coast Road at the Latter-Day Saints Church in Malaemalu on the south coast of Upolu.

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7. Nu’usafe’e Island (Upolu)

Although not the most reliable lefthander, this sheltered surf break off a paradisical uninhabited island is often a good go-to when other spots are blown out by tradewinds. Off the reef of Nu’usafe’e Island, also known as The Island, this break offers awesome lefthand barrels if there’s some southeast swell. If the surf is not on, check out more things to do on the island in The Travel Guide to Nu’usafe’e: Things to Do, How to Get There & More.

Location: Off the coast of Poutasi on the south coast of Upolu. See the link above for ways to get to Nu’usafe’e by boat and kayak.

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8. Satuiatua/Salailua (Savai’i)

Along the southwest shores of Savai’i are a number of ridable waves accessible from the neighbouring villages of Satuiatua and Salailua. A good base and access to the beach is from Satuiatua Beach Resort where you’ll find your first break by heading approximately 800 m (875 yards) east of the resort. Here, there’s a lefthander here that even breaks on small swells, providing a short hollow ride towards a deep channel. There’s also sometimes a quick righthander on the other side of the channel.

Head further east at the point and you’ll find another lefthander. In big swells and in the right direction, long fast rides are possible here. However, the inside section is very shallow with no channel to peel into, so this is only an attempt for the really experienced.

All of the waves at Statuiatua and Salailua are only ridable at high tide. For more Savai’i breaks to discover, also check out the 6 Best Places to Surf in Savai’i.

Location: Satuiatua Beach Resort, signposted along the Main South Coast Road, Satuiatua, southwest coast of Savai’i.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

9. Luatuanu’u (Upolu)

A favourite among the locals who inhabit the northern coast packed with villages, as well as Apia, Luatuanu’u has a number of popular breaks easy to access from shore such as its main rock righthander beside Puddling Rock. Nearby is also the not-so-reliable Waterfalls break close to shore which is usually better on low tides.

Location: Cape Utumanu’u, off the coast of Luatuanu’u, Main East Coast Road, on the northeast coast of Upolu. See the image below for a reference point.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

10. Asau and Vaisala Bays (Savai’i)

The final frontier for keen surfers, Asau is one of the rare areas along the north coast of Savai’i where you can find reef breaks. Otherwise, the coast is dominated by lava rock. There are at least a dozen established surf breaks off the coast of Asau and Vaisala Bays, from easy left walls to big swell rights. In this area, the swell direction will determine where you go. On the flip side, most breaks here are easy to spot and paddle to from land.

Location: Asau, Auala and Vaisala villages, Main North Coast Road, along the northwest coast of Savai’i.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com