Ofu Beach

Ofu Beach, on the remote island of Ofu in American Samoa's far-flung Manu'a group, is one of the most exquisite and unspoiled beaches on the entire planet, a scene of near-mythical tropical beauty. A long, empty ribbon of soft white sand curves along a shore lapped by clear, warm turquoise water, protected by a vibrant coral reef alive with fish and turtles, and backed by dramatic, jungle-clad volcanic peaks soaring straight up from the sand. Part of the National Park of American Samoa and blessed with almost no development or crowds, Ofu offers pristine snorkelling, blissful solitude and the sense of a true, untouched paradise. Reaching it takes real effort, but few beaches on earth reward the journey so completely.

The landscape

• The white beach - the long, empty ribbon of soft sand.
• The turquoise reef - the clear water and vibrant coral.
• The jungle peaks - the volcanic mountains rising from the shore.
• The solitude - the blissful, unspoiled emptiness.

When to go

May to September, the drier and cooler season, offers the most settled weather and the calmest, clearest water for snorkelling, avoiding the wetter months; the tropical climate is warm year-round. Calm days best reveal the reef's beauty.

Good to know

Ofu is genuinely remote, reached only by infrequent flights or boats to the Manu'a islands with very limited accommodation, so getting there takes real planning, patience and a spirit of adventure. As one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches on earth, a pristine paradise of white sand, turquoise reef and soaring jungle peaks with blissful solitude, though, Ofu Beach rewards the effort completely.

Nearby

The islands of the Manu'a group and Ta'u lie nearby.