Vaitogi Turtle and Shark Site
A cliff on Tutuila's south coast where a Samoan legend of a turtle and a shark is told.
Updated 3 September 2026
At Vaitogi on Tutuila's southern coast, a lava cliff drops into deep water and the village tells a story attached to it: a blind woman and her granddaughter who threw themselves from the rock in a time of famine and became a turtle and a shark, and who are said to come when the village children sing to them from the cliff. Whether or not anything surfaces, the site is the cliff, the ocean and the telling.
What to look for
- The cliff - the lava wall dropping into deep water below the village.
- The legend - the story of the woman and the girl who became turtle and shark.
- The calling - the village children's song from the rock edge.
- The open ocean - the water running south from the cliff foot.
When to go
May to September is the drier season. Sundays are strictly observed in the village. The site is exposed with no shade.
Before you go
Nothing is guaranteed to surface, and paying for a performance of the calling is a common arrangement that some find uncomfortable. The cliff edge is unfenced. Village permission and protocol matter.
Nearby
Sliding Rock is nearby, and Pago Pago is northeast.
What to pack for Vaitogi Turtle and Shark Site
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Binoculars - The single best wildlife tool - even a compact pair transforms a sighting. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A zoom camera or long lens - Animals rarely come close; reach beats megapixels. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.