Fagaloa Bay

Fagaloa Bay cuts into the northeastern corner of Upolu between ridges that drop almost vertically into the water, and the villages along it are reached by a steep winding road that discouraged development for a long time. Forest runs down to the shore in places. The bay and the Uafato forest behind it are on Samoa's tentative list for World Heritage nomination, and the area is one of the most traditional parts of the country.

History

The bay figures in many Samoan myths; one tells of Ulualofaiga, of the line of the Tui Tonga, who sailed to Samoa in search of his sister and, after a time in Aana, came on to Fagaloa, the home of his ancestors. The bay lies in the district of Va'a-o-Fonoti (Wikipedia, Fagaloa Bay).

What you'll find

• The steep bay - ridges dropping almost vertically into the water on both sides.
• The shore villages - settlements reached by the winding road down.
• The forest - woodland running down to the water on the upper slopes.
• The tentative listing - the bay and Uafato proposed for World Heritage nomination.

When to go

May to October is the drier season. The road down is difficult after heavy rain. Cyclone season runs November to April.

Before you go

The road in is steep, narrow and rough. There are almost no facilities in the bay. Village protocols apply and permission matters for walking or swimming.

Nearby

Uafato is on the eastern side of the bay, and Apia is west.

Key facts