Return to Paradise Beach
A rocky beach on southwestern Upolu, named for the 1953 film shot there.
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The beach at Lefaga on Upolu's southwest coast took its present name from the film shot there in 1952 with Gary Cooper, based on a Michener story, and the name has stuck for seventy years. The beach itself is black sand and boulder with palms behind and a heavy shore break, backed by cliffs, which makes it more dramatic than swimmable. The village collects a fee at the access track.
What you actually see
- The boulder beach - black sand and rock with palms behind.
- The shore break - heavy surf coming straight onto the beach.
- The cliffs - the headlands enclosing the bay at both ends.
- The film association - the 1952 shoot the beach took its name from.
When to go
May to October is the drier season. Swell is heavy on this coast at most times. Village fees are collected at the track.
Honest expectations
Swimming is genuinely dangerous here with a heavy shore break and rip. Facilities are basic fales and a fee hut. The access track is rough.
Nearby
Sa'anapu is east along the coast, and Apia is north.
What to pack for Return to Paradise Beach
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
