Snorkeling Namua Island, Upolu: Turtles and Samoan culture

A High Chief takes you to the island where turtles nest

A guided snorkeling tour of Upolu's eastern coast starting at Namua Island, where you swim with wild turtles, then moving to Lalomanu Beach, To Sua Ocean Trench, Vavau Beach and Sopoaga Falls. High Chief Tai and his team lead the day in English, covering six to seven hours with hotel pickup from the Apia area and cultural demonstrations of traditional Samoan life included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Namua Island and Upolu sights

• Boat ride to Namua Island
• Snorkel and swim with turtles
• Visit Lalomanu Beach, buy drinks
• Stop at Vavau Beach filming site
• Swim in To Sua Ocean Trench
• See Sopoaga Falls and cultural demo
• View Le Mafa Pass from mountains

The experience

If you have a free afternoon or morning in Samoa, this tour starts with a ten-minute boat ride to Namua Island, a secluded spot off the eastern coast where turtles frequently nest. You'll snorkel in the clear water and have a chance to see them on the ride out. The boat returns you to the main island, where the day continues by vehicle to Lalomanu Beach, the most advertised spot in Samoa, where you can swim again or grab a cold drink.

The stops that follow are where the tour shifts from beach to something stranger. To Sua Ocean Trench is a naturally formed pool fed by an underground spring. You descend a ladder thirty meters down into aqua-blue water ringed by rock. Vavau Beach is where the TV show Survivor was filmed. At Sopoaga Falls, you'll watch the water run off the gorge and see a cultural demonstration of how coconut cream is made: one of the core ingredients in traditional Samoan cooking. A stop at Le Mafa Pass, seven hundred meters up, gives you a panoramic view down into the lush valleys below.

High Chief Tai leads the group and speaks English throughout, so the cultural context (the faasamoa, or Samoan way of life) comes directly from someone who lives it. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water and hotel pickup and drop-off within the Apia area. Bring your own snorkeling equipment. None is available for hire.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in the Apia area.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday

AgesAdult (6 to 80 years) · Child (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 120

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tais Native Experience

Is this one for you?The six to seven hour commitment leaves room for a morning or afternoon in Upolu but fills most of a single day, so plan the rest of your schedule around it. Bring your own snorkeling equipment and plan to purchase lunch or snacks at the beach stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Namua Island like when you get there to snorkel?

Namua Island is a secluded spot with clear water and white sand off Upolu's eastern coast, reached by a ten-minute motor boat ride. Turtles frequently nest there, so you have a good chance of seeing them both on the boat ride and in the water while you snorkel.

How deep is To Sua Ocean Trench and how do you get down to it?

To Sua Ocean Trench is a naturally formed pool about thirty meters deep, fed by underground spring water. You descend a ladder down the rock face to reach the aqua-blue water at the bottom, where you can swim in the cave-like pool.

What happens at Sopoaga Falls?

At Sopoaga Falls you watch the water run off the gorge, and the guide gives a cultural demonstration of how coconut cream is made using traditional methods: an ingredient central to Samoan cooking.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

Yes, snorkeling equipment is not available for hire, so you'll need to bring your own mask, fins and snorkel or arrange to have them before the tour starts.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, though you'll have time to buy a drink at Lalomanu Beach and other stops along the way.