American Samoa
Rainforest ridges, coral reefs and village life on three South Pacific islands
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- Free entry
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 13,500 acres
American Samoa Weather Now
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The National Park of American Samoa is the only US national park south of the equator. It protects rainforest, beaches and coral reefs on Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega and Ta'u, about 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii. The land is not owned by the federal government but leased from Samoan villages, so the park also protects fa'a Samoa, the traditional Samoan way of life. It was authorized in 1988, and the lease agreements were completed in 1993.
This is one of the least visited national parks, with only a few thousand visitors a year, so you often have trails and beaches to yourself. Most visitors stay on Tutuila, hiking ridge trails above Pago Pago Harbor and visiting the north-coast village of Vatia. The reefs hold about 950 kinds of fish and 250 kinds of coral. Samoan fruit bats, with wingspans of about 3 feet, fly during the day here, which is unusual for bats.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- June through September is the cooler, drier season with calmer seas, while December through March is hotter, wetter and the main cyclone season.
- How long to stay
- Plan about a week, with three or four days on Tutuila and a few days on Ofu or Ta'u if flights allow.
- Getting there
- Fly into Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) on Tutuila; Hawaiian Airlines flies nonstop from Honolulu (HNL) only a few times a week (about 5.5 to 6 hours), and there are also small-plane connections from Apia in independent Samoa. The visitor center in Pago Pago is about a 20-minute drive from the airport, and the Manu'a Islands (Ofu, Olosega and Ta'u) are reached by small plane to Ta'u, then local boat to Ofu.
- Wildlife
- Look for Samoan fruit bats (flying foxes), frigatebirds, boobies and tropicbirds around Pola Island, sea turtles, colorful reef fish and, in season, humpback whales offshore.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Pago Pago (opens in a new tab)American Samoa
- Hotels in Utulei (opens in a new tab)American Samoa
- Hotels in Tafuna (opens in a new tab)American Samoa
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for American Samoa
- Reef shoesBeaches and reef flats are rocky and sharp, and they protect your feet and the coral.
- Lightweight rain jacketRain showers come often in the rainforest, even in the drier season.
- Trail shoes with grippy solesRidge trails are steep, muddy and slippery, with ladders and rope sections.
- Reef-safe sunscreenThe tropical sun is intense and the park's coral reefs are fragile.
- Lava-lava or sarongA wrap that covers the knees is respectful in villages and handy at the beach.
A first day, start to finish
- Visitor center in Pago Pago
- Drive over the mountains to Vatia
- Pola Island trail and beach
- Lower Sauma Ridge star mound
- Afternoon hike toward Mount 'Alava
Don't miss
- Mount 'Alava TrailA 7-mile round-trip hike along a rainforest ridge on Tutuila to the 1,610-foot summit, with steep ladder sections and views over Pago Pago Harbor.
- Ofu BeachA long, quiet white-sand beach on Ofu Island backed by steep green peaks, with some of the healthiest coral reef in the park right offshore.
- Pola Island and VatiaA 0.1-mile trail from the north-coast village of Vatia to a cobble beach facing Pola Island, a sea stack where frigatebirds and boobies nest.
- Lower Sauma Ridge and Tuafanua trailsShort Tutuila hikes, 0.4 and 2.2 miles round trip, to an ancient Samoan star mound and down steep rainforest to a rocky beach.
- Ta'u sea cliffsSome of the tallest sea cliffs in the world, rising more than 3,000 feet, seen from the 5.7-mile round-trip Si'u Point Trail.
Know before you go
Do
- Ask permission from village residents before using a beach, swimming or taking photos near a village.
- Book flights and inter-island transport early, since there are only a few flights a week.
- Bring reef shoes, rain gear and shoes with good grip for muddy, steep trails.
Don't
- Swim, hike noisily or do beach activities near villages on Sunday, which is a day of rest and church.
- Walk or drive through a village during sa, the evening prayer curfew, usually around dusk; wait quietly until it ends.
- Stand or eat while walking past people seated in a fale, and don't touch or take coral.
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The visitor center, park store and headquarters in Pago Pago are open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and closed on weekends and federal holidays. Some areas can close temporarily for maintenance or safety.
If you can make the trip to Ofu, plan at least two nights there, because flights and boats to the Manu'a Islands are infrequent and often delayed by weather.Trekker's tip