
Talofa Lava and welcome to Polynesian Paradise! Located at Aganoa Beach on Savaii Island, you will find the perfect destination for a simple and uncomplicated surf trip. Savaii Surfaris, based at Aganoa Lodge, is the epitome of paradise. Stay in beachfront bungalows overlooking a fine white sand beach, turquoise lagoon and perfect surf within a short paddle. Surf trips don’t get much better than this and Savaii in Samoa is certainly a treasure of the Pacific. Guaranteed uncrowded waves, great food and friendly hosts await you. Ideal for couples and honeymooners.
Don’t be fooled by the rustic, laid back charm of the accommodation, Savaii’s founder, Australian expat Keith Martin and his family, manage the resort along with a professional chef and surf guide.
Paddle out from your Fale to score perfect rights or lefts and take in the easy-going nature of one of the most chilled destinations on the planet. Or take a day-trip to one of the other uncrowded surf breaks on Savaii.
Accommodation
Savaii Surfaris is tucked away in an idyllic spot, off the beaten track in the village of Palauli. Situated at secluded Aganoa Beach in a rainforest conservation reserve, with commanding views of white sandy beaches and natural fauna, this place is a real gem. Unplug from your busy world at this completely stress-free destination.
Beachfront fale’s with surf out front
There are eight stand-alone, open-air fales (bungalows), each surrounded by a privacy screen, intended to give guests their own perfect carved out piece of paradise. Each unit is constructed almost entirely of reclaimed timber and lava rocks collected on-site. Each features a king or queen sized, four poster mosquito-netted bed, ensuite bathroom with open-sky shower, power outlets, safes and private porch decks for relaxing or watching the surf (literally steps from the lagoon beach).
Your Hosts
Keith Martin (originally an Aussie who moved to Samoa many decades ago) and his Samoan wife Lanuola, together with their children and many staff, operate Savaii Surfaris on the big island of Savaii in Samoa. Keith knows Savaii’s surf better than anyone and Lanuola oversees the preparation of some of the most delicious, tasty meals available in Samoa – all locally sourced or locally grown produce that will satisfy any surfer’s appetite. The couple have an abundance of experience hosting surfers and their hospitality becomes a real highlight of the trip.
Meals
Savaii Surfaris Samoa offer a delicious menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the oceanfront restaurant. Locally sourced and sustainable ingredients anchor a menu of Samoan delicacies blended with Western cuisine. Star items are fresh fish caught daily right offshore and organic fruits and veggies grown either in their on-site hydroponic facility (season dependent) or in the gardens of nearby villages. The bar, of course, is stocked with ice-cold beverages, local beers, New Zealand wines, spirits and bottled water. There is a reasonable cocktail range which does include such favourites as an Espresso Martini! Filtered water is available day round for Savaiis visitors.
Surf Savaii Surfaris
Over the many years that Keith Martin has been in the region, he has had the privilege of “discovering” many waves and surfing a multitude of others. The incredible part about most breaks on Savaii (including the main break out front) is how accessible they are. While most breaks on neighbouring Upolu require a boat ride to an outer reef, nearly all of Savaii’s waves are a short paddle from the beach. Serving up consistent rights and/or lefts in the 2-10ft range, surfing is even allowed at Aganoa Beach on Sundays.
Aganoa Beach Right: Savaii’s premier wave and just a short paddle from your Fale. Like Salani on neighbouring Upolu island, Aganoa Beach Right is extremely consistent, breaking much of the year and at all sizes from 2-10ft+. The Right also has multiple take-off spots for any surf-level and is optimal at mid though high tides. Wedging on 2-3 different peaks, the Right offers a hollow tube on takeoff, then walling into the inside, and barreling again before the channel.
Aganoa Beach Left: Also in front of the restaurant and a short paddle from the Right, the Left peels around the reef pass and into a channel on the western side of the beach. Depending on the swell direction, the Left has a gorgeous barrel as well.
K-Land: An intoxicating reef pass eerily reminiscent of the famed G-Land on Java. Surfable from 4-12ft+, the wave is a long, wrapping mix of both hollow, barreling sections and rippable walls.
Middles: Just across the channel from K-Land, Middles is a playful, bowly, split-peak peeling into a wide channel. Across the channel from the left is also a shorter but very fun right – if you happen you get frustrated by the crowd (your other 4 buddies) at Middles.
Pastor Point: A long, extremely fun right up the northeast side on the corner of an outer reef (that’s still paddle-able). While the wave does barrel, it’s a bit softer than the Aganoa breaks and perfect for most skill levels.
East Side Secret Spots: Keith Martin has uncovered a wealth of unknown, unsurfed “secret” spots over the course of his time living on Savaii. And though he’s hesitant to give away his secret locations, he won’t hesitate to tell you that the outer reefs of the East-side are home to some of his favourites. Accessible only by boat and almost invisible from shore, perfect reef passes peel down empty lineups into sparkling blue lagoons. While not always working, these gems (if you are lucky enough to experience them) will provide a lifetime of vivid and savoured memories for any surfer smart enough to swear to Keith’s vow of secrecy.
Coconut Grove: An hour away is the reliable “hedge” against the “devil wind” that hits the Aganoa Beach waves straight onshore, Coconut Grove is a mercurial setup that can be fun and playful or downright terrifying. A series of left-hand setups that wind across a shallow reef, the wave can be as hollow as any wave in the Pacific or as rippable as a wave, well, anywhere. That said, every session at Coconut Grove ends the same way – marvelling at the black lava, the blue water with the taste of coconut water (a gift from a friendly villager) on your lips as empty wave after empty wave peels down the lonely reef. Then blindfolds go back on (literally) for the drive back to the main road and the longish drive back home.
Non-Surf Activities
While Savaii Surfaris caters primarily to surfers, this destination is also the perfect place for the family to holiday and relax. With an array of activities from kayaking, fishing, snorkelling and more, both on-site and island-wide, this is a stress-free destination without the exorbitant price tag that attaches to most others. Couple that with Samoa’s beautiful Polynesian culture and people — and you may never want to return home.
Olemoe Waterfall: Just 10 minutes inland is a gorgeous freshwater pool at the foot of a thundering 100 foot waterfall. Bathe in the cool waters or leap from the jump-rock in front of the falls.
Snorkelling: Bring your own snorkel and dive gear and explore the colourful and lively coral reefs that thrive right off the shores in the always crystal clear waters. Turtles can always be found in the lagoon.
Alofaaga Blowhole: A natural phenomenon just 30 minutes away. Bring a few fallen coconuts, throw them in the blowhole and watch them lift off!
Fiafia: All guests are welcomed with an ancient, traditional Samoan feast/celebration called fiafia. During fiafia guests get to taste an array of many Samoan delicacies from palusami to underground oven-baked pig.
Games: Take an afternoon off from the surf and entertain yourself with one of many games including volleyball, bocce, as well as table tennis and darts.
Eco-excursions: In comparison to the neighbouring island of Upolu, much of Savai’i is undeveloped and the interior rainforests remain wild and virtually untouched. Ask the staff about the possibility of hikes and/or eco-friendly guided tours through the rainforest or around Mt. Silisili.