Top Secrets of Samoa

The Carving Villages

The Flea Market and Fugalei Fresh Produce Market are the most common places to get tourist artefacts. However, if you’re interested in going to the villages where these items are made, you can drive there on Upolu.

Note: the road to the villages is unpaved and can be dangerous when it is raining. You may not encounter anyone who speaks English.  I met a local man who had never been to the villages, spoke a bit of English, didn’t know how to drive, and was interested in coming on an adventure, so he came with me for the afternoon. Locals joined me on most of my road trips as getting around by car is quite expensive, and I was always happy to have company and a translator! This area does not get tourism, so if you’re staying in a Fale, ask the family if someone would like to come with you. 

The villages are located in the east of Upolu towards Uafato. You will need to hire a car, and very few vehicles pass this way so hitchhiking could take a full day – or more. To get here from Apia, take the Main East Coat Road towards the east until it merges into Richardson Rd. Then turn left at 13°56'48.5"S 171°35'19.0"W. Follow this road along to Uafato. We stopped whenever we saw a local and my new friend asked a few if they had any carvings to sell. Many were happy to show us the carvings that were in progress, and most thought it was funny to find a foreigner visiting. I usually travel with small toys to give to the children as a thank you to their parents for taking the time to talk with us.

Eventually, we got to Uafato and met a young man who was carving some wooden turtles and tanoas. I paid 100 Tala for a tanoa bowl and chatted with him for a while on his work. Remember to be respectful when haggling – as the items I bought were direct to source I did pay less than one would in the city, but often the vendors in Apia are family members of the person doing the carving, so the money you spend all stays within the family anyway. My interest in coming here was to see the process.

Fuipisia Waterfall

Link to separate page on Fuipisia – waterfall from the bottom.