Transport in Samoa

Busses

Busses usually cost 3 Tala, regardless of where you get on and off.

The bus station behind the Flea Market in Apia is the best place to go for busses around Upolu. Busses follow a rough schedule based on the needs of the locals (usual getting to and from school and work during peak hours), but you won’t find this information online, and any information online may be out of date. If you are planning to get around via bus, you will need to go to the station and ask around until you can find out the times for the busses you wish to take. It is an amazing experience to take a local bus, but isn’t great if you are pressed for time.

Taxis

Taxis are all around Apia and are relatively cheap. A taxi within the city will generally cost 3-5 tala for a short drive (i.e. hotel to Samoa Cultural Centre) or 15 Tala for a slightly longer drive (i.e. to the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve).

A taxi across the island will cost more and is a common way of getting around. From Apia to Lalomano, you’re likely to pay 80 Tala for a taxi.

From the Airport to Apia it should cost 50 Tala. Taxi drivers may try to rip you off and charge you more. If you insist on 50 Tala and do not negotiate, you should end up with a taxi. If you show you are open to negotiation though, you will end up with a higher price. 

You are welcome to negotiate with taxi drivers. When negotiating, always start lower than what you would like to pay and come to an agreement in the middle. Do remember though, when you are bartering with someone, this is their source of income, so be respectful about it. It doesn’t hurt to crack jokes, smile, and be pleasant when negotiating! When you find a good taxi driver, you can also ask them for their phone number and text them for other transfers and pick-ups. I went on side adventures with a few of my taxi drivers who were more than happy to take me to their friends’ local restaurant, or their favourite niu (drinking coconut) vendor.

Car Rental

To drive in Samoa, you need a temporary drivers’ license. If you have a full drivers’ license from your home country, most vehicle rental companies will be able to issue you the permit at their premises. It costs 21 Tala for a temporary drivers license, although some rental companies may charge a processing fee.

Hire car Savai’i – 216 for the day (split between 3 people – 72 tala).

When driving in Samoa, the speed limit is usually 40km per hour in villages, and 56km on the open road. You should never speed in Samoa and always take corners slowly. The expression “it takes a village to raise a child” really comes to light in Samoa, and it is not uncommon to see dozens of children all playing together at all hours of the day and night. These children are very street smart and may often be out walking on the road -respect that children have a lot of autonomy and self-awareness in Samoa. The only risk to their safety on the roads is foreigners who are driving irresponsibly. So slow down, enjoy the scenery, and don’t endanger the locals by speeding or taking corners too quickly!

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking in Samoa is relatively safe, but may be challenging. Closer to Apia the locals will take public busses for 3 Tala or taxis around Apia, so hitchhiking is not very common. In the more rural areas, you can hitchhike and people will be very likely to stop and pick you up, but some of the main roads may only have one car pass in an hour. If you’re in a rush or have a tight timeframe, look at getting around via bus, taxi, or car rental in Samoa.

Another thing to keep in mind when hitchhiking is that Samoans are a very giving people. When you hop in the car, they will ask you where you are going first, and regardless of whether this is the same or opposite direction as them, they will generally say that’s where they’re going. This means that a family may drive an hour return out of their way to take you to where you want to go, and are very likely to refuse payment. Whilst this is incredibly kind and sweet, it can be uncomfortable to feel that you’re taking advantage of their kindness! I recommend when you hop in the car, ask them first where they are going, and have the island downloaded on maps.me or google maps so you can get to show you offline where they are heading. You can then pick somewhere suitable near their destination for them to drop you off.

Many foreigners hire cars in Samoa because it is so easy to get around via car. Foreigners are great to hitchhike with, as they’re likely going to the same locations as you. I hitched a ride with another foreigner in Upolu, and I picked up two hitchhikers in Savai’i.