Salani Surf Resort
Samoa
Overview
Located on the Southeast coast of Upolu, where the spring-fed waters of the Mulivai Fagatoloa River meet the blue South Pacific you will find a small enclave for surfers and their families located near the traditional Salani Village.
Salani Surf Resort is for travelers looking to experience the best surfing Samoa has to offer, heartwarming culture, tropical weather and natural beauty. Although Salani is a dedicated surf resort, guests are encouraged to bring along non-surfing partners and families as there are many activities for all to enjoy.
Salani has access to a number of breaks around the island with the Left and Right being only a 5-minute boat ride straight out front from your accommodation. With moorings in the channel of each spot for safety, it can be an ideal position to shoot photo and video while at the same time maintaining the health of the reef.
Unique Accommodations
Accommodations
Lodging is in 8 comfortable air conditioned rooms called ‘fales’ which are well ventilated and elevated in order to receive the cool ocean air breezes. Each fale has a covered deck creating a comfortable lanai overlooking the river, lagoon and the left and right surf breaks. Inside every fale, guests receive fresh flowers and housekeeping service. Each unit has two beds, (2 singles or 1 king-size bed on request) bed-side tables, a dresser, mirror, umbrellas and two 240V power outlets.
The main fale at Salani contains the dining area where guests sit and enjoy cold beverages and the tasty food offered at the BIKINI BAR & RESTAURANT MENU! Just remember you are on vacation, relax and when you’re not surfing you can enjoy the pool table & table tennis tournaments!
Surf & Seasons
The Surf
Being situated Northeast of Fiji, Samoa receives South swell all year round from both Antarctic ground swells and more locally generated tropical activity. These swells come out of very deep water and unload on Samoa’s coral and lava reefs- often creating steep take-offs, fast waves and wide-open tubes, so even a 2ft day has a surprising amount of punch behind it!
In general, surf in Samoa is recommended for the intermediate to expert surfer, however there are often times that people of any ability can paddle out and have fun. Samoa has gained a reputation for being particularly heavy with sharp shallow reefs which is not always the case. Salani Right has a relatively flat reef, while other breaks such as Tiavea offer smooth cobblestone rock bottom.
There are several other breaks available that Salani accesses on rare occasions due to their distant location or because they are relatively fickle. Some of these spots are accessed by boat only, others by overland transfers. The key is to listen to your surf guides when they are explaining the conditions and what to expect at each location. If there is something special happening they will let you know all about it.
Note- most of the reef breaks are far from land and Salani Surf Resort minimizes the time and hassle in surfing these waves while striving to provide safe, fast, guided access to the best waves. It is also important to note that surfing is not allowed on Sunday at Salani, however there are some breaks that can be surfed on Sunday such as Boulders or some spots on the East coast. Other activities will also be organized such as a beach picnic &/or snorkeling. The Sunday church service is also a great experience even for those who are not necessarily religious.
Salani Right: Our “every day” wave, and this wave will barrel at any size- and handle it! With multiple take-off spots; the right is a shorter wave that can either barrel from start to finish or be a combo of open face sections and barrels. South is the preferred swell direction; the wave gets longer with a SW swell, and shorter with a SE swell. There is a large clearly defined channel and current to carry you back out to the line up. Can be surfed on lower tides depending on the size and swell direction.
Salani Left: With a clean lined up ground swell is a “goofy footers dream”. It’s a long fast breaking full barrel ride over coral reef/flat rock that gets faster, and hollower as you go down the line. This wave is typically surfed from 2-10’ faces. The wave does not end very close to the channel, so on bigger days getting back out can be a little tricky. Best at medium tide with SE swell Great view of this wave from the guest fales; tends to get the guests moving in the morning when they see spitting barrels from their decks!
The Island: Twenty-five minutes by boat along the inner reef lays “The Island”. About 2 Kms (1¼ mile) offshore this paradisiacal island has a powerful left that reels off over a beautiful coral reef. Surfing and diving in this crystal clear water is just unreal. Accessed only around high tide and best on the medium to bigger swells, this spot is a great alternative when the trade winds are onshore out front; as at the island it’s offshore. Depending on ones skill level you can surf up the reef for long hollow walls, or down near the end of the reef closer to the safety of the channel.
Tiavea: A large bay located on the NE coast containing 4 separate waves; a big wave right hander off one end, a fast shallow left off the other side, and a nice river mouth in the middle. The river mouth is a left and right breaking over cobblestone and flat reef bottom. Tiavea bay is an excellent option during the North swell season if the S coast is not showing enough activity, or sometimes during the S swell months if the south coast breaks are heavier then you may desire.
Synopsis:
Like most South Pacific Islands, Samoa has more of a ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ season as opposed to a Summer and Winter. The dry season April through October is generally the cooler time of year; with the wet season months of December through March typically having warmer and more humid weather. Year round air temperatures range from high 70’s to high 80’s, with water temperature remaining close to 80.
From December – March winds trend lightly from a northerly direction often producing glassy conditions on the North coast with light offshore winds on the South coast.
April-May/Oct-Nov winds are transitional and mostly light and variable throughout the day.
June –September is when the Southeasterly trades will cycle through periods ranging from strong to light and variable. Generally you may see 7-10 days of SE trade wind followed by 3-5 days of lighter more variable wind. Often times you may be able to score lighter variable winds in the morning, with trades picking up late morning through the afternoon. It is important to remember that Samoa has some excellent breaks that favor the south east trade winds.
To sum it up: If you’re looking for the biggest surf, June through August is the go. For surfers looking to score the cleanest conditions and more wave options, the wet season from December through February is excellent. Many people prefer to shoot for those shoulder months of March, April, May and October, November, hoping to get those glassy conditions with early or late season larger south swells.
Activities
Activities
Salani Surf Resort offers a number of scheduled activities in and out of the water (based around the surf conditions) in order to provide a great experience for the surfer and non-surfing partner alike. Salani has become known for showing surfers and their partners the island’s natural and cultural beauty. Note: Some activities require an additional fee not included in the package price.
Scenic Day Trips Include:
- Waterfalls
- Coastal lava cliff hiking trails
- Shopping at the Apia markets
- Robert Louis Stevenson Museum
- Tidal Cave Pools
- Snorkeling
- Beach picnics
On/off site activities include:
- Sea kayaking
- Bike Rides
- Village walks
- Reef Fishing
- Ping Pong
- Snorkeling
- Horse Shoes
- Swimming in the village spring
- Volleyball
- Pool table
- Fishing charters (Samoa has some of the best fishing on the planet)
Or if this is too much chill out in a hammock with a book or relax at the full service bar and take in a movie.
” You made our trip so much better! We would have been lost without ya’ll! Mmmm… good food. Good people. Good waves. Love this place! It will always be in my heart and soul.”
– JC
Pricing
2024 Rates
Package Details
- Nightly Accommodations
- Full use of resort facilities & equipment
- Continental Breakfast Buffet, Plated Lunch & Dinner
- Unlimited Filtered Water
- Unlimited Surfing at Salani Right & Left via Salani Surf Resort Boat
- 1 Overland Surf Trip Per Day (additional transfers at an additional cost)
- 3 Times a week a free overland transfer to non-surfing activities restricted to, To Sua Ocean Trench, Tongitongiga Waterfalls & Lalomanu Beach on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Guests will have to pay entry fees.
- Hotel Taxes