Church ruins
Roofless stone.
Rickard Törnblad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rickard Törnblad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Teinesavaii — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rickard Törnblad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rickard Törnblad — CC BY-SA 4.0
Falealupo is a village at the western tip of Savai'i, Samoa's largest island. Its coast has white sand, palms and coral reefs, and the roofless ruins of an old stone church stand on the grass near the sea. Falealupo was once known as the last village in the world to see the sunset, being close to the International Date Line, until Samoa moved the line to its east in 2011. Cyclones in the early 1990s damaged the coastal village, so many families moved inland near the main road, leaving the church ruins on the shore. About 545 people live in the village. You walk around the church ruins with their walls and tower, then go down to the white beach among the palms. The clear water has coral close to shore for snorkelling. The area also has rock pools and caves. The sun sets straight over the ocean. The village is about 67 km in a straight line west of Salelologa wharf, and the last 9 km of road to the coast is mostly unsealed. Villagers may ask a small fee. Respect the land and church, and dress modestly.
Roofless stone.
White sand, palms.
Over the ocean.
Western tip of Savai'i, Samoa
By ferry to Savai'i, then by car.
The last 9 km are mostly unsealed.