National Park of American Samoa

Aakash singhAugust 15, 202301K views

The following content on American Samoa National Park is licenced from National Geographic's Guide to National Parks of the United States (9th Edition).

THE ONLY NATIONAL PARK entirely south of the Equator and one that the U.S. government leases rather than owns, the National Park of American Samoa is a South Pacific Polynesian paradise. The small archipelago boasts deep blue waters, coral reefs teeming with fish, secluded beaches, and what just might be the most pristine air in the world.

American Samoa

Midwest

Established October 31, 1988

13,500 (9, 500 LAND, 4,000 MARINE) Acres

This park is a place that seems to occupy its own world. The islands of Tutuila, Ta’u, Ofu, and Olosega are some 2,600 miles southwest of Hawai‘i. Because the national park is leased, local villages have a large stake in its success and management. Villagers who had plantations before the park was established continue to work them. No construction is permitted without an agreement between park management and village chiefs

How to Visit

American Samoa is reached by air. Except for a few villages and the scenic drive that skirts the Pago Pago Harbor and the southern coastline there is little level ground on the park’s main island of Tutuila, where the majority of the population lives. For a bird’s-eye view, climb one of the many trails leading to the 1,610- foot volcanic summit of Mount ‘Alava. You may see white-collared kingfishers, cardinal honeyeaters, and purple-capped fruit doves along the way.

The smaller islands of Ofu and Olosega have excellent coral reefs and the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the area. Ofu also has what many consider to be the prettiest beach in American Samoa.

Useful Information

How to get there

The park is accessed through Pago Pago International Airport. Here you can rent a car as well as arrange for charter flights or boat trips to other islands. Taxis serve Pago Pago, as do buses. (Note: It’s okay to sit on someone’s lap if the seats are all taken.) Hitchhiking is a way of life on the islands

When to go

American Samoa lies around 14 degrees south of the Equator. The islands are pretty much always hot and humid. The hot/wet season runs Oct. through May; the slightly cooler season, from June through Sept.

Visitor Center

The visitor center and park headquarters are in Pago Pago, open weekdays year-round. This is the best resource for finding routes to the more remote park areas.

Headquarters

National Park of American Samoa Pago Pago, AS 96799 nps.gov/npsa 684-633-7082

Camping

Camping is prohibited within the park.

Lodging

Tutuila has everything from classic colonial hotels to chain hotel–style lodging (americansamoa.travel). On Ta’u, you’ll need a homestay; Ofu has one lodging, Vaoto Lodge (vaotolodge.com). Ask for a room that is catching the wind; the ones that don’t can be very hot.

US National Parks Map

About the Guide

Bask in the spectacular beauty, thrilling terrain, and quiet peacefulness of the country’s finest state parks, hand- picked by park directors and National Geographic editors. This fully updated fifth edition includes 750 additional off- the-beaten track destinations. Beautifully written descriptions tell the stories of the parks, from their wildlife, natural features, and history to their most popular current activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, water sports, and rock climbing. Vivid images inspire your next getaway, while detailed information–including 32 detailed maps highlighting sites, trails, campgrounds, and more– helps you plan your next excursion. From free to low-cost, from Florida to Alaska, from the six-acre lao Valley to the 204,000-acre Baxter, use this essential guide to plan a day visit or a weekend escape.