All activities / Trekking / Hiking / O Le Pupu-Pue
Trekking / Hiking in O Le Pupu-Pue
Samoa's oldest and largest national park, running from the south coast of Upolu up to the crater rim of Mount Fito. Its name means from the coast to the mountaintop, and its 29 square kilometres take in a rugged lava sea-cliff coast, lowland rainforest, the Togitogiga waterfall and pools, and forest trails through the habitat of flying foxes and native birds.
Why here
O Le Pupu-Pue is the place to walk into Samoa's rainforest interior, a national park whose Samoan name means from the coast to the mountaintop and whose trails cover exactly that span. On the coast, the Pupu lava field forms a jagged black sea-cliff where waves explode through blowholes and a marked path traces the edge above the surf. Inland, the Ma Tree walk leads through dense lowland forest to a colossal buttress-rooted rainforest giant, and the Togitogiga stream tumbles over the Togitogiga waterfall into deep pools you can jump into and swim. For the fit and properly guided there is the long, steep climb toward Mount Fito on the crater rim, a full day through untouched forest that few visitors ever attempt. The park shelters flying foxes, the manumea tooth-billed pigeon and other native birds, and because Samoa sits off the main tourist track you often have the trails to yourself. Beyond the park, the same guides link Upolu's other classic walks, the Road of Loving Hearts up Mount Vaea to Stevenson's tomb and the crater-lake circuit at Lake Lanoto'o, so a few days here cover the island's best hiking on foot.
Best months
The trails are best walked in the drier season from May to October; in the wetter months from November to April the forest paths and the lava coast turn slippery and the streams can run high. The coastal lava-cliff walk and the Ma Tree walk are moderate half-day outings, while the push toward Mount Fito is a strenuous full-day hike that needs a guide, an early start and good fitness. Underfoot is uneven lava rock and muddy forest floor, so proper hiking shoes matter. Carry plenty of water, as it is hot and humid under the canopy, and swim at Togitogiga only when the stream is not in flood.
Getting there & around
The park entrance is on the south coast of Upolu, about an hour's drive over the Cross Island Road from Apia, and there is a small national-park entry fee. The coastal and Ma Tree walks can be done independently, but the longer forest routes toward Mount Fito should only be walked with a guide, and guided day tours from Apia bundle transport, the park fee and often a swim at Togitogiga or a nearby waterfall. Start early to beat the afternoon heat and any rain, wear proper shoes for lava and mud, and bring water, insect repellent and a swimsuit.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Manoa Tours
GuideManoa Tours has run guided adventures out of Upolu's south coast since 2006, covering hiking, surf, snorkelling and turtle trips with local guides who read the day's wind, tide and swell before setting out. On the walking side it leads treks to Samoa's rainforest waterfalls and coastal trails, taking small groups by boat or 4x4 to reach the day's best spot. It also runs a Stoke a Local programme that puts Samoan youth through surf and water-safety training.
Samoan Highland Adventures
GuideSamoan Highland Adventures is a small guided-hiking and swimming-tour operator based on Leopodine Road in Apia, first started in 2018 and relaunched in 2024. Its day tours link Upolu's forest and coast on foot, taking in the Ma Tree walk to a giant buttress-rooted rainforest tree, the coastal lava-cliff hike and the Togitogiga waterfall in O Le Pupu-Pue National Park, plus the crater-lake walk at Lake Lanoto'o. Small groups and a guide who knows the trails are the draw.