Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa) has an array of beautiful landscapes and beaches that enrapture visitors. Combined with the Samoans exotic, slow-paced culture and way of life, Samoa has attracted many writers throughout the years and stories have been set here at a rate disproportionate to its size.
The author Robert Louis Stevenson lived in a mansion in Samoa for the last several years of his life before he died in 1894. His mansion has now been restored to its state during the 1890s and contains many of his historical artefacts.
For natural sights, the Afu Aau Falls are very picturesque and have a nice swimming pool at the base. Nearby is the Tia Seu Ancient Mound – a 12 metre tall pyramid-like structure that is the largest ancient structure in Polynesia.
For divers and snorkellers, the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve contains outstanding shallow coral reefs with very abundant marine life. Swimmers can check out the To Soa Ocean Trench – secluded swimming in two huge waterholes separated by a rock archway. Hikers can check out the crater of Mount Matavanu – an explosive volcano that last erupted in 1911.