lefaga beach

Clean sand and clean lagoon, nice and cool in the shade of the breadfruit and mango trees, and te trees were loaded with mangoes

awesome and clean, friendly people, great place for a picnic and the water is great....also can be very romantic

I returned to the Le Faga area this year a little more prepared- last time I got lost looking for Faimafilli Village Resort, so I emailed the owner before I left NZ . I caught the bus down to Le Valasi's Fales nearby at Savaia and walked the 3 or 4 kms over to Matautu.The only problem I had was when the owners of the fales at the corner of the beach wanted me to pay 5 tala and didnt understand when I tried to explain I was going further down the road to the Faimafilli Village Resort and the owner had assured me I didnt need to pay the 5 tala fee as they had an agreement with the village.Eventually I rang Sylvia and she explained to the family.The first day I visited and had lunch, then next day I arrived back to stay for a few days.The beach is beautiful, a little wild with a mixture of sand and rocks, with plentiful sea life.The accommodation at Faimafilli Village Resort was good value and suited me. You can have beach front open fales with a wee balcony or across the road there are ensuite enclosed fales with a bed. I think you can have the accommodation with or without meals but I was happy with my breakfast & dinner inclusive (60 tala for beachfront fales & 80 tala for the units)The meals were pretty standard- Fish and chips, curry and rice etc. The fish was so fresh I just asked for fish every day. Lunch was available from 4-12 tala - basic but very good value.The family also owns the shop up on the main rd and its pretty easy to organise a ride up or down from there. ( or about half an hour walk)I am happy to see there is now a sign on the main rd so hopefully it is easier for tourists to find, but just ask at the shop if you need any help.If you are just wanting a day visit to the Return to Paradise / Le Faga beach you can arrange at the bar / restaurant of the faimafilli Village resort or the house on the corner of the beach before you get to Faimafilli has basic fales on their part of the beach, 5 tala a visit (or photo) and 15 tala over night.I enjoyed having the option of the pool at Faimafilli, I enjoyed my stay very much and will go back.The only thing to be aware of is that it is also a popular locals choice for events and when there is a 'do' it will be very busy and noisy. When I was there we were only a few travellers but there was still rubbish from a previous do (which they were slowly cleaning up) and the barman was still playing loud music (to an empty bar)when we asked for the bar music to be turned down so we could have a conversation the barman was happy to do that.

"Return to Paradise' 1953 Gary Cooper was filmed here, and it's easy to see why they chose the location. Immense blue swells, breaking as foaming surf onto a fine white, sandy beach.Also palm trees and serenity...New this year is the Return to Paradise Resort which was incomplete when I visited, but very clearly will become the premium resort in Samoa. You'll need to break quite a few piggy banks to visit this place, but it's well worth it.

The beach experience was great - the shared lunch experience....I was not so sure about. This was supposed to be a BBQ of which I chose not to eat too much of, and really could have been better.

the snorkelling is brilliant and there are pockets are spring water popping through the surf. There are giant clams, a river and water fall to check out as well.

Nice beach went at low tide didn't get to see the clams, the drive there was great nice little resort to stop and have a drink as it was a hot day

To me it is just a beach and not too flash at that, quite rocky in places but reasonable if you want to swim paddle around or even fish. Ask the locals if fishing is OK first as sometimes it is not allowed. Beach fales and toilets available and picnic area too. I much prefer the beach at Sa'anapu and it is also closer to Apia.

We tripped over for a day trip saw some cool fish, beautiful white sands and paid by the vanload for use of a fale by the beach. We couldn't get to the main beach as the resort was under construction but had been there on a previous visit. It was such a beautiful spot and a fantastic place to spend the day.

The lack of signage in the area and the demand for a fee before you know if a place is worth a visit is annoying- I paid 10 tala to drive to matareva beach ( close by) to find the fales and restaurant was closed.So when the entrance fee sign came up at return to paradise i gave it a miss and didnt get to see if it was worth it, I got lost trying to navigate around the nearby roads without street signs and didnt find the advertised Famaifili village resort (who didnt answer the phone) so decided to go back to Tafatafa beach where there is no cultural fee to access the beach- only a fee to use it.I'm quite happy to pay for something once I know that what I'm paying for is worth it but feel villagers would gain more if they encouraged tourists to enter -then tried to sell them something (food , drink, stay on the beach etc) rather than trying to charge before you know what you are paying for...

Don't get sucked in by this. Yes, it is where the famous movie was shot a hundred years ago. BUT the village fee is high. Then when you go through there was no where to swim, except if you hire a fale. Go to Virgin Cove instead!

Funny story about this beach. Sounded like it would be a lovely beach to visit, so got stoped by the locals to pay the $10 tala but we only had $50 tala, so they kept out 50 and told us of a cafe where we could get change!!! Cafe was not open so we looked at part of the beach from there which was very beautiful, tried to get to Paridise beach but they are building fales at the beach so we could not go any closer (wern't told that by the locals) So we thought we would be saying goodbye to our $50 tala, especially when there was only one local when we got back!!! Then we were told that one of them had taken our $50 tala to a shop down the road to get us some change and to make sure we came back to see the beach. Found the local as prommised and got our $40 tala back, only in Samoa.

this is picture post card true the scenery and waters are so like what we see on postcards,a must to see

Pouring with rain but saw potential -- friendly cafe

excelent view, white sand, but reefgs 50 meret from beach its easy to hurt