Some historians believe that early Polynesians sailed from Samoa to populate other Pacific Islands. Two separate countries, American Samoa and Western Samoa share the world's largest full-blooded Polynesian population and a strong belief in tradition.

After a short time in the Samoan Islands, you will learn how much Fa'a Samoa, "the Samoan way," is valued. Much of the charm of Samoa lies in the simple village life and friendly and inviting people. You'll find a striking landscape of soaring volcanic mountain peaks, rugged coastlines, calm lagoons, white sandy beaches and tropical rain forests rich in flowering plants.

The sixteen islands of the Samoan group cluster stretches 402 km/250 miles across the South Pacific. This chain of tropical islands is divided into two political units—the U.S. Territory of American Samoa and the independent country of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa). Samoa is an independent country that has remained largely untouched with an economy that relies on agriculture and fishing. Apia, the nation’s capital, and a beautiful harbor city, is Samoa’s center for commerce and business. Apia offers excellent sporting facilities including a world class 18-hole golf course, squash and tennis courts, scuba diving and game fishing operations.

Samoa lies near the equator between 13 to 16 degrees south and is hot and humid year-'round with a very tropical climate. Due to the mountainous regions, microclimates do exist. The dry season is from May to October, with prevailing southeast trade winds and occasional tropical showers. A mild wet season occurs from November to April, during which northwest winds are most common. Temperatures do not vary greatly throughout the year with the maximum at approximately 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 90 degrees in the winter. Samoa enjoys warm water year round at about 80F.