American Samoa Attractions

Ofu

Ofu is the most dramatic and beautiful of the Manu'a Islands. It's the easiest to visit and the one most often seen by outsiders. Ofu's crown jewel is its south-coast beach - the 4km (2.5mi) stretch of white sand is one of the most beautiful in the South Pacific.

Bring your snorkelling equipment: the waters here are part of the national park, and there's some excellent viewing of some 300 species of fish and 150 types of coral.

Pago Pago

Much written about and much maligned, Pago Pago is an alluring mix of the seedy and the dramatically beautiful. On a bad day, the tuna canneries are the only local feature you will be aware of, unless you get hit by an empty Coke can hurled from a passing pick-up truck.

Look around and you're likely to see a polluted harbour and lots of litter. Usually though, the area offers visitors a reasonably pleasant, light-industrial, small-town experience. The picturesque harbour is surrounded by high, almost wicked-looking mountains that plunge straight into the sea.