The Complete Guide to the Ports of Call in American Samoa

The one and only port of call in American Samoa for cruise ships, the island of Tutuila offers a vibrant and versatile port of call to explore. You'll land in the main harbour along the central southern coast of the island, in the territory's small but historic and culturally rich capital, Pago Pago.

Pago Pago – The Capital of American Samoa

For those who don't want to venture too far from the ship (or too much time away from the spa), Pago Pago has its own display of eateries, historical sights and active experiences.

Mingle with the locals at the Fagatogo Market, awash in handicrafts and authentic local food. Sometimes, pop-up markets are set up at port to greet incoming ships. The Jean P. Haydon Museum is a fantastic experience with an array of artefacts all under one roof. Venture to the city outskirts, and you also have attractions like the short uphill trail to the magnificent WW2 guns of the Blunts Point Battery or the trailhead to the National Park's Fatifati Mountain Trail.

Must-Dos Across Tutuila

If you have time to explore one side of Tutuila Island, which most cruise passengers do, here are some of the places well worth visiting and things well worth doing:

• Explore the east side of Tutuila to check out islets like Camel Rock, stop off for Samoan baked goods at Dr Vaasa's Hideaway and stand on the eastern cape of the island at the Tula Observatory.
• Head down to the central north coast across the Afono Pass to marvel at Mt Pioa (Rainmaker Mountain), scenic overlooks toward Pola Island and explore nature's paradise in the National Park of American Samoa
• On the west side of Tutuila, snorkel at the protected marine area of Fagatele Bay, go on hiking adventures through tropical rainforest to Nu'uuli Waterfall, and watch the waves rage at the legendary Turtle & Shark Site.

For more details about these activities, as well as much much more experiences, explore the 30 Best Things to Do in Pago Pago & Tutuila.

Take the hassle out of exploring the island by joining one of the guided tours of Tutuila! If the shore excursions offered by your cruise ship are a bit out of your price range (we all know that cruise ships can sometimes charge up to three times the price of what you would pay for the tour if you booked independently), then these are the best tours to take you around the island, which you can book yourself.

• Best Tours – American Samoa's most popular shore excursion, the "National Park Plus Tour" takes you to the 65th U.S. National Park in style, combining culture and vivid island scenery all in one tour aboard vibrant local aiga buses.
• North Shore Tours – Experience what limited time you have in American Samoa by doing a tour that's truly bespoke, with operator Rory crafting each experience like a smorgasbord based on your genuine interests.
• Samriel Aunu'u Island Getaway – Another worthy choice for private shore excursions that can take you to the best sights depending on your interests, all while ensuring you receive the most authentic Samoan island experience.
• Tisa's Barefoot Bar – Experience the ultimate American Samoa adventure with "Tisa's Magical Paradise Tour", an all-inclusive package that combines indigenous-guided sightseeing, exclusive beach access and marine sanctuary snorkelling.
• Taxi Day Tours – An alternative method of experiencing guided day tours around American Samoa is using taxi drivers as tour guides, offering flexible and personalised experiences at competitive prices.

More information about these tours can be found in The 10 Best Shore Excursions in American Samoa.

If you'd rather make your own way around Tutuila, you can hire a car or scooter. Car and scooter rentals are available with some rental companies, even delivering vehicles to port. Find out more in the 10 Best Car Rentals in American Samoa.

Finally, if you need inspiration for an itinerary for exploring Tutuila in a day, then we have just the guides for you! Check them out in A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Tutuila: East Coast Itinerary LINK#TI043 and A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Tutuila: West Coast Itinerary LINK#TI046.

If you were wondering where our guide was to visiting Apia in Samoa, well, Samoa is actually a different country altogether.

While the Port of Apia in Samoa is often on the same cruises that also stop at Pago Pago in American Samoa, you will actually be visiting two different countries.

You're in luck because we actually have a complete guide to the port of call of Apia on our sister guide, SamoaPocketGuide.com.

You can also learn more about the differences between these two countries that are only 43 mi (70 km) apart in What's the Difference Between Samoa and American Samoa?