Salani Surf Resort

Salani Surf Resort sits on a small islet off the south coast of Upolu, Samoa's main island, positioned directly adjacent to Boulders — a right-hand reef break that delivers consistent four-to-eight-foot waves from April through October. The break is Samoa's best-known surf spot and the reason most visiting surfers make the journey to this remote corner of the South Pacific.

The resort operates on an all-inclusive model with a small boat fleet for accessing Boulders and the surrounding reef breaks. Beyond Boulders, the resort guides know the south Upolu coastline well enough to find alternatives on every wind and swell condition. The Apolima Strait, which separates Upolu from the smaller island of Savai'i, produces swell from a wide range of directions, keeping breaks firing when the dominant southeast swell is inconsistent.

Samoa is still one of the least crowded surf destinations in the South Pacific. Lineups that hold world-class waves often have fewer than five surfers — a contrast with Indonesia or Hawaii that many guests describe as the defining feature of the experience. The cultural warmth of Samoan 'fa'a Samoa' (the Samoan way) makes the destination as memorable off the water as on it.