Laauoleola Cave is a 5km long lava tube, and the 27th longest lava tube in the world. It was formed nearly 200,000 years ago, but it wasn’t until 1957 that the property owner (Laauoleola) founded the natural wonder.
It’s proximity from Saleloga Wharf means it’s one of the less touristy things to do on Savai’i. To get there, we hired a car and drove about 90-minutes from our hotel at Amoa Resort.
What to expect
Before you enter the cave, you must pay 20 WST ($11.50 AUD) entrance fee per person. Hiring a guide is optional and costs an additional 20 WST ($11.50 AUD) (October 2025). The online reviews seemed to indicate that it was worth hiring a guide on arrival for a more informative experience, however we had the opposite experience, and our guide did not speak to us at all.
It’s about a ten-minute walk to reach the entrance of the cave. Online reviews promised us this walk was through beautiful fertile fields of cacao, pineapple and native plants. All of which were were there, but unfortunately it was difficult to overlook the volume of rubbish everywhere.
The guided loop itself only took about ten minutes. It didn’t take long before the cave became completely dark, and the clicks of the White-rumped Swiflets were all around. Apparently, these clicks are a form of echolocation to help them find their nests.
Aside from some impressive chasms, the cave surroundings were not the most interesting. However, in some places you could make out the lava flow patterns. This is not the place to find stalactites and stalagmites.
Is Laauoleola Cave (Aopo Tube) scary?
Although it is pitch black, we were able to see well enough with our two phone torches and the guide’s torch. Despite our guide not talking to us, there is value in having someone with a torch!
Thankfully the cave was dry (no water wading), and the cave was nice and wide. We were able to fully stand up with plenty of room around us throughout the entire walk.
Is a visit to Laauoleola Cave worth it?
Sure, if you have the time! If you’re spending 1 night or more in Savai’i, we recommend pairing this with a visit to the Saleaula Lava Fields as they’re in the same direction. Allow around 30-45 minutes for a visit to the Laauoleola Cave.
