The first time we came to Utumea West was on Christmas Day. We were invited by some friends to spend Christmas together at the beach. Not knowing exactly what to expect, we were a little hesitant to commit our whole Christmas Day to an unknown beach. We decided to give it a try, trusting our friends’ experience on the island. Plus, we just can’t say no to a beach invite with friends.
We couldn’t have been happier with our choice.
Utumea West
The beach is right off the road, so there’s no hauling beach toys or lunch through jungle.
The beach and road are separated by a row of coconut trees, which are ideal for offering afternoon shade. The kids love trying to climb the trees to harvest coconuts, like in the You-Tube videos they’ve seen.
The beach has soft sand, but it does get mixed in with coral and shells as you head into the water. Just to be aware, in case you’re planning on jumping in without water shoes.
At low-tide, the reef provides great protection, allowing only gently waves to roll past its fortification. With a few larger boulders just off-shore, they make the perfect setting for make-believe games of pirate ship and mermaids.
At the east end of beach, where it butts up against a steep cliff, there are lots of bigger boulders. At high-tide, the waves can crash all the way over these climbing rocks, so it’s usually advisable to keep a close eye on the kids or, better yet, head back down the beach.
Utumea West
Although we came to Utumea West with some uncertainty, we instantly fell in love with it. We’ve been back many times, by ourselves and to introduce others to this long stretch of sun, shade, sand, and sea. Bring plenty of snacks and water, and you’ll find yourself passing a full day on one of American Samoa’s favorite beaches.
As with most anywhere on the island, it’s always best to ask permission before using the beach.
Spotlights coming soon: Se’etaga and Nua
Also, check out Beach Day Basics for Families and follow me on Instagram to see more pictures of our favorite places around American Samoa.
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ON my living room fireplace sits a plaque. It says “Memories made at the beach stay in our hearts forever. Utumea beach was my home and front yard, we lived in the village before leaving to California. Finding Puka shells and getting to know the beach for a short while ended up being the memory of my forever and ever!
Lavern Marie Ripley-Wilson
Oh, that is so awesome! Finding shells is one of our favorite beach activities, too. No matter how far away we move, the memories we’ve made at the beaches here, will surely stay with us forever.
HI, I AM A RELATIVE OF THE FAMILY THAT LIVES IN UTUMEA WEST.. I HAVEN’T BEEN HOME IN UTUMEA SINCE 1991 WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY AND SHE WAS FLOWN TO AMERICAN SAMOA FROM SAN FRANCISCO, CA WITH ALL OF US- BUT WE LIVED THERE ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACH IN 1973-1976 AFTER OUR FATHER PASSED AWAY & I AM PLANNING TO VISIT OUR VILLAGE AND FAVORITE BEACH “UTUMEA BEACH” THIS SUMMER.. I LOVED ALL YOUR PHOTOS OF YOUR FAMILY AND ESPECIALLY THE KIDS IN THE WATER ON THE BEACH.. GREAT SHOTS AND I EVEN MADE ONE OF THE PICTURES MY SCREENSAVER HERE AT WORK- GREAT MEMORIES OF MY TEENAGE YEARS LIVING THERE AND SWIMMING ALL THE TIME AT UTUMEA BEACH
THANK YOU FOR SHARING, I DON’T HAVE AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.. BUT PLS TAKE MORE PHOTOS-HAPPY YOU ENJOYED OUR BEAUTIFUL UTUMEA.
Thank-you for writing this. You’re so lucky to have spent that time living right across from this amazing place! I’m excited for you to be able to come back home this summer and see your beautiful Utumea Beach again. Safe travels. And I’ll definitely keep posting more pictures here.
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