Alao
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Shallow, Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Alao is an exposed, right-hand point break on Tutuila’s east coast that only works intermittently. It breaks over shallow coral and is best with a significant swell wrapping the point and enough water for the reef, which is why timing (especially tide) matters.
- Best surf conditions repeatedly identified as high tide and February.
- Quiet/rarely crowded when surf conditions align.
- Wind can blow the wave out if trades are too strong.
- Rarely crowded—quiet, remote sessions when it works.
- Good challenge for advanced surfers with the right swell/tide timing.
- Exposed right-hand point break with peeling action along the reef edge.
- Highly inconsistent—only works intermittently.
- Advanced-only due to shallow coral/reef hazards and strong currents.
- No lifeguards or dedicated rescue service identified.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade-wind driven, with wind direction variability reported; reliability is described as low.
- Reliability
- Low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Providers disagree on wind behavior detail; one describes blown vs clean split, another notes moderate gusts.
- Best Months
- February
- Shadow Zones
- Hills behind the village can provide some shelter from North winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Shallow, Swell
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/reef-influenced coastline with shallow coral.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Wave size described as small/variable; workable conditions require larger swell to cover the shallow reef and connect sections.
- Launch
- Medium — Cove with a fale (shade structure) at the west end; access primarily from the beach area near the village.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Reported as moderate.
Through the year
Rarely crowded throughout the year.
Wet season typically runs from November to March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A fairly exposed, right-hand point break on Tutuila’s east coast that only works intermittently. It breaks over shallow coral and can be highly inconsistent—suited to advanced surfers when the swell and tide align.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE, E
- Swell Height
- 1.5–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide is repeatedly identified as the best tide for surf.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed to swell; hills behind the village can reduce wind impact from the North.
- Wind Effect
- Best with light winds or offshore North to Northwest winds; East-Southeast trades are reported to blow it out.
- Bigger Swell
- Requires larger swells to break effectively and cover the shallow reef.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Quality reported as average and dependent on sufficient swell size/direction.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Reported as moderate power; requires significant size/direction to wrap and become rideable.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling point break along the reef edge.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Wave peels along the reef edge; workable when conditions connect sections.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Decent ride length when the swell is large enough to connect sections.
- Ride Length Details
- Peels along the reef edge, giving a decent ride length when sections can connect.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Alao in the full forecast view.
Alao wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 10–23 ktsGusts 30 kts
- Direction
- ESE114°
- Strongest day
- Fri, Oct 2323 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.3–3.0 m8s period
- Temperature
- 25–26 °C
Over the next 7 days, Alao is forecast for daytime winds of 10–23 kts, peaking around 23 kts on Friday, October 23 with gusts to 30 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 1.3–3.0 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Sharks
- Coral reef
- Ava outflow current (strong pull near the beach)
- Strong currents near the reef edge
- Remote location
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No rescue service identified.
- Emergency Info
- Primary medical facility referenced: LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago; emergency services referenced: 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Village access and permission to cross/approach specific areas is emphasized.
Rules of the spot
Avoid the ava outflow channel near the reef break; respect village customs and ask permission when crossing private property to access the beach; obtain permission to use the fale (shade structure) at the west end if needed.
- Permission needed for fale use (shade structure) at the west end of the beach.
- Ask permission if crossing private property to access the beach.
- Wait for high tide to ensure enough water over the coral.
- Low tide is ideal for cove use; waves get rougher at high tide (when using the cove/launch area).
- Ask locals where the ava outflow is located.
- Avoid the lighter blue strip indicating the reef break/outflow zone.
- Have a backup plan since the spot is highly inconsistent.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Pago Pago
- Nearest Town
- Aoa
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking or parking within the village area.
- Public Transport
- Limited bus service along main coastal roads without fixed schedules; ferry access exists between Tutuila and Aunu'u (about 15 minutes).
- Access
- Approach from the road; the village is on the narrow east coast of Tutuila. Permission may be needed to use the fale (shade structure) at the west end of the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English, Samoan
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Guesthouses available in nearby villages or main hotels in Pago Pago.
- Food & Drink
- Small local shops in Alao village.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rental facilities nearby; bring all your own gear.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Alao?
The best overall months at Alao are February.
Which wind directions work at Alao?
Alao works with N, NW winds.
What skill level is Alao suitable for?
Alao suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.