Due to the tropical climate and fertile soils, the rainforests of Samoa are a lush and vibrant paradise. Native wildlife such as seabirds, skinks, flying foxes, geckos, as well as a plethora of unique flora call the forests home. Le Pupu-Pue National Park on Upolu is one of the best with extensive walking tracks and a listed 42 bird species. Tafua Peninsula Rainforest Reserve, in the southeast, is another bird watchers haven where you may see the rare Samoan tooth-billed pigeon. In the Falealupo Rainforest Reserve, take the treetop canopy walkway built about 40 metres above the ground among giant Banyan trees!

Villa Vailima mansion was built in 1890 by the famous Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and was his home for the last five years of his life. Even though he only lived in Samoa for a few years, he did write quite a number of novels during that time. The Samoan people loved him and he was given the name Tusitala, which means 'storyteller.' A half-hour tour explores Villa Vailima and, inside the museum. You'll discover a myriad of artefacts, while outside carefully manicured lawns give an air of elegance. Stevenson and his wife Fanny Osborne are buried next door in the Mt Valea Scenic Reserve.

Artxanda is Bilbao’s hilltop viewpoint, offering wide panoramic views of the city, the Nervión River, and the surrounding mountains. It’s a nice escape from the streets below, with paths to wander and spots to sit and take it all in. You can reach the top via a small funicular railway from the Iralabarri district.