Manager - Pati Eves

This accommodation provider has taken action to address one or more issues (whether environmental, social or cultural) which will contribute positively to the long term viability of the destination and hence their site displays a Caring for the destination rating.

Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:  

Protection of the natural environment and preservation of the Samoan culture.

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative: 

Virgin Cove resort, situated in the traditional village of Saanapu on Upolu island, is firmly comitted to ensuring the protection of our beautiful natural environment and the preservation of the Samoan culture and way of life.
The natural lighting of the resort has always been highly appreciated by our guests. We only use solar power for our lighting in the main building and bungalows. In all other fales (huts) including all exterior lighting of the resort, we only use oil lamps or candles in the restaurant, which gives our guests the opportunity to watch the beautiful stars and planets at night.

Almost all our building materials come from the land and purchased from the local village.
Our fales and main buildings have natural thatched roofs made from coconut leaves. All roofing material and the natural woven coconut-leaf blinds (walls of the huts that can be opened and closed) are made by different families in the village and bought by the resort.
Old coconut trees that are too tall to climb or are in danger of falling are cut and used for posts in our huts, even though other kinds of timber is available in the deep forest behind then resort.

Fruits and vegetables for our guests in the resort come from our own land. We have been planting papaya, pineapple, star fruit, mango, taro, tamu, tomatoes and bananas. Not only do the guests from the resort like our vegetables, so do the land crabs, who eat as much us they can!
The thousands of adjacent coconut trees provide our guests with refreshing coconut drinks and coconut cream for cooking.

To help our guests appreciate our wonderful environment and culture, every morning at 10 am we offer free tours with our local guide "Nomia".
He takes our guests on village walks, treks in the protected mangrove area with a detailed explanation of all the flora and fauna, they can also join weaving classes, or see a coconut husking demonstration and even learn the basics in the Samoan language.
Nomia is also a very good fisherman and loves to take our guests on fishing tours in our outrigger canoe (which is also hand-made in the village from the trunk of a tree).

Our goal is to take our guests back to nature, let them interact with it and feel that they are actually a part of it.