As what I mentioned from my previous post about my adventure in Guam, Tumon is the most tourist populated area in the island as it is the place where most hotels are located, shopping district, tourist spots, beaches and where the public transportation is available. During my last day in Guam, I did a walk in some beaches in Tumon Bay and had few times walking around Tumon.
Beach Walk
After I rested a bit from my hiking and snorkeling adventure in my last day in the island, I decided to walk in the beach since the island is famous on its beaches. My walked started at Ypao Beach and ended at Matapang Beach Park. One thing that I am not sure during the walk if I should not allow walking along the shore of private beaches or it was just fine at all since all of them are along Tumon Bay.
Ypao Beach (Gov Joseph Flores Beach) Park
From the hotel that I was staying, I took a bus to Hilton bus stop and from there I walked towards Ypao Beach.
The beach itself has historical significance in the island. Based on history, Ypao has been inhabited 3000 years ago. But during 1680, Spanish burned the village and move the Chamorros to Hagatna as part of population centralization.
During American period, Ypao became leper colony and hospital has been built due to leprosy, gangosa and insanity disease.
During Japanese regime, there were pill boxes built around the area and even along the shorelines.
After Ypao Beach, I passed a private beach which part of Pacific Islands Club Guam, Pacific Star Resort & Spa and Fiesta Resort Guam. Then, I also passed the San Vitores Beach before I ended in Matapang Beach Park.
I was surprise that there is one such name of the beach in Guam that sounds familiar to me. The name itself is a Filipino word “Matapang” which means “brave”. I am wondering if it’s really a Filipino word or probably just similar to Chamorro word but I did not find answers to my thoughts so I just stick to its meaning based in my local language. Anyway its a name of the beach.
Before I fully passed the beach, I found the colorful canoes in the ground and looks like there is an existing club for kayaking or canoeing in the said beach.
I ended my beach walk at Matapang Beach Park and from there, I just walked towards my hotel along Pale San Vitores Road.
Urban Walk
In most of my travels, I always plan to get accommodation around the city where the public transportation is most accessible since I don’t know how to drive. When I visited Guam, I decided to look for hotel around Tumon. The hotels in the island are quite pricey and since I will be staying in the island for almost a week, I have to get the most affordable accommodation that I can afford at the time of visit but still located in Tumon area. In the end, I ended up to stay in Grand Plaza Hotel.
Since the first day that I stayed in the hotel up to my last day in Guam, I had few times walks around Tumon. Going to the shopping districts does not require me to take a transportation which is very handy for me to do it anytime. And if I wanted to eat somewhere not far from my accommodation, I will not have difficulty to do so.
Here are some of the photos that I captured while walking around Tumon area specifically while walking along Pale San Vitores Road.
Castaways Tiki Bar & Island Grill
The Plaza Shopping Center and Underwater World
T Galleria By DFS and The Plaza
Notes:
1. Plan to explore Tumon Beaches ? – No general information as Tumon Bay is surrounded mostly of hotels where its front beach becomes private beach.
2. Public Transportation to Ypao Beach (Public Beach)
If you are staying in Tumon, there is available public bus that stops at YPao Beach just at the front of Guam Visitors Bureau, then walk towards the public beach
Ticket Fare : As of April 2017, one way ticket is $4.00
Additional Resources : guam-beaches.com
