GU – The Hidden Panorama

Top Destinations and Attractions – Guam Traveler’s Panorama Guide

Planning to visit Guam anytime soon? And you don’t have idea what this small island is offering you? Here’s some idea where to go, what to see and what to do. This post is a simple guide of destinations and attractions while vacationing in Guam.

Below are list of some questions for you to answer so you can focus on what you like to do while in Guam.

1. Are you an Adventure Seeker?

As an island, Guam offers different activities in different locations that puts their visitor busy in their schedule. Whether you like in or out of the water activities, there is something for you. Below are some destinations that offers adventure to anyone such as snorkeling, buggy off-road driving, trekking and even cave swimming.

Piti, Guam

Fish Eye Marine Park – Snorkeling

Yigo, Guam

Guam International Raceway – Buggy Off-Road Driving

Pagat Point – Trekking

Pagat Cave – Swimming

Yona, Guam

Tarzan Falls – Trekking

2. Are you a Scenic View Lover?

Since Guam is an island, picturesque views with ocean is probably common but the stunning beauty it offers always amaze everyone, just look in different directions and different angles, you will surprise that all you see are fascinating scenery.

Tamuning, Guam

Two Lovers Point (Puntan Dos Amantes)

Yigo, Guam

Guam International Raceway Viewpoint

Pagat Point

Hagatna, Guam

Fort Santa Agueda

Asan-Maina, Guam

Asan Bay Overlook

Libugon Vista Point

Umatac, Guam

Fort Soledad

3. Are you a History and a Culture Buff?

The island has significant places to discover its culture and to learn its role from the past. Spending half a day on these places will gain knowledge about Guam.

Hagatna, Guam

Plaza de España

Insular Guard Monument

Stone Latte Park

Senator Angel Leon Guerrero SantosLatte Stone Memorial Park

Japanese Caves Latte Park

Chamorro Village Night Market

Fort Santa Agueda

Latte of Freedom

Asan-Maina, Guam

War in the Pacific National Historical Park

Asan Point, Asan Beach Park and Nimitz Hillside

Mabini Historical Marker (Mabini Statue)

Asan Bay Overlook at Nimitz Hill

Fonte Plateau

Umatac, Guam

Fort Soledad

Magellan’s Landing

Yigo, Guam

Pagat Latte Site

4. Are you a Shopaholic?

Like other countries that promotes tourism, shopping centers will not be missed. Why? Because people love to buy stuff even on the go.

Dededo, Guam

Micronesia Mall (No Photo)

Tamuning, Guam

Tumon, Tamuning

JP Superstore

The Plaza

T Galleria by DFS

ABC Stores

Tumon Sand Plaza

Guam Premier Outlet (No Photo)

Kmart (No Photo)

Hagatna, Guam

Agana Shopping Center

5. Are you Just Chilling Out?

Traveling stress free? And wanted to relax without pressure? Planning too many itineraries was not your thing? And just wanted to stay in your travel comfort zone? The place below is for you.

Tumon, Guam

Have you been in Guam? Have you visited places aside from what I mentioned above? I love to hear what can you say in those places. Share your thoughts about it. And I will be glad to know and learn about it. Who knows, the place you had seen maybe my next destination while mine will be your next adventures.

Notes :
I stayed in Tumon district and accommodation is pricey, but I weigh that location is more important to me as it has more access to other tourist destinations and public transportation is available though still limited. Mobility was a priority to me so I can move around the island. I do not need to worry if I got late outside and can walk towards my hotel since I do not know how to drive and I solely rely on public transportation and arranged tours. The island does not have systematic public transportation and most of the time unreliable if outside Tumon. If you know how to drive, I recommend to rent a car to see the whole island and find alternative accommodations in other villages for a much cheaper price.

Travel Page :

Guam

Travel Posts:

Tumon – Beach and Urban Walk

Tarzan Falls Hiking and Fish Eye Marine Park Snorkeling

Guam Island Tour – Visiting Best Viewpoint of the Island

Eco Hiking and Cave Swimming at Pagat

Buggy Off-Road Adventure with Coastal Scenic View at Yigo

Visiting Puntan Dos Amantes (Two Lovers Point), Not Once But Twice !!!

Hagåtña – First European City in the Pacific

Travel Diary 101 : On My Way to Guam

Travel Tips :

5 Reasons Why Most of the Travelers in Guam Flocks in Tumon

Top 12 Places Visited in Guam

7 Best Lookout (Viewpoint) in Guam

Top 9 Discoveries While in Guam

Additional Resources :
visitguam
theguamguide

5 Reasons Why Most of the Travelers in Guam Flocks in Tumon

Most of the tourist districts that I visited, as an observation, boils down with common factors that it has and able to keep the tourist to stay. I can say that all the reasons listed below are pointing to what we call travel comfort zone.

Fundamentals of Traveler’s Needs

Below are the things that we can accept as needs of every traveler every time people are on vacation or holiday. Well, see for yourself if the list are true if you had been in Guam.

1. Accommodation

Tumon is where most of the hotels and accommodations are located.

2. Food, Clothing and Shopping Needs

Tumon is like metropolis where different shopping centers, restaurants and cafe can be found. Most of them are located along Pale San Vitores Road.

3. Mobility

In all villages in the island, Tumon district has at least a public transportation with arrange route to other shopping centers and nearby tourist spots and people don’t need to rent a car and drive. The island does not have systematic and reliable public transportation therefore having a nearby, cheap and available transportation that works is very important.

4. Tourist Spots

The district surrounds Tumon Bay, therefore it has easy access to both public and private beaches within the stretch of the bay. And aside from beaches, the district features other tourist spots and entertainments establishments that visitors can enjoy and spend their time.

5. Language Support

Visitors with different language like Japanese are almost supported in Tumon if not all over Guam. Most of the hotels employ people with such language skill. Japanese is what I think the most foreign visitors of the island. And even travel tour companies accommodates to support this language.

Do you agree if all the above are the basic needs of the tourist are all in Tumon? Do you have other idea what other traveler needs while in Guam? Please share it and lets exchange our ideas and experiences we had in Guam.

Until then.

Top 12 Places Visited in Guam

Have you visited Guam? Do you have favorite place that you visited in the island? Here’s my top places that I visited in the island based on my preferences. I hope it helps you to create your own list when planning to visit Guam – one of the US Territory in the Pacific.

Top 1 – Pagat Point and Pagat Cave

This is my favorite spot that I was able to reached while traveling around the island. This is the place that requires hiking which means you need an effort to see the place. Pagat Point is one of the amazing lookout or viewpoint to appreciate in the island. The Pagat Cave is an added bonus for the adventures that wanted to have activity with the nature.

Top 2 – Tarzan Falls

I love this falls because it requires me to do a hiking even though it was not really a mountain. Another falls that I discover as part of my travel adventures. And I had a great time sit on its walls and enjoys the waterfalls.

Top 3 – Fish Eye Marine Park

Though I was scared in swimming a deep-sea water and even I was uncomfortable with my fins, I still love this place because of the colourful fishes under the water. I just need more exposure and experience with similar adventure.

Top 4 – Guam Adventures Yigo

I love the lookout where I had a chance this paradise view from the top. Though it was not that long rest after buggy off-road adventure but its worth of a rest to appreciate such kind of scenery.

Top 5 – Asan Bay Overlook and Libugon Vista Point

Asan Bay Overlook now offers panoramic view of War In the Pacific National Historical Park in Nimitz Hill, Asan Bay and Fish Eye Marine Park. It also a reminder of its significance on the freedom of Guam from Japanese.

Libugon Vista Point offers birds-eye view of Tamuning, the islands’ international airport and Barrigada.

Top 6 – Two Lovers Point

The most accessible point to appreciate the beautiful scenery of Tumon Bay and the shorelines that surrounds it.

Top 7 – Fort Soledad

Fort Soledad offers a scenic view of Umatac Bay and emphasize its fortification of once rich village of Umatac.

Top 8 – Fort Santa Agueda

A fort that offers the view of capital city of the island which is Hagatna.

Top 9 – Hagatna Heritage Walk

A learning walks to discover the historical importance of the city and understanding how the history shaped the island right now.

Top 10 – Chamorro Village

A gluttony adventure indeed in Chamorro Village every Wednesday where different kinds of people get out to have fun inside the village either through shopping of different kind of cultural souvenirs and to be fill the empty stomach.

Top 11 – Tumon Bay

The most tourist populated area in the island. Whether you enjoy the walk like I did in the bay or have an adventure in the water will fill-up your time here.

Top 12 – Tamuning

Walking in the city is not bad at all, if you just wanted to chill in the city, the island has Tamuning where you can enjoy the city life of the island.

7 Best Lookout (Viewpoint) in Guam

During my visit in Guam, I had a chance to explore different lookouts or viewpoints in the island that gave me a chance to see its different beauty from different locations. There might be more lookouts in the island that I haven’t seen, but for the starter, here’s the 7 viewpoint that I had a chance to reached.

1. Two Lovers Point

This is the most famous and most accessible viewpoint in Guam. It offers one of the scenic view in the island.

2. Guam Adventures Yigo

I am not sure if this viewpoint is accessible to people who don’t join the Buggy Off-road Adventures but during the said adventure the North-East Coast scenic view is so lovely that I even think that I was looking at a paradise view from a distance at the top.

3. Pagat Point

This point requires hiking to reach and to have a chance to see the coastal scenic view. The Pagat Arch is the added bonus at the point.

4. Fort Santa Agueda

The overlooking at the top of Apugan Hill or Fort Santa Agueda, offers the West-Coast scenic view of the island and Hagatna City.

5. Asan Bay Overlook

This viewpoint offers the South-West scenic view and the birds-eye view of War in the Pacific National Historical Park.

6. Fort Soledad

This viewpoint of Southern Part of the island with the emphasis of Magellan Landing Site and historical Umatac Bay which significant during Galleon Trade.

7. Libugon Vista Point

This unnoticed viewpoint offers scenery of the famous Tamuning area, Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport and Barrigada Hill.

Tumon – Beach and Urban Walk

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.

Hilton Resort Guam & Spa

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.

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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.

Pacific Islands Club Guam

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Pacific Star Resort

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Fiesta Resort Guam

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.

Pale San Vitores Road

Tumon Sands Plaza

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Castaways Tiki Bar & Island Grill

Park Arcade

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Hyatt and Sandcastle

The Plaza Shopping Center and Underwater World

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T Galleria By DFS and The Plaza

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JP Superstore

ABCs Store

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

Top 9 Discoveries While in Guam

Traveling is a way of learning for me. When I visited Guam there are discoveries worth knowing. They are the following:

Top 1 – Magellan discovered Guam like Philippines

Ferdinand Magellan discovered Guam in March 6, 1521 and after 10 days it reached the Philippines in March 16, 1521. Both countries has been under Spanish Colony for more than 300 years.

Top 2 – 99% of Foreign Workers in Guam are Filipinos

Because of its proximity in my country Philippines, the island became a second home of some of my countrymen. When I reached the airport, I saw signs and directions in my country’s language “Tagalog” which signifies one thing, there are lots of Filipinos lives in the island as residents and workers.

Top 3 – Asan Beach Park

This beach is where US soldiers landed to reclaim the island from Japanese in 1944. And not far from the shoreline, one of the Philippine National Heroes named Apolinario Mabini lived in the area during his exile period.

Top 4 – The capital city (Hagåtña, formely Agana) believed as Oldest ‘European’ City in the Pacific.

It is considered one of the oldest cities and even as First European City in the Pacific.

Top 5 – Guamanians are US Citizen but they don’t vote during US Presidential election.

Guamanians get American citizenship by birth under Title 8 of the U.S. Code. But they are not given the full range of opportunities that native-born Americans are given.

Top 6 – Tumon Bay is the most-visited area in the Island

As I mentioned in previous post, Tumon Bay area is the most visited part not only in Tamuning but in the whole island because of Tourism industry and because of its beaches that surrounds the bay.

Top 7 – Guam has lots of Japanese Visitors

Guam is a US Territory but for me it was surprising that there are lots of Japanese visits the island. Hotels even has their own Japanese linguist for travel agents. Tourist companies hired Japanese speaking for their Japanese visitors. If you will do business in Guam related to Tourism Industry, make sure you have someone taking care of Japanese clients.

Top 8 – Chamorro – Guam’s Indigenous People

One of cultural facts of Chamorro is the Latte. I learned the similarities of how Chamorro live their life before. Through its houses, I can say that Guam and Philippines are tropical countries and not far from each other, their houses built through palm trees. In my country we call it as Nipa Hut the difference was Chamorro used pillars called Latte, while we don’t have latte but I can see nipa huts stand in wooden pillars as their base are hollow and empty same with Chamorro houses.

Top 9 – Guam is Largest island in Micronesia

The island nation is roughly the shape of a footprint. It is approximately 30 miles long, and its width varies between 4 and 12 miles at various points.

Tarzan Falls Hiking and Fish Eye Marine Park Snorkeling

The last adventure tour that I booked with travel tours company was doing a bit of hiking for a waterfalls and snorkeling. At first, I booked a different tour in another company but unfortunately they are not able to do the tour that I selected due to minimum numbers were not met to be able to operate the tour. Then I looked for another company until I found Tropical Tours Guam. I wanted to see additional places before I leave Guam and I ended up booking a Waterfalls and Snorkeling Tour. I was hesitant at first since the tour includes swimming but in the end I joined the tour.

It was Good Friday and I thought that the tour will not operate since Guam is also considered a very Catholic Island. And from my guide in the tour, as long as the minimum numbers met, the tour will happen even though its public holiday. The tour guide arrived at the front of my hotel’s lobby. And when I hopped inside the car, another tourist was waiting. Matt, our guide introduced me to him and he is a Filipino too. What a lucky day that I will be with a familiar face in the adventure. And he stayed in the same hotel as mine.

Tarzan Falls

If you looked-up and saw hanging shoes at the parking area, you are in the right location.

We left the hotel and we drove more than half an hour drive towards the south of the island until we reached the car park which is the same as the start of Tarzan Falls trail. The parking area has sign of Tarzan falls which signifies you are at the start of the trail. Aside from parking sign, in the past years there is another way to know you are at the start of the trail, look for shoes hanging in electrical wires. I asked Matt if it’s becoming a tradition that they let the shoes hang in there, but he mentioned that there’s no really story behind the hanging shoes, it’s just that people just leave theirs shoes and other people are doing the same thing probably for just fun. But Matt mentioned, if you will do that, just make sure you will not be caught.

Because it was a sunny and beautiful Friday, hiking the area towards the falls was not difficult, but they said it is different during wet season or even just after the rain. At the start we passed a wind turbine and followed the Tarzan Falls trail. The trail itself is easy to medium and it is just like walking for miles except for few parts of the trail that you need to go up a bit and descend a bit. Then we reached the trail part where we saw the river (Ylig River) where the water falls of Tarzan Falls coming from. It is a sign that the falls is just nearby. We reached the top of the falls and this means that we need to go down further to see Tarzan Waterfalls from the bottom to appreciate more its beauty.

At the top of the falls

Looking down from the top of the water fall

We descended to the bottom of the falls to see what it offers to all visitors. Since it was dry season the volume of the water flows was less, not heavy and not forceful. Once we reached the bottom of the falls, I had a great view of the famous waterfalls. Natural waterfalls can really make people feel good about nature, the way I look at it, there is something in waterfalls that make people feel calm and at peace. The sound of the water flows is a unique way to emphasize that there is a great thing to find in nature.

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I took a lot of photos of the waterfalls and after photo shoot time, we tried our best to reach the waterfalls wall even that its slippery. I slowly crawled towards the wall and since I was wearing leggings, it helped me to reached the wall easily and I was able to surpassed the slimy way to the falls. And I looked for some space to sit properly and enjoyed the waterfalls down through my head and my body. We sit with the waterfalls at least half an hour.

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Fish Eye Marine Park

After spending time with waterfalls, we decided to go down the falls, finished the hike and return to where we started. After reaching the parking area, we just dried ourselves a bit before we hopped on back into the car. Then we drove at least 20 mins to Fish Eye Marine Park.

I love water adventure but I am not really good at it because I have less experience and exposure to such adventure. While Matt (our guide) prepared our stuff for snorkelling activity, we sit not far from the beach and enjoyed the scenery at our front. While looking at the underwater observatory not far from the beach, I was thinking what’s going to happen if I am in the water.

Our guide called us and he gave our gears for the snorkeling. We started the shoes and he handed the fins that we will wear when we are in the water. I also received the tube and lens mask. When he was ready we walked towards the beach and approach the observatory. I walked slowly in the water, following the bridge walkway path and while walking I saw colorful and small fishes. Then I approached where Matt my tourist buddy were waiting. Then I wore my fins, it was the first time that I wore fins. Then, Matt gave a rope that can be my guide while we were approaching the deeper part of the water. I tried to swim as best as I can based on what I had been doing before, but when I did, I drank a lot of sea water and I panicked. Then I tried one more time and the result was the same. I tried again for the third time and I really got nervous. So I decided to not to try anymore. I felt unease.

Because I was not comfortable swimming using the snorkeling gear, I just swam as I can while Matt was guiding the rope. We reached where the observatory stands and there were few people near on it. At that location I tried to lookdown few times to see under the water. I saw turtles but I just stayed where I was and let them (Matt and my tourist buddy) enjoy the water, they swam both together as I don’t want to spoil their enjoyment. At that time, I was a bit sad because I wanted to swim but I was scared. But I knew that I can swim because I was wearing life vest, but I wasn’t able to do it because I was not comfortable with fins in my feet, not sure why.

Tepungan Beach

We spent more time under the observatory. And before we decided to return, I looked down under the water again to see one more time the colorful fishes and turtles that just live normally under the water even there are people enjoying diving and swimming in the area.

After the adventure, we had our lunch not far from the hotel that we were staying before Matt dropped us in our hotel.

Guam Island Tour – Visiting Best Viewpoint of the Island

I will start my story at Fort Santa Agueda since the first two places included in the Island Tour has been detailed in my previous post of Hagatna and Two Lovers Point.

But while I was drafting this post and when I looked into the whole story of my experience in the tour, I see a trend of the places that we had visited while driving around the island. The title of this post is a hint of what I meant on it. Most of the places we visited has historical significance and a viewpoint.

Fort Santa Agueda

Fort Santa Agueda is still located in Hagatna, but I did not include this in Hagatna post as I wanted to include it as island tour activity. I made emphasis on Hagatna in my previous post, please see here. After we finished the visit of Latte Stone Park and Japanese Caves Latte Park, our guide drove us to Fort Santa Agueda. We took Hwy 33 and we turned right to Hwy 7. From Hwy 7, we turned right again at Fort Ct where we parked our vehicle again. Fort Santa Agueda is included in Hagatna Heritage Walk but I wasn’t able to see this during my first visit in the city because of its location requires me to walk towards the Apugan Hill.

Fort Santa Agueda Raised Viewing Platform which is the only remains of the fort

When we reached the fort, it has great lookout to enjoy the scenery of Hagatna including Agana Bay, clifflines with Oka Point and Urunao Point including Tumon Bay and of course the far Philippines Sea.

Cannons at the fort

For Santa Agueda is the only surviving Spanish fort in Hagatna and it served different purposes as the time passes by even though it was fully used as it was built few years (1800) before the Galleon Trade has been stopped (1815). When it was first built, it was used as fortification site to protect governor’s palace and Fort San Rafael. It was mentioned that it was useless when the Galleon Trade was off due to scarcity of supplies which means it doesn’t serve its purpose. During American administration, the fort became signaling station for ships. During Japanese invasion, the fort has been strategic to them and became guns emplacement.

Because the fort sits at the top of Apugan Hill, the fort is famous to visitors of Hagatna as it offers great scenery of western coast of the island.

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With Hagatna

With Hagatna and Agana Bay

With Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica

Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex

After leaving Fort Santa Agueda, we took Hwy 7 and ended at Hwy 6. While we were waiting on green light while at the crossing, since I was seating at the front of the car, I had a good look from a distance of Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex where the Governor’s office and Latte of Freedom are located. We crossed Marine Corps Drv towards the said complex. We drove inside it but we never went out of the car, I only had a glimpse of the surroundings from the vehicle.

Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex

Latte of Freedom

Asan Beach Park

We enjoyed the coastal view inside the car while our guide were driving along Marine Corps Drv. And then in few minutes from Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex we turned right and parked at Asan Beach Park. Here, I learned a great feat of one of the heroes of my country – Apolinario Mabini. At the park, I learned the place where Mabini has been staying in Guam while he was in exile. I felt proud because one of whom I recognized as hero back home have their statue standing outside the country, an important piece of reminder of my country’s history.

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Mabini Statue and some information of himself to be admired

Another historical importance of Asan Beach Park based on historical records that it is the landing of the American soldier for the Second Battle in Guam in 1944 to take over again the island from Japanese where the latter took it last 1941 from US.

Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad

We were back in the road again, and we were in a road longer than our previous road drive. We went to the pier but seems our guide can’t find what she is looking for. Therefore we went straight to Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, Our Lady of Solitude. The said fort was the last and fourth fortification for galleons between Acapulco, Mexico and Manila, Philippines which has been out of use since 1815.

Magellan’s Landing

While we were enjoying the scenery at Fort Soledad, our guide also pointed out the location of Magellan’s Landing site when he arrived at Guam.

Magellan’s Landing

Umatac Bay

While looking for the historical facts about Umatac Bay, I learned how important the bay is and how it was related to my country as well. The bay became supply station for ships or replenishment stop that cross Pacific Ocean during the Galleon Trade period which happened from 1565-1815. I also learned that one shipment from Cavite (the province that I currently live) in Philippines returned from Acapulco as significance of the end of the Galleon Trade in 1815.

Umatac Bay with Magellan’s Landing and San Dionisio Church

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Umatac Bay from Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad

Fort Santo Angel, Fouha Rock, Facpi Island and Facpi Point

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Umatac Bay

Asan Bay Overlook at Nimitz Hill

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After spending time at Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad which located in the south, we drove back north. This time, we visited Asan Bay Overlook at Nimitz Hill. The hill offers the view of War in the Pacific Historical National Park which includes the hill itself down to Asan Bay. The historical artifacts that surrounds the park is to remember how Guam has been recovered back by US from Japanese in 1944. As I mentioned in Asan Bay in the first part of this post, the bay has been the landing of US soldier to defend back Guam from the hands of Japanese. At the hill, there are photos that portrays how Japanese tried to drive American soldiers to the sea but they failed.

Apra Harbor and Cabras Island

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Below are version of plane view of the what I had seen while I was Asan Bay Overlook.

Orote Peninsula

Orote Peninsula with Apra Harbor

Apra Harbor

Apra Harbor with Sasa Bay

Sasa Bay

Asan Beach Park

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Fisheye Marine Park and Asan Beach Park

Tepungan Beach Park and Fisheye Marine Park

Tepungan Beach Park, Fisheye Marine Park and Asan Beach Park

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After leaving Asan Bay Overlook, we has a brief stop as our guide told us about the one of the tunnels that Japanese used when they stayed in the island.

Fonte Plateau

Libugon Vista Point

Our last stop for the island tour is Libugon Vista Point where we had a bird’s-eye view of Tumon Bay, Tamuning, island’s international airport and Barrigada which means we can’t get enough of the lookouts that Guam has to offer.

Tumon Bay Area, Guam International Airport and Barrigada Heights

Tumon Bay

US Navy Hospital

After the tour, I rested in few hours and decided to walked in the beach as my next adventure in the island. Until then.

Eco Hiking and Cave Swimming at Pagat

In my second day with Guam Adventures, I did an Eco Hiking Adventure to Pagat Point and a swimming at Pagat Cave. I was only their customer to the said adventure but still they pushed the tour even I was alone who signed-up the tour for that day.

Forgive me as I forgot the name of my guide, but I do remember that he was a mixed Chamorro and Filipino race. His facial features was a familiar one to me as he looks like a Filipino, but he doesn’t speak my language. Three of us went to Pagat. His Japanese woman colleague drove and dropped us to the site which just around 10 minutes away from their headquarters.

The parking was the starting point of the adventure. The hike category was easy to medium but having a guide is a good thing for a new foreign visitor as there is trail that leads to the Pagat Point and leads to the cave which a bit tricky which way you wanted to be first.

Trails before we reached the Pagat Latte Site

Pagat Latte Site

Along the hike we found an ancient latte stones and some of basalt mortars which both evidences that Pagat was once location of ancient Chamorro Village. Based on history Pagat is one of the four that has been recorded with latte sites on the North East side of the island. “Pagat” means to counsel or advise in Chamorro Language.

Ancient Basalt Mortar where frogs used it as resting haven for a while.

Latte Site, where a house stands before as we see 8 pillars

Our trek continues in a densely forest which really great in summer where the hike is really comfortable as the trail covered by trees. I observed during the hike that we were descending and I realized the reason why until we reached Pagat Point.

Pagat Point

When we were out of the forest and as we approached the coast, I saw another spectacular scenery in Yigo Guam. We walked towards what they call the “Arch” where I was amazed how wonderful the scenery when looking down with the arch. Not far from the arch, we rested to enjoy and appreciate the natural beauty of our surroundings. Listening to the waves that struck the coast and the cliff back and forth were really nice to hear. Aside from resting in the area, we had our snacks and photo shots of myself with the scenery. The scenery are the worth prizes or rewards after the hike.

They call it as Arch with an obvious reason

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Coast

After the Arch scenery, the coast is the next big thing for me. The coastline cliff are all amazing. The scenery is not typical coastal view, the cliff limestone makes it more dramatic. And the waves that strikes back and forth to the coast make it so beautiful that creates variety of hue in the shoreline.

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The limestones along the coast make the scenery so spectacular that I really enjoyed it. Just beware as the limestone may cut your skin if you will not be careful. The scenery makes me want more of it, if only my camera are able to capture all the beauty that I was enjoying at that time.

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If the coast side offers amazing blue color with the shoreline, the land portion of Pagat towards the inland offers surroundings with natural green setting that’s so nice to see.

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After enjoying and appreciating amazing scenic views in Pagat Point, we decided to move again to reach Pagat Cave.

Pagat Cave

We hiked back from Pagat Point towards the cave. We trekked back by partially ascending but then we descended again until we found the cave. I prepared and put my life vest. Before we entered the cave, we found people going outside and we let them out first before we get in. We talked to the people who came out from the cave. Then, we decided to go inside. My buddy and my guide left his bag in dry area inside the cave before we go to the main area of the cave.

We went down to the cave and immediately the depth of the water were almost knee-depth. Then we move forward towards the center of the cave where the water is at least my shoulder depth. I am not really good in swimming, I learned the basic swimming from college as my physical education subject. And I was able to do free style in a pool but when the depth of the water is beyond my height, I am not really that confident.

My guide talked a lot of stuff while we both enjoy the water inside the cave. Aside from talking to him with different stuff, I went to the deepest part of the cave and had my souvenir photos.

After having a great time inside the cave, we decided to go back. One thing that I can say when we went back. If hiking or trekking towards Pagat Point is easy to medium, going back is quite more challenging because anyone will catch their breath as its more on assault hike. Going down is easier than going up.

Note:
Photo(s) with no marker – courtesy of Guam Adventures (licensed photos)

Buggy Off-Road Adventure with Coastal Scenic View at Yigo

I was looking for adventure in Guam at the internet and I found Guam Adventures site. They are offering activities that tourist will enjoy. Two things that I did with them, for this post, I focus on Buggy Off-Road adventure. I haven’t tried to do a buggy off-road even I knew that it was available in my country. I haven’t had a chance.

When I was in Guam, when I found the site, I got a chance to experience the buggy off-road ride. Because I don’t know how to drive, I told them that I will join with a guide. The reason I sign up on it because I saw their video advertisement regarding the said adventure and I was curious on their tracks and the site that they stop to enjoy the coastal scenic view of the island.

I joined the 11 AM adventure schedule. They picked me up in my hotel around 10:30 AM and when I arrived at their headquarters I was the only visitor inside the building, after few minutes passed, lots of Japanese visitors came. All of us will have the buggy-off road adventure at the same time. While we were waiting, another group came-in, they were the group which just finished the said buggy-off road adventure. I realized that the Guam Adventures seems famous to the visitors in the island.

Guam Adventures Headquarters and my group during orientation using the ATV

After they accommodated the previous group, the company’s attention came to us. First, they gave us our helmets and they checked if we have sun glass which I had at that time, they said its good and no need to borrow one from them. Next, we went out of their office and walked towards where the Buggy ATV (all-terrain vehicles) are. They oriented the people who will drive by themselves. They shown the instructions how to use Buggy ATV car. Then, we selected our vehicle. My guide and my driver went to our ATV and we did a test. There is a test track not far from their office to check that all in the group are comfortable driving the Buggy ATV. After some few rounds in the practice tracks, we started the adventure. At first, we drove to the part of race track. Next, we took the off-road tracks, some are elevated, some are inclined, some are mixed plain and some are zigzag tracks.

We entered the forest track which I felt more exciting. Though the tracks were dusty at that time, I still enjoyed it. My guide asked me to rate the driving adventure that I like and I told him next level before the extreme level adventure. After that, he did some tricks to make the driving Buggy ATV more fun.

After driving at forest track, we were back in the off-road tracks. We drove farther and father than the previous tracks we had. Then, the group stopped and I thought that we will just rest in few minutes. Then we walked few meters from where we parked our vehicle towards the viewpoint. And when I saw the coast, I felt amazed. I was standing in a lookout point to enjoy the panoramic scenery of North-East Coast of the island from the top.

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When I saw the coastal scenery, I can’t stop but to admire it. All of us in the group took our time to take lots of photos. Everyone has their time to stand and position to have a photo with wonderful scenery.

After we were done with amazing scenery, we drove back and returned to where we started. Even on our way back, the driving and riding experience were still enjoyable. We drove from off-road tracks to race tracks to practice/test tracks until we were back to the adventure’s headquarters.