Guam travel guide

Asan Beach was one of the landing sites for the American forces, when they retook Guam from the occupying Japanese forces in 1944. Today, the beach park includes a war memorial as well as picnic tables under the shady palm trees. As the beach itself is pretty rough, it's mostly used by locals - if any at all.

Emerald Valley has nothing to do with a valley. It's a waterway connected to the sea filled with water so turquoise that it almost looks artificial. As the water is so crystal clear, everything at the bottom (soft corals, starfish, sea urchins) is clearly visible from the edge of the waterway. You can however swim in it, just be careful not to step on something. Amazingly, Emerald Valley isn't signposted well, but it's located across the road from Guam Power Authority.

Remote Fai Fai Beach is probably the most beautiful beach on Guam. Powdery white sand, leaning coconut palms and just a few colourful shacks on a backdrop of jungle (a simple resort of some sort). No big hotels, no bar, just paradise. There is a cave and apparently you can hike to next beach, Tanguisson. Fai Fai Beach is secluded, as it can only be reached by following the fenced trail on the cliffside from Gun Beach, which is an attraction itself.

This is beach popular with locals in the weekend. It doesn't have swaying palms, but the water in the protected bay is calm.

Built by the Spanish at the beginning of the 19th century, when Umatac was an important port. The fort has apparently been damaged by treasure-hunters through times, so there aren't more than three old cannons. But the view over Umatac Bay is splendid.

Gådao's Cave is named after an Chamorro legend chief and it's probably also him depicted on the petroglyphs. Look the legend up, as it's too long to be replicated here. To find the cave, park on the dirt road. There is a sign leading down a trail towards the sea. There is a cave-structure there, which you can walk through, this is however not Gådao's. Follow the path over the spiky limestone and Gådao's Cave will appear (there are two concrete steps). There is a third open cave (more of an overgang) after Gådao's with nice views. Again, just follow the path over the limestones. Only Gådao's has petroglyphs.

One bay up from main beach Tumon, lies Gun Beach. Also here the beach is fringed by a hotel (though just one) and a beach bar, but the beach is sandwiched by steep cliffs covered in lush vegetation, giving the beach a secluded feel. The snorkelling is also in the top. At the north end a fenced trail clings to the cliffside and leads to the next - and even more beautiful - beach, Faifai Beach.

Not much can be said about Hagåtña, as it's hardly a town of its own, but merely a part of the development that runs along the west coast of Guam. The musuem is recommended and so is boat bassin, where you also find the Staute of Liberty and the commercial Chamorro Village.

A latte is a stone structure consisting of a pillar and a capstone. It was originally used as foundation for buildings of significance and is unique to the ancient cultures of Mariana Islands (part of the South Pacific). Today, the structure is used in many places on Guam, like signs, bus stops and in this case, a viewing tower. It's meant as a monument that embodied the Chamorro culture. The Latte of Freedom was on the drawing board for many years, but was finally completed in 2010 (in a scaled down version). There is an entrance fee.

The original Mini Statue of Liberty was built in 1950 and donated by the Boy Scouts of America to commemorate their 40th anniversary. It was one of many replicas, which got placed all over USA and its territories. 1990 the statue got vandalised, so the statue you see today is a replica (of a replica).