GUAM: A Paradise in the Pacific

1,551 miles from the east of the Philippines lies the island of Guam. It’s relatively small and just about the size of Metro Manila. You’ll often read signs that says, “This is where America’s day begins” mainly because the island is the first to celebrate New Year among all U.S. territories. 

View from Two Lovers' Point

So why visit Guam when there are a lot of pristine beaches in the Pacific? Well, if you love the metropolis and the tranquility of the ocean, Guam has the perfect fusion of both.

Aside from its white sandy beach and glimmering turquoise water, Guam is famous for the towering 5-star hotels along the seashore. Frontliner hotels include Hotel Nikko, The Westin Hotel, Hyatt Regency and the Hilton Hotel. The seaside rooms will allow you to sip your coffee while enjoying the ocean vista. And everytime the sun streams through the curtain, you will be reminded to put on some sunscreen and head downstairs for an hour or two at the beach.

Hotel Nikko

Westin Hotel

Our group opt to stay in Garden Villa Hotel, a mid-range hotel which is a 5-minute walk from Tumon beach. There's a swimming pool, wifi and a kitchen where you can cook your best buys from the biggest supermarket in town, K-Mart.

Garden Villa Hotel

Tumon is the most buzzing area in the island. It's a long stretch of breathtaking beaches and fancy hotels. We tried going there in different hours of the day and it was never crowded. You can sink your toes in the sand and lie down as if this is your private beach. 

Our favorite area is the Matapang beach right in front of Fiesta hotel. The beach has very fine sand and is absolutely coral-free.

You can spend an entire day under the blue skies of Tumon. But you must remember, Guam is an island surrounded by glorious beaches. Best to rent a car so you can drive and discover the rest of the island.

In the northern plateau of Guam lies its most postcard-ready beach. The Ritidian beach is part of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge, a 374 acres of land that is filled with limestone cliffs. It's a 45-minute drive from Tumon and the road isn't very good. But once you get a glimpse of the gorgeous Ritidian, you'll feel that you've seen the best of what Guam has to offer.

Make a mental note to sit on the left side of the car so you can take a video of this glorious sight. And oh, don't forget to play Mike Perry's "The Ocean" to excite you even more.

After a seemingly endless road comes the crashing waves of Ritidian. Shades of blue and green stretches out to the horizon. The beach is almost isolated, making you feel like you're in a set of a series like "Survivor".

Just be careful with the waves and don't ignore the posted warnings about rip currents.




There are no restaurants or establishments in the area. But the shaded parking stalls around the road are perfect for a picnic.You just have to bring your own chairs, table and of course trash bags. 

Ritidian beach is only open every Saturday-Tuesday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Perhaps this is one way of conserving its natural beauty. 

And if you're only staying there for a while, you can drive back to the city and make a stopover for a good meal. 

The most famous restaurant in Guam? 

It's got to be Jamaican Grill!

Jerk Chicken and Ribs Family Platter

The sweet setup is just one thing. Every dish served will take you to the island flavors of Jamaica. Their best seller is the jerk chicken and ribs. It's fully soaked-up in marinade flavor and the burnished skin of the meat actually tastes immensely good. The jerk chicken and ribs family platter costs $52.95 and is best paired with Jamaican rice. 

Now that you've seen the northern side of Guam, you can spend an entire day for a scenic drive downsouth. From Tumon, it's easy to follow the single winding road where coconut trees are abundant and you can stop anytime for a quick dip in the sea. 

Those are the boats going to Coco's Island

After passing by the bright orange Umatac bridge, you'll see the village once inhabited by Spanish conquerors. The Fort Senora Nuestra de la Soledad is the highlight of the Spanish Fort. Dubbed as "Chalan Aniti" or 'Path of the Ancestors', it's easy to be charmed with its view of the Pacific ocean and the southern mountain ranges.

As you drive farther to the south, you won't miss the historic village of Inarajan. The area is well-visited because of its crater-like pool. 

You'll sea the ocean water wildly crashing into the rocks which serve as stoppers and eventually forming a natural pool. There's a shallow area but it's 25ft deep at its deepest portion. 

The Inarajan pool is pinned as a favorite both by locals and tourists who want to enjoy the southernmost part of Guam.

As the sun dips below the horizon, don't forget to sit back and enjoy the view. You'll regret not taking an Instagram shot because the spectacular sight is worth remembering.

From the Westin Hotel area

Matapang Beach Park

Gun Beach

If the vibrant sunset is not enough for your dramatic overlook, head to the ever-famous Two Lovers' Point. It's a cliff line located atop Tumon bay where you can see the glistening waters of the Philippine sea. 

But aside from the romantic view of the sunset, the place itself is a statement of love.

Legend says a Spanish girl and a Chamorro warrior once fell in love. But love no matter how deep it was, eventually turned into an ill-fated story. The Spanish beauty and her Chamorro beau jumped from the cliff, believing that they can continue their forbidden love in the next life. 

Write a note to your beloved for $3.00

But Guam isn't all about dramatic and sad stories. A lot of couples have professed their love and have exchanged vows in the iconic Crystal chapel. This is actually a favorite venue for I dos. Even foreigners fly to Guam just to tie the knot at the beautiful little white chapel.

The Crystal chapel is located inside Hotel Nikko

Finally, get your dollars and credit cards ready as you go for some serious shopping. Guam may be small but it doesn't lack malls. If you're into LV bags and designer clothes, check out the Plaza Shopping Center at Outrigger Hotel.

The Guam Premium Outlet or GPO is the most popular mall in Guam. You'll be at a loss for words because brands like Nine West, Calvin Klein, Naturalizer, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's, Guess are more or less sold at 40-60% off. 

You'll also get your heads spinning inside Ross. They have everything from clothes, shoes, bags, watches, accessories, perfumes, wallets all at very cheap prices. And these are not just regular items because they have brands such as Michael Kors, Steve Madden, Guess, Nine West, Anne Klein etc.

There's also the Micronesia mall where you can find everything you need at Macy's. 

Have a quick fix at Panda Express for some authentic lemon chicken!

Panda Express is located at the food court of Micronesia mall

FEW TRAVEL TIPS:

1. Public transportation is by bus or taxi. Generally, bus costs $4 per person but this will not take you to the far north or south of Guam. This is only ideal if your visiting sights around Tumon. For the taxi, the flag rate is $2.40. It is highly recommended to rent a car especially if you're a group of four or more. We rented a Toyota Yaris from QQ Rent-a-car. Aside from the reasonable price, they are very friendly and accommodating to guests. 

QQ Rent-a-car is located at 11421 Tamuning, Guam. You can reach them at (671) 6481111.

2. The climate in Guam is very unpredictable. It's very sunny and the next thing you know, it's already raining. Best to bring an umbrella or raincoat with you.

3. Put all your stuff in just one luggage upon leaving Guam. You will be charged for an additional fee if you have an extra luggage even if you don't exceed your check-in baggage limit. 

I have given a rundown of what's to rave and love about Guam. So the next time someone asks you where your next destination is, I do hope Guam will be your answer.