Travel in Guam: when to go, places and advice

An American territory lost in the western Pacific, Guam is the unexpected crossroads of Micronesia: the turquoise lagoon of Tumon Bay, the cliffs of Two Lovers Point, the Chamorro villages of the South with their Spanish churches, poignant relics of the Pacific War and dives on wrecks from both world wars. The island blends thousand-year-old Chamorro culture, Spanish heritage and American comfort: a concentrate of history and reefs that few European travellers know.

Capital: Hagåtña
Currency: US dollar ($)
Language: English, Chamorro
Direct flight: No direct flight, via Tokyo or Seoul
Time difference: +9 hr in winter, +8 hr in summer

Itineraries

Our trip ideas in Guam

The itineraries in Guam are in the works: the day-by-day programme, named hotels, tickets to book flagged in advance. Leave your address to be notified when they come out.

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The right season

When to go in Guam?

From January to May, the dry season offers the best of Guam: steady trade winds, a limpid lagoon, a constant 28 °C. From July to November, the wet season brings daily showers and the typhoon risk, strongest from August to October: the island then lives to the rhythm of the weather bulletins. December and June make a gentle, often very pleasant transition.

January : Ideal
February : Ideal
March : Ideal
April : Ideal
May : Pleasant
June : Pleasant
July : In-between
August : Avoid
September : Avoid
October : Avoid
November : In-between
December : Pleasant

Ideal
Pleasant
In-between
Avoid

Quick guide

Understanding Guam

Getting around

A rental car is essential, the island loops in a day along the coastal road. The tourist shuttles serve Tumon, but the deep South is only discovered at the wheel.

Money

The US dollar ($). Card everywhere, American prices raised by insularity. The southern villages and their fiestas run on cash and generosity.

Language

Official English and Chamorro, the local pride: "håfa adai" (hello) opens every smile. Japanese and Korean are omnipresent in the tourist areas.

Useful apps

An offline map is enough for the southern loop, the NOAA weather app for typhoon season, and Guam Visitors Bureau for the weekend village fiestas.

Accommodation

The big resorts lined along Tumon Bay dominate the offer; a few guesthouses and rentals in the South provide the Chamorro immersion; book early.

Etiquette

Respect the sacred Chamorro sites and the war memorials, ask before crossing a property to reach a beach, and gladly accept an invitation to a fiesta: it is the soul of the island.

The iconic places

Tumon Bay

Tumon

The island's postcard lagoon: white sand, water at 29 °C and a reef protected as a marine reserve, at the foot of the hotels.

Two Lovers Point

Tamuning

The 122 m cliff of the Chamorro legend of the two lovers, an absolute panorama over the lagoon and the north coast.

Ritidian Beach

North

The wild beach of the national refuge: immaculate sand, translucent water and intact jungle, without a hotel on the horizon.

Hagåtña

The tiny capital: a Spanish basilica, the Plaza de España, thousand-year-old latte stones and the Wednesday night market at the Chamorro village.

Fort Soledad

Umatac

The Spanish fort overlooking the bay where Magellan landed in 1521, guardian of the southern villages and their colourful churches.

Inarajan Pools

Inarajan

Natural pools carved into the volcanic rock at the ocean's edge, diving boards and coconut palms included: the favourite swim of Chamorro families.

Tap a dot, or browse the list below the map.

Tumon Bay : The island's marine-reserve lagoon
Two Lovers Point : The cliff of the Chamorro legend
Ritidian Beach : The wild beach of the national refuge
Hagåtña : Basilica, latte stones and night market
War in the Pacific Park : The landing beaches of 1944
Fort Soledad : The Spanish lookout of Umatac
Inarajan Pools : Natural pools in the lava