Guam Overview

Guam is the most southerly and the largest of the Marianas Islands, located in the western Pacific approximately 1550 miles south of Japan and 3300 miles west of Hawaii. It is the western-most of US territories and one of the western Pacific’s main tourist destinations. About 30 miles long and ranging from four to nine miles wide, the island is a tropical paradise featuring a plateau of rolling hills and cliffs rising to 600 feet above the sea, at the northern end, and numerous bays, rivers and waterfalls in the central and southern regions. The beachfront at Tumon Bay is the focal point of tourist activity. The lovely white sand and warm, crystal clear waters encourage swimming, snorkelling and relaxing by the Philippine Sea.

The ancient Chamorro, who were the original inhabitants, are believed to have been of Indo-Malaya descent, with cultural and linguistic similarities to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The visit by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 was the first known contact with the West. Spain formally claimed the island in 1565, and over the next three centuries it sent officials and missionaries to convert the inhabitants to a European-style culture and the Catholic faith. Following the Spanish-American War, Guam was ceded to the US in 1898, and placed under the administrative jurisdiction of the US Navy, remaining so until 1941, when the island was captured by invading Japanese forces in WWII. Guam remained under Japanese control until it was reclaimed by American forces in July 1944. The island became an unincorporated territory of the US in 1949, with limited self-governing authority.

Today Guam is a cosmopolitan destination with a unique culture – fundamentally Chamorro, but significantly influenced by the Spanish occupation, the Catholic Church and its status as a US territory. Over the last half-century, the island’s culture has also been influenced by the arrival of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean and Micronesian immigrants, each adding their own traditions and cuisine. With its beautiful white sand beaches, endless choice of marine activities, historical and cultural attractions and cosmopolitan dining options, Guam continues to appeal to a wide range of tastes. 

There are a number of hotels on the island, catering to all tastes and budgets. Some of the top-end hotels offer excellent service as well as impressive facilities. It is adviseable to always book your accommodation in advance, especially in peak season as places may get booked up quickly.

Guam’s climate is tropical, with year round warm weather. Temperatures range from 21 to 32°C, with high humidity. Two clearly defined seasons exist: a dry season and a rainy season. 

The period from January to May constitutes the dry season in Tumon (the centre of tourist activity) and the peak tourist season. Although this time is called the ‘dry’ season, the humidity is still quite high, and light cotton clothing is recommended. The rainy season runs from July to November; and the months of June and December are variable – some years dry and sometimes rainy. Both seasons are affected by the easterly trade winds, which sometimes evolve into dangerous tropical storms. Typhoons also can occur, so it is advised that you keep aware of weather forecasts. 

Although the dry season is peak tourist time, Tumon is truly a year-round destination with a sunny and warm climate predominating, even during the ‘rainy’ months.

The island of Guam (Guahan in the native Chamorro language) is home to a cosmopolitan community that still reflects the culture of the original Chamorro inhabitants who were here as early as 2000 BC. This early culture has been influenced, since the 16th century by Europeans, Asians, Americans, Micronesians and others who have occupied, visited or immigrated to the island. 

The Chamorro society flourished as its members possessed well-developed fishing, horticultural and hunting skills. They were seafaring experts and also craftsmen, having refined weaving and pottery-making skills; and they built houses and canoes uniquely suited to the region’s requirements. Chamorro society was matriarchal and it was due to the power and status of the women (and the failure of the Spanish to recognise this) that much of Chamorro culture, including the language, music, dance, and traditions have endured.

Latte stones, stone pillars that were an essential feature of ancient Chamorro houses and found nowhere else in the world, have become symbolic of Guam and the Marianas Islands. The original stones comprised two parts: a supporting column or halagi, made from coral limestone and a capstone or tasa, made from coral heads. Traditionally, bones of the deceased and their important possessions, such as jewellery or canoes, were buried below these stones, which remain untouched.

Guam’s Spanish Era is considered to date from 1565 to 1898. Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Umatac Bay in 1521 and this was the first known contact with the West. After a few skirmishes, the natives Chamorros eventually provided the sailors with rations in the form of fresh fruits, vegetables and water, in exchange for iron, which was a highly-prized commodity. In 1565, Guam and the other Marianas were formally claimed by the Spanish, and by 1668, Jesuit missionaries had arrived with the aim of establishing a European-style civilisation and religion. They taught the Chamorros to cultivate maize, raise cattle and tan hides and to adopt western clothing styles. When Christianity was firmly established, the Catholic Church became the centre for village activities and Guam was an important port-of-call for the Spanish galleons that crossed the Pacific en route from Mexico to the Philippines.

In 1672, a Jesuit priest and his Filipino assistant were killed by Chief Mata'pang of Tomhom (Tumon) for baptising the Chief’s baby daughter without his consent, an event leading to a war resulting in the near extinction of the Chamorro race. The population was reduced from 200,000 to roughly 5,000 by 1741. By the end of the 17th century, Chamorros were forced to live in five villages: Agat, Fena, Hagatna, Pago and Umatac, monitored by priests and the military and forced to attend religious services daily and to learn the Spanish language and customs. Spanish soldiers and Filipinos were brought in to further populate the island, marking the end of a pure Chamorro bloodline. Evidence of the Spanish influence can be seen today in the remaining buildings, bridges, forts and churches across the island.

The years from 1898 to 1941 constitute Guam’s American Period. The island was ceded to the US in the Treaty of Paris, signed at the end of the Spanish-American War. Under the Navy’s administration, improvements in agriculture, education, land management and public health were introduced. Guam became a refuelling and communication station for the US Navy until 1941, when it fell to the Japanese forces that had recently attacked Pearl Harbor. 

Japanese forces occupied Guam from 1941 to 1944, during which the people of Guam were subjected to hardships and atrocities. Concentration camps were established by the Japanese army and many Chamorros were executed. Landmarks of the Japanese occupation can still be seen today, including gun emplacements and tunnels.

The liberation of Guam required a level of naval bombardment that resulted in the loss of thousands of Japanese and Chamorro lives and the devastation of the city of Hagatna. On 21 July 1944, American forces landed at Asan and Agat beaches and during the ensuing three-week campaign, 18,000 US and Japanese lives were lost before Guam was reclaimed and under American administration once again. 

Due to its strategic position in the western Pacific, Guam continued to be a US command post until the end of WWII in 1945. On 30 May 1946, the US Naval government was re-established. US President Harry S Truman signed the Organic Act in 1949, making Guam an unincorporated US territory, and granting limited self-governing authority as well as US citizenship to the people of Guam. Guam remains a strategic outpost for the US military today.