Guam is the perfect island for you to unwind your city nerves. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, the small island is surrounded by cool, clear Pacific water. From tanning on the pristine Tumon Bay beach, visiting Two Lovers Point with your better half and kayaking down the Talofofo River to skydiving at sunset, Guam is the perfect weekend getaway.
1. Tumon Bay
White sand beaches attract the tourists at Tumon Bay (Credit/Wikimedia commons)
This pristine soft white sand beach stretches under the azure sky. Tumon Bay has a fairly extensive shallow water area. Swimmers can walk towards the horizon in gentle waves for some 20 metres before feeling a drop. All sorts of water sports are available along the beach, offered by beach clubs dotting the coastline. From snorkelling, kayaking, wakeboarding, jet skiing to parasailing, you can choose whether to have wind, sand or salt in your hair.
2. Flying lessons
Is it your child’s dream to become a pilot? (Credit/flightacademy)
Prefer staying in a plane over jumping out of one? Do you fancy being a pilot and fly over the beautiful coastline of Guam for an afternoon? Aviation schools in Guam offer various flying courses with routes that will give you totally different aerial views of the island. You could get your pilot license here. One-time pilots can take control of the plane under an expert pilot’s instructions and supervision. And even better news is this once-in-a-lifetime experience is not exclusive to adults. Some aviation schools offer junior programs for children aged 2–11. For those who just want to sit back and enjoy the view, opt for the scenic flights.
3. Skydiving
Try a tandem experience for double the fun (Credit/theguamguide)
Skydiving must be on your bucket list. Free-falling 14,000 feet above the ground, the rush of adrenaline and the spectacular view of the Pacific island that zooms in are indescribable. Skydivers are given safety instructions before they board their planes. Experienced skydive instructors are in control of the jump: skydivers only have to take their leap of faith, lean back (literally) and enjoy the jump of their lifetime. Which height to jump from, when to jump and should there be a camera to record your screaming happy face are all in your hands. The only thing you cannot choose is who your instructor is to be, although all of them are experienced and skydiving on Guam has an excellent safety record.
4. Diving
Apra Harbor diving, American tanker (Credit/Alfred A. Coffield)
Tropical fishes will literally be at your fingertips if you go diving in Guam. There are many types of diving experiences offered by diving schools, such as drift diving, beach diving and boat diving. Famous dives include “the best shore dive on Guam” on Gun Beach—a great place to spot turtles, rays and octopus. Located 1.6 kilometres away from the southern tip of Guam, Cocos Island is a popular diving spot too. Divers often ride the currents as they pass over fish-filled coral beds off the east and west coasts of Cocos Island on a drift dive. With high visibility in these waters, keep an eye out for turtles, spotted eagle rays and white tip reef sharks.
5. Two Lovers Point
Two Lovers Point: a legendary beauty (Credit/Wikimedia Commons)
Two Lovers Point is a cliff in Northern Guam. A sad, beautiful story behind it earned it its symbol of romance. Legend says that in the time when Spain ruled Guam, the beautiful daughter of a proud family in the capital city of Hagåtña was forced to marry a Spanish captain. Out of despair, the young girl fled to the north of Guam, where she accidentally met and fell in love with a young Chamorro warrior. When the father found out about the couple, he chased them up to the high cliff above Tumon Bay. Having to choose between giving up love or their lives, the young couple tied their hair together and leapt off the cliff. Since that day, the high point on the cliff at Tumon was known as Puntan Dos Amantes—Two Lovers Point.
To date, Two Lovers Point remains a symbol of love. Its location overlooks the entire Tumon coastline. Special shuttle buses take visitors to the vantage point every day.
Written by: Angela Ng