Guam

Quick Facts

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Capital

Hagatna

Population

164,000

Government

Territory of USA

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)

Languages

Chamorro, English

Calling Code

+1671

Nationality

Introduction

Guam-Diving

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When Ferdinand Magellan sailed into Guam in the early part of the 16th century, a cultural misunderstanding between him and the local Chamorro people led him to name the island the Island of Thieves. The story of the Chamorro people from this early failed contact is a sad one, as the Chamorros' numbers dwindled through fighting and disease. There are no pure Chamorros anymore; modern-day Guam is a Westernized US territory armed with fast food chains, expensive hotels and a collection of popular beaches, reefs and surfing spots. In short, it's a bit like a small-scale version of Hawaii.

Like all good tourist destinations, though, Guam still shows an active interest in Chamorro culture. An attractive Chamorro Cultural Village displays traditional Chamorro arts and craft; and a strong push towards restoring towns and villages with their Chamorro names reveals a genuine desire to pay homage to the people who've inhabited this small nook of the North Pacific for a century and a half.

Villages

• Hagåtña (formerly Agana) is the capital
• Tumon is the main tourist destination, on the central western part of the island.
• Dededo, is the most populated village, located in the island's north-west.

Getting there

Plane

Flights arrive at Won Pat International Airport. The main airlines is Continental Micronesia Airlines, a branch of Continental Airlines, serving American destinations like Honolulu, Los Angeles and Houston and other destinations like Manila as well.
Guam is a major gateway to other places in the Pacific and as such there are many flights from many destinations in Asia, Australia and New Zealand as well.
Airlines to choose from are All Nippon and Japan Airlines from destinations in Japan, like Tokyo and Osaka, China Airlines from for example Beijing, Philipiine Airlines from Manila and Korean Air from Seoul.
Services from Australia include Continental Airlines from Cairns with possible connections to Micronesia. The same airlines also serves Hongkong and Bali.