I’ve spent 6 weeks of my life on Guam and am convinced it’s the most underrated tourist destination in the US

Guam is an American territory west of the International Date Line. So it’s the first place in America that experiences a new day each day, according to Guampedia.

It’s the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago, according to CIA World Fact Book.

Guam is actually much closer to Japan than any US state. It takes less than four hours to fly there nonstop from Tokyo but almost eight hours nonstop from Honolulu.

The dry season is from January to June, and the rainy season is from July to December. The temperature stays around 80 degrees all the time.

The island has five protected marine preserves.

Guam Seawalker is in a marine preserve called Piti Bomb Holes.

Professional divers take each patron down to the seafloor using a ladder that is attached to a small boat. Then, for 25 minutes, divers guide patrons around the seafloor using an installed railing for balance.

The air pressure underwater makes it feel like you’re on an airplane. It’s slightly uncomfortable, but breathing underwater makes the experience feel like a reverse aquarium.

While waiting for other groups to do their tours, visitors can snorkel in a designated area on the side of the boat.

Seawalker Tour provides life jackets, snorkels, and goggles. I think this tour is one of the most unique things I’ve ever done, and other visitors agree.

“We were surrounded by so many different kinds of beautiful fish and corals,” one Trip Advisor review said. “I’ve lived on the island all my life and visit the beach often, but this was a completely new experience that was great to share with family. It is a great activity for both tourists and locals.”

I recommend Ritidian Point, which is on the northern tip of Guam in a village called Yigo.

The refuge includes 1,217 acres of land and 371 acres of coral reefs, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The caves in Ritidian have some ancient rock art, or pictographs, in them. The art is very difficult to preserve because of high humidity and mold growth, according to Guampedia.

Archeologists have found signs of ancient tools, food prep, and storage, according to Guampedia. 

I was still feeling sick from the plane journey, but my mother told me I couldn’t vomit on these lands because they were sacred.

Many CHamoru people, including my family, believe that Taotaomo’na — the spirits of the “people before” — reside in Ritidian.

It is widely believed that if you don’t respect the land, Taotaomo’na can pinch and scratch people in their sleep and make them physically ill. Needless to say, I kept my mouth closed until we left Ritidian.

Valley of the Latte is on the south side of Guam in a village called Talofofo.

When traveling through the Talofofo and Ugum Rivers, patrons can see wildlife in and around the river.

The river supports wildlife in the area, including mangrove crabs, tilapia, catfish, mangrove snappers, trout, perch, shrimp, and halfbeaks.

This is a traditional CHamoru home. It’s supported by latte stones, a type of pillar used by the ancient CHamoru people featuring a tall column and a hemispherical stone on top.

“The presence of our ancestors can be seen and felt as people tour the river and grounds,” Valley of the Latte CEO Daniel Tydingco told Business Insider in 2019.

Visitors can gather and watch as a tour guide shows them how ancient CHamoru people wove baskets and made fire. The tour is also interactive, and visitors can make fire themselves.

“For our locals, many of them take great pride in being able to visit a place that celebrates our history and culture and are proud to share it with guests that they bring with them,” Tydingco told BI.

It is a history, culture, and natural science museum located in the island’s capital — Hagåtña, according to the company’s website.

War and natural disasters have damaged previous locations of the museum.

The 65-foot-high arch and other unique characteristics have made the building an icon in Hagåtña.

Woven patterns, sling stones, and latte stone elements are included in the design.

The words come from an ancient CHamoru chief’s speech and lyrics from the Guam Hymn, which is the official territorial anthem of Guam.

The title translates to “The Journey of the CHamoru People.”

The exhibition is divided into several sections and presents the history of Guam chronologically.

“It is an exciting story about humanity and homeland, our relationship with the land and sea, and it provides a frame of reference for beginning to understand the human interactions that have brought us to where we are today,” Tolentino told BI.

Stone, ceramic, and shell artifacts are presented here.

It explores the islanders’ ways of life before colonization.

This part begins with Spanish contact and ends with the first American naval administration.

This display is accompanied by sound bites that feature stories by war survivors.

When I found great-grandpa Manuel Chaco’s name on the wall, I immediately pictured his aging face as I remembered the story he told me of how he and my great-grandma Josefina Chaco had a baby — Norman — in a concentration camp. Norman Duenas Chaco died in the camp before the war ended.

This covers the growth of tourism and the continued militarization of Guam. Most of Guam’s tourists come from Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan, according to the Guam Daily Post.

Tourism employs thousands of people and provides growth opportunities for local businesses.

In my experience as a CHamoru, this includes respect, collectivism, and courage. Coming to Guam might give you a sense of these values, too, and that’s part of what makes this tourist destination so underrated.