If you’re like me, you have definite travel moods. Sometimes you want heart-pumping adventure; other times you want to melt into a beach chair and do nothing. The good news is that Guam offers it all. Whether you’re an adrenaline junky or a lazy sunbather, we’ve got a vacation theme for you!

Adrenaline Junkie

You’re the traveler with all the GoPro attachments — underwater, head mount, selfie stick, check! Guam can be experienced at full throttle whether you’re a small or big budget traveler. There are now two types of skydiving — traditional and simulated. Check out Skydive Guam to actually jump out of a plane or Skydrenaline Zone to just feel like you have. If you don’t mind feeling your stomach in your throat, go for a Slingshot ride in Tumon. For a milder adrenaline fix, Zipline Guam offers unique views of Tumon Bay. If water is your pleasure, book a parasailing excursion. If jumping off of stuff is your forte, check out our top spots to take the plunge or read our 12 Activities for Adventure Lovers on Guam.

Lazy Sunbather

You’ve just traveled for 12 to 24 hours and you’ve never felt so happy to sink your toes into the sand. Before you hit the bed, you hit the beach… and you stay there all day. In fact, Guam is so safe and tourist-friendly, you can enjoy Tumon Bay even at night! If you can pry yourself out of the beach lounger, you’ll want to check out some of the dinner and dance shows at all the major hotels along the Bay. To get off the beaten path and see Guam’s rugged coastline, rent a car, hop in a taxi, or book a bus tour to see Guam’s sleepy southern beaches where you can be just as lazy, but escape the tourist-beaten path of Tumon. We recommend Ipan, Talofofo, and Inarajan beaches. Check out the 8 Most Breathtaking Beaches on Guam.

Family Guy (or Gal)

Guam is safe, relaxed, and very family friendly. If your kids love the water, you’re in luck. Swimming and snorkeling are favorite family activities, as are waterparks and hiking. Check out Tagada Amusement Park in Tumon for rides or UnderWater World to see the ocean without getting wet. For older kids and teenagers, explore Guam’s rugged terrain with Jungle Rules Adventure Tours, where mom or dad can drive an ATV (and hopefully, not drive their kids crazy) with the help of a guide. Read the rest of our Top 10 Spots for Family Fun on Guam or Family Friendly Hikes on Guam.

Shopaholic

You came with a credit card and you know how to use it. Budget shopping or luxury brands — Guam has it all. Head to Chamorro Village on Wednesday nights to shop unique handmade jewelry, souvenirs, and art. Or hit up any of the major shopping centers in Tumon for U.S. and European luxury brand apparel, shoes, and accessories. Start with the largest — The Plaza Shopping Center then work your way through JP Superstore, T Galleria, and Tumon Sands Plaza. For more affordable brands, you can explore each of Guam’s malls within a couple of days — Agana Shopping Center, Micronesia Mall, and Guam Premier Outlets. Each of the malls has a food court and movie theatre if you literally shop til you drop.

Culture Vulture

Guam has layers of history to peal back (Chamorro, Spanish, Japanese, American) all contributing to a dynamic modern-day culture. Step outside of Tumon’s tourist strip to experience historical villages like Umatac, Merizo, and Inarajan. You may even be invited to a village fiesta or BBQ! To see authentic Chamorro dance, visit Sheraton Laguna Resort & Spa to see a performance by Pa’a Taotao Tano. Read our feature, Understanding Chamorro & Micronesian Culture on Guam as well as 10 Ways to Experience Culture on Guam.

Foodie

There are five foods you must try on Guam and a whole lot more that you will enjoy. Start with kelaguen, a signature local dish. A combination of lemon juice, onions, local hot peppers, salt and sometimes grated coconut are used to “kelaguen” either seafood, beef, chicken or even Spam. Kadon Pika is another local favorite. The Chamorro word “kadon,” when translated, means stew and the word “pika” means spicy. Ingredients include soy sauce, vinegar, salt and black pepper, onions, garlic, local hot peppers and last, but most certainly not least, coconut milk. Discover the other must-try foods on Guam!

Guam is home to many Asian fusion restaurants as well. See photos of our favorite fusion dishes, best bakeries, burgers, and pizza!

Sports Enthusiast

Guam hosts several signature sports events annually, such as XTERRA, Guam International Marathon, Ko’Ko Half Marathon and Relay, and Cocos Crossing. Thousands of international visitors stream in to compete. Hiking on Guam is known as Boonie Stomping and guides take locals and visitors to rugged beaches, rolling hills, and hidden waterfalls weekly for just $2.  Want to be a spectator? Guam International Raceway is the home of drag racing, drifting, autocross, car shows, and super moto events.

Guam is the definition of tiny but mighty, at least in terms of food. The island ⁠— a U.S. territory in the Pacific ⁠— may be relatively small, but its colorful history and diverse culture makes for a flavor-packed cuisine that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Experience Guam with your stomach with these four ways to enjoy its exciting cuisine while you’re there.

Go on a Food Tour of the Island

One of the easiest ways to experience the flavors of Guam is by going on a curated food tour. These are usually led by knowledgeable local guides and can be conveniently booked online. 

On these food tours, you’ll be led off the beaten path and treated to amazing dishes that will have you eating like a local. You’ll also learn more about Guam’s rich culture and history from a helpful guide who can tell you all about what you’re eating, where it’s from, and why it’s so well-loved. You can also take control of the experience by hooking up with a food tour group that specializes in what you’re interested in: from bold Chamorro cuisine to the veritable wealth of local sweet delicacies that the island has to offer, there’s a food tour that can cater to your unique tastes.  

Find Local Takes on Foreign Classics

Immigrant cultures are alive, well, and thriving in Guam, which means that you can also easily find some of your favorite foreign dishes on the island. There are establishments that strive to stay as authentic as possible, as well as ones that have adapted their cuisine to use local ingredients and cater to local tastes. For instance, you can find pizzerias in Guam that can serve a Neapolitan pizza comparable to what you’d find on the streets of Naples. Or you can explore how Guamanians have innovated on the classic at restaurants that top their pies with fresh seafood and avocado. International restaurants abound, from all-American chain favorites to smaller neighborhood fixtures. Just head out there and explore!

Sample Traditional Chamorro Sweet Treats

Guamanian cuisine is so varied and diverse that it can be difficult to know where to start. A quick way to narrow the choices down is by categorizing the cuisine and sampling one at a time. 

Sweets are well-loved everywhere, and Guam has plenty of traditional specialties to choose from. Latiya is a big one: it’s a soft and fluffy sponge cake covered in a thick vanilla-flavored custard and topped with cinnamon powder. The traditional Chamorro dessert is said to have been introduced to the island by the Spanish and bears several similarities to the popular natillas in Spain. Another local favorite is coconut candy, a native confection that dates all the way back to ancient times. It is prepared relatively simply, using only sugar and fresh grated coconut, but it packs such a powerful wallop of flavor that it can be difficult to stop once you’ve started popping them. There’s also guyuria, also known as Guam’s idea of a challenge. These dense cookies are rock-hard on purpose, made with flour, sugar, butter, salt and coconut milk. They’re deep-fried, dried, and then glazed with a sugar syrup that eventually hardens when dry. You can find them fondly being referred to as “Chamorro jawbreakers” in some bakeries. 

Visit During a Fiesta

Fiestas or festivals in Guam are usually celebrated with plenty of food and fanfare. The predominantly Catholic island is known for throwing huge parties on feast days set by the church, which means that there’s usually some fiesta happening on nearly every weekend of the year. Fiesta culture is so prevalent in Guam that there are several sites you can consult for a comprehensive calendar of all the feasts that are held on any given year and where they happen. 

The typical fiesta table is not complete without a few mainstay dishes. Red rice is a staple, for example, and this is short-grain rice preparation is one that simply involves cooking rice in water colored with annatto seeds and sometimes flavored with garlic and onions. Kelaguen is another festival essential; the Chamorro dish is most often made with boiled or broiled chicken in a marinade of lemon juice, salt, and hot peppers, though other proteins can be used as well. Modern Chamorro barbecue, on the other hand,  consists of flavorful marinated meat and fresh seafood grilled to perfection over open fire that is contained in possibly the best representation of Guamanian ingenuity⁠— the tanke, a 55-gallon metal drum specially commandeered for the purpose. 

Visiting during a fiesta essentially guarantees that you’ll be treated to the best of what the island has to offer. It’s a smashing time, everyone’s in great spirits, and you’re sure to be  fed until you burst!

Food is so integral to Guam’s culture that there are so many ways to enjoy it on the island. Experience them all on your next visit!

In celebration of Chamorro Month in March, we’ll be reviewing Guam’s top local restaurants and our favorite dishes. Stay tuned for more…

When hit with a craving for fiesta food in the middle of March, even locals are tempted to settle for fast food red rice or hotel kelaguen, because the real thing takes too long to make. While every menu in Guam boasts some kind of BBQ, real Chamorro food can be as elusive as the ko’ko bird or wild fanihi. But now Yigo’s best kept secret, Terry’s Local Comfort Food has relocated to Tumon, just north of Holiday Resort.

Named after Tessie Bordallo’s mom, who runs her own place in Chamorro Village, Terry’s Local Comfort Food serves the traditional cuisine she grew up enjoying. Made without fusion or flare, this nostalgic nourishment is craved by many who call Guam home. Here are my favorite dishes…

Chesa Hagun Suni and Leche Balanitis

Also recommended: Kelaguen Platter includes three bowls of kelaguen – marinated steak, classic chicken, and shrimp with coconut – served with corn tatiyas.

This is how you get a picky eater to like spinach: soak the greens in sweet coconut milk with a squeeze of lemon juice. The bitterness of the dark leafy vegetable is safely combated by the nuttiness of the coconut and a just a twist of lemon. A rich and creamy side dish, hagun suni is a great addition to any entrée.

Because eggplant is seasonal, leche balanitis is not a regular menu item, so if you see it on the specials, you better order a bowl. Cooked in coconut milk, fresh cubes of eggplant take on a smoky flavor and break down into a soft, creamy texture similar to baba ghanoush.

Hagun suni and leche balanitis are both served with homemade, traditional corn titiyas, adding a crisp crunch to the creamy vegetables.

Comfort Food: Chicken Chalakilis

Also recommended: BBQ Combo Plate with classic chicken, ribs, red rice, shrimp patty, and pancit, made fresh to order.

Although Guam is world-famous for its BBQ platters, real Chamorro food tends to be quite plain, with only four or five raw ingredients used to highlight the centerpiece protein. It is the process, not the contents that require a complicated labor of love. Slowcooked in chicken broth, authentic Chicken Chalakilis is made from toasted rice ground with achiote – the spice that gives red rice its color.

Strengthening the flavor and staying true to “home style,” Terry’s leaves the meat on the bone. The result is a mild soup with softened chunks of rice and a full chicken flavor. This dish has very little spice and since the flavor of seasoned red rice would compete with the subtle flavors of the soup, order this with white rice.

No matter how cold the air-con gets, this meal is sure to warm body and soul.

Merienda: Champulado

A classic afterschool snack, champulado is a favorite for kids ages 1 to 91. What is it? Chocolate rice! No one flavor overpowers the other in champulado, it is neither too sweet nor does the cocoa take over the rice. Served warm from the stove, this simple pudding of chocolate and rice is a perfect way to end – or begin! – a meal.

With portions big enough to balutan, or take home, Terry’s invites its patrons to eat, drink, and be well – chocho, gimen yan gosa i minagof.

In celebration of Chamorro Month in March, we’ll be reviewing Guam’s top local restaurants and our favorite dishes. Read part 1 of this series…

Let every roadside diner be judged not by the potholes in the road out front, but by the size of its plates and the crispness of its Spam. Located in Harmon Industrial Park, The Cafeteria is hailed by foodie Facebook friends and barflies alike. A quintessential place to go for local food, The Cafeteria may be off the beaten path, but it’s probably not too far out of your way.

When she got married to a Chamorro, head chef and Korean native Aileem Euh Cruz learned how to cook all of her husband’s favorite foods with plenty of love and pepper.

Early Bird Special: Mata’pang Fried Rice

Also recommended: Coconut toast made with homemade coconut jam

You typical Chamorro breakfast can be made with just three ingredients: rice, meat, and egg. For those who can’t decide between hot link, Chamorro sausage, and chorizo espanol, the Mata’pang fried rice has it all. It’s easy to get lost on this mountain of rice between plateaus of crunchy carrots and corn, but the crowning glory are the fried eggs draped over the peak. Absorbing greasy goodness from the meat, the rice takes on the rich, buttery flavor of a hash, a perfect compliment to the crispy thin nuggets of meat.

This hearty, industrial-sized Breakfast of Champions is meant to fuel you through a work-intensive morning, but it might also make you want to go back to sleep. Dish is big enough to share with one or twelve of your cousins.

Home recipe: Escabeche

Also recommended: Beef tinaktak made with coconut milk

Atulai, called mackerel elsewhere, is a salty but mild fish that becomes deliciously crisp when fried. Marinated with a sauce of vinegar and turmeric, the fish are served on a bed of crunchy onions, local kang kong, cabbage and carrots fried in the same sour sauce and lightly pickled in flavor. Unlike a lot of Chamorro food, escabeche is neither sweet nor spicy, but plays on flavors of salty and sour, which in the right balance are equally addicting. This savory delicacy is served with white rice and a creamy, scoop of potato salad.

This is not a fluffy fish stick, but three whole fishes, served with the head on and mouth open. If you’ve never had this before, the eyes and skin are fantastic, but be careful as you pick out the bones. Although you have to work a little for the meat, every bite is worth it.

Local Lunch: Kadon pika

Also recommended: Chicken estufao, a mild soup comparable to adobo or kadon pika without the pika.

The pepper on top should serve as a warning that this is not for the faint of tongue. Pika is Chamorro for hot, and the Cafeteria’s authentic Kadon Pika ain’t playing around. This soup is as hot as I’m willing to go – but for you few brave explorers of pain who seek to push your Scoville scale threshold, just mash up the pepper on top and see what happens.

In this dish, meaty chunks of chicken are slow cooked in a spicy broth of vinegar and soy sauce, until the meat is ready to fall off the bone. Kadon pika is similar to a spicy version of adobo, actually made with the same ingredients in different ratios. A simple soup with a spicy, savory flavor, I truly believe kadon pika is the cure for the common cold.

By popular demand, the brunch place will be extending its hours starting April 1 to serving dinner from 5 to 9 p.m.

Nestled on the edge of Tumon Bay, lies Guam’s newest luxury hotel, The Tsubaki Tower. The property, just steps away from Gun Beach, scales 27 floors with 340 rooms and suites (bonus: all with a dreamy ocean view!). As we entered the lobby, I immediately noticed the style and sophistication of the nature-inspired design, and unique interior that infuse Guam’s island culture with a high end guest experience.

Rooms 

Upon checking in at 3pm, we headed straight up to our room located on the 16th floor. As we slid in our key card, the curtains immediately started opening, which unveiled our sizable balcony with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. From our rare vantage point of Tumon Bay, we could peek down at the infinity pool, and look beyond to see swimmers and paddle boarders enjoying the clear blue ocean. This instantly snapped us into vacation mode!

Our room had all the essentials to make us feel right at home – crisp linens, plenty of space to unpack, and comfortable lounge options in the room and balcony. It also had some wonderful added touches like plush bathrobes, a Keurig coffee machine & a large flat screen TV welcoming us for our stay. Another big plus for me? A large bathtub with a stand perfectly designed for a book and cup of tea. The decor and colorful details in the rooms are a beautiful balance of modern yet warm with hints of island inspiration sprinkled throughout.

Pool

A quick change into our bathing suits, and we were eager to get down to the pool. We exchanged our pool cards for towels, and hopped into the refreshing 420㎡ infinity pool overlooking Tumon Bay. The pool setting is intimate with a view over Tumon on one side, and a view of the cool and casual Nunu Bar on the other. When not soaking in the pool, the best seats in the house are the large daybeds and the pool loungers where you can unwind with half of your body in the water. The view from the loungers line up perfectly with the edge of the infinity pool, making it a covetable spot to watch sunset with a cocktail in hand.

Dining

Back up in our room, we could hear smooth jazz playing by the pool as we got ready for dinner. A peek down, and we could see multi-colored sparkling pool lights come on to officially set the night pool vibe. We headed down to watch the nightly fountain show, something unique to The Tsubaki Tower, before our dinner reservation.

Off to Casa Oceano (meaning “The Ocean’s House” in Spanish), we opted for al fresco dining which overlooked the garden and offered a lit up view of Tumon Bay. The buffet restaurant offered a wide range of cuisines incorporating local, Asian and European influenced dishes. We sampled from the sushi & noodle bar, Spanish style tapas, charcuterie plates, and prime rib station. Be sure to save room for dessert! They offer a beautifully styled dessert bar including on-the-spot crepes, ice cream, cakes and more. While the food was delicious, what stood out to us most was the service. Warm friendly smiles from the staff, our glasses were never empty, and we felt noticeably taken care of throughout our dining experience.

Relaxing

With check-out at noon, that meant we could take our time in the morning (a big bonus especially for staycations!).  We enjoyed coffee on our balcony as we watched a colorful sunrise and a group of paddlers make their way beyond the reef. We then popped down to Hinekka Deli (which means “harvest” in Chamorro) to pick up breakfast. Our spread included smoked salmon sandwiches, salad, and mixed fruits. The Deli specializes in high quality bread and pastries. We’ll definitely be back to try their assortments of desserts!

After a slow morning enjoying the views around the property, it was time for my spa appointment. I checked in at the front desk, and they drove me in their open air trolley to Spa Ayualam, the official spa of Tsubaki Tower. With a warm welcome from the spa staff, I got ready for my massage. An incredibly relaxing 60-minute experience coupled with tea at the end, was the perfect close to my staycation. Some treatments are only available to Tsubaki guests so book in advance!

I headed back to the room for a last look at the crystal clear ocean view from our balcony as we packed up and were greeted on the way out. 

I’d highly recommend booking a night or weekend as the perfect couples getaway or staycation for locals. We can’t wait to return to try out the alternate dining options, morning yoga, and rooftop bar. The Tsubaki Tower is a welcomed new addition to Tumon that offers a fresh guest experience centered around Guam’s culture and hospitality. Book your getaway to Tsubaki Tower today!

PHOTOGRAPHY: Daylin Pelletier

One of the best things about Guam is the food. There is so much flavor and spice in the meals and all of the foods are so different. Guam food offers such a range of flavors and dishes for all occasions. If you have ever visited the place I am sure that you crave the food often! We have compiled a list of dishes from Guam that you can make at home, hopefully, after this, your cravings will be satisfied.

Kadon Pika

Kadon Pika is a simple and popular Guam dish that all Guam natives grow up eating. This chicken dish is mainly served over hot rice with steamed vegetables on the side, vegetables can be picked as well if that is your preference. Depending if you are a spice lover you can opt to add peppers and chili on to your liking but it’s super flavorful without them already. Once you start making this dish everyone will be knocking on your door asking for some because it is very aromatic–everyone will want to have a taste.

The main ingredients in this dish, like for most curry dishes, are soy sauce, vinegar and coconut milk. The key here is to make a great meat marinade using soy sauce and vinegar as the base. It is also common to use a soy sauce together with a hot sauce, in a part of the marinading process. Of course you can skip the hot sauce part if you aren’t a lover of spicy food. If you have any Guam friends and want to impress them with your cooking skills, this dish should be a winner. It will make them feel super nostalgic since it is such a comfort food. After cooking this dish once you will definitely be hooked, it is one of those meals where you won’t ever get tired of.  

Guam-style fried rice

Now, sorry to all the vegetarians but this is also known as the meat lover’s fried rice, probably because there is tons of meat in it. By meat we mean Spam. This is a common food in Guam because it’s super easy to make. It may not be the best looking or the most lavish dish but that’s what makes it special to all the people of Guam. This dish can quickly be whipped up after a long day where you just crave some good comfort food. Its also a great meal to put out at a barbeque where people can just heap a spoonful onto their own plates.

The ingredients in this dish are supposed to allow it to be made from scratch so most of the ingredients are probably already in your fridge. The main ingredients are eggs, any type of sausages, bacon, Spam, onion and garlic and rice. Then you add in your other ingredients like your seasonings or choice and some green onions or leafy greens if that suits your taste buds.

Yes, this meal is filled with fatty meats. One way to cut down on the fat content is by using turkey bacon and Spam Lite which is lower in sodium as well. You can also pre-cook the bacon and sausages so most of the fat is cooked out of the meat before you combine it with the rice.

Guam grilled chicken

The way grilled chicken is done in Guam is to marinate it in a spicy sauce which has been dubbed the ‘Chamorro sauce’ (Chamorro is the name for local Guam people). All of the ingredients combine to create a salty, sour, and spicy dish full of mouth-watering flavors. Before soy sauce was introduced to the island by the Japanese, the local people made the ‘Chamorro sauce’ by combining fermented coconut sap, salt, lemon, water, and fresh pepper. If you’ve visited Guam before you probably know that you can get this dish in almost every restaurant or cafe on the streets. The Guam grilled chicken is a great easy dish that can be a snack and is very close to Guam street food.

The main ingredients in this dish are soy sauce, calamansi juice, shallots, garlic, ginger, and chilies. All this recipe requires is for you to mix all of the Chamorro sauce ingredients and pour it over the chicken to let it marinate for 8 hours. After this, the chicken will be ready to be grilled or baked. The grilling takes around 20-30 minutes depending on the size of your chicken. This dish is usually served with red rice. To get the red color, the rice is cooked in water that has had annatto seeds soaked in it. The seeds change the color of the rice to a bright orange or red color (depending on how many seeds have been soaked in the water).

Pear sauce and pancakes

Pancakes are a food that is enjoyed all over the world, they aren’t originated from Guam however so many locals enjoy them because they are very easy to make. The main thing that makes this dish more Guam-style is the pear sauce. Since pears are one of Guam’s tropical fruits they can be found easily. If you are someone who enjoys something sweet for breakfast then you shouldn’t miss out on pancakes with caramelized pear sauce.

Other than the pear sauce you can pair these pancakes with mangos, bananas, even oranges! Don’t forget to add some honey, agave, or maple syrup. Making these pancakes takes the usual pancake ingredients, eggs, milk, flour, oil, or butter. Instead of using an already pre-mixed box of pancake flour, making them from scratch is a fun way to get creative in the kitchen. If you have kids then it’s also a great dish to make together that they will enjoy.

Kelaguen

This dish is a native signature, Chamorros are known for their Kelaguen-making skills. This dish has a very distinctive feature to it compared to other nations’ chicken dishes. Kelaguen is based around the cooking properties and tastes of lemon juice and it is famous for its similarities to ceviche. A mixture of lemon juice, onion, fiery local peppers, salt, and sometimes shredded coconut, any meat (beef, chicken, or spam), is used to make Kelaguen.

The most popular meat to use when making this dish is chicken, it also tastes the best when it’s barbecued before being added to the dish. As you can probably tell, Guam dishes mostly use chicken as their main source of animal protein. This is because it is super easy to get on the island, it also makes it cheaper, of course, it also just tastes amazing with the tastes in the food.

It’s definitely harder to find seafood Kelaguen with octopus or squid in it. But it is very delicious and is one of the best tasting Kelaguen. So if you can get your hands on some seafood to make a seafood Kelaguen give it a go. After making this dish you’ll be craving for more. The tanginess of the lemon mixes with the peppers and once infused into the meat this dish creates tastes you have never experienced before.