Guam - Facts
- Guam is an unincorporated US territory in the western Pacific, approximately 5310 kms (3,300) miles west of Hawaii, 2414 kms (1,500 miles) east of the Philippines and 2492 kms (1,550 miles) south of Japan.
- It is the largest and most populous island of Micronesia, an Americanized metropolis and home to an important US military base.
- The official language is English. Tagalog and Chamorro are the next most common languages.
- Guam is the southernmost of the Mariana Islands but forms a separate unit from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.
- Guam’s close relations with the USA and its role as a crossroads and distribution center for the rest of Micronesia because of its air links makes it rather different from the rest of the Pacific.
- Cruising yachts will indeed find in Guam a contrasting atmosphere to the one they have experienced in other islands. The pace is faster, the buildings taller and everything can be fixed if one is prepared to pay the price. Guam is used by many American sailors as a long-term base, especially as US citizens can work in Guam without a permit.
- For yachts returning to the US from Guam there is a window of weather typically between May and July to cross the Pacific to Alaska (approximately 4-5 weeks duration from Guam depending on conditions).
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As at Feb 2023. All comments still apply except re too much bureaucracy. It’s not. This is the USA but the most laid back USA you can imagine. Apart from a big increase in military presence, currently, time has forgotten Guam. Love it.
Editor’s Note: As Dean’s comment was lengthy and detailed, Noonsite asked his permission to compile it into a report – which can be read here:
https://www.noonsite.com/report/guam-laid-back-and-friendly/
All previous comments are good and updated at Feb 2019. I would add:
– Agat marina is the only good option in you want a pier.7usd per day (same as MYC), or 240usd/month. No showers there but water, power (120V!), plenty of knowledgeable sailors and access to mechanics, great Wi-Fi, good restaurant, great bar. Bartender/ manager Jo is a legend. Anchorages: Agat Bay is a good anchorage with N/NE/E, stay 200mts from the shore.
Public transportation is none in this area of town, I recommend rent a car or make friends with liveaboards to get a lift.
Find Austin and Belinda on Flying Spirit, they are great.
Cove of Refuge is free and it s the most sheltered spot with no doubts, but no good access to town either, nor facilities.
Find Tom and Ben on Ambler there, lovely couple.
For Immigration UNLESS YOU ARE FROM US OR CANADA YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY FOR A VISA UPFRONT.
If u Don t have one u can APPLY for a medical parole if u have any medical condition, or a mechanic one if u need some important repair.
Guam is 99% US, so a lot of formalities!
Next time I ‘ll head to Yap or Palau
February 2018. Checking In and Out.
We travelled on Australian passports with valid US Visas which, absent a US Passport, we gather is essential for a trouble-free entry.
Upon notifying Port Control (VHF 16/13) that we were entering the harbour, Customs and Immigration Officials met us on the beach at the Marianas Yacht Club at about 1100hrs on a Saturday.
The check-in took about 15mins and there were no charges. The officials did point to after-hours fees of $?? if you arrive at night.
Checking out for the Northern Marianas was simply a matter of going to the Port Control and Customs Building in the Commercial Port area (1026 Cabras Highway, Suite 201 Piti Guam 96915, Phone: (671) 477-5931 / 472-PORT) and checking out with them; Immigration check-out is not required.
As of February 2018, the comments for 2015 still apply viz: at Marianas Yacht Club, $7 per day for anchoring off about 0.4nm from the Club; in theory, moorings were available but a yacht had recently broken free and ended on a reef, hence none available when we were there.
The $7 temporary membership provides cold showers, a place to beach your dinghy, excellent internet, rubbish (trash) removal, to-pay-for meals and bar on Fridays and Sundays and a secure place to leave your car. Access to a car is essential from here.
Bob, the live-aboard supervisor of things at the club, can advise on most things. But, in accord with Mike Riley’s comment, the value for dollar cf. other anchorages (e.g. Pohnpei) is poor.
The Marianas Yacht Club charges $7 US a day in 2015. This does not include a mooring. If fact even though moorings are available, you may not take one. You are required to anchor far from the yacht club, even though there is space closer.
As an option, Palau costs $50US/ month for a mooring, food prices are the same, you can walk to town. There are many places to cruise in Palau, there is no where to cruise in Guam.
There are only two places to anchor in Apra Harbour – off the Marianas Yacht Club or inside Port of Refuge. The anchorage of the MYC is a little exposed but otherwise fine.
In 2015 the MYC charges $7US per day for use of their facilities, phone, hot shower, 24 hr wifi, secure parking, potable water, rubbish disposal and temporary membership. A mooring is included if one is available.
Port of Refuge has no facilities other than water. There is no public transport and a taxi to town costs around $70. Hiring a car is the only option and can be hired for $30 per day (plus $15 per day insurance).