Royal Orchid Guam Hotel
626 Pale San Vitores Road
Tumon, Guam   96913

Telephone: 671.649.2000
Fax: 671.649.3052

GUAM U.S.A. – THE GATEWAY TO MAGNIFICENT MICRONESIA

FACTS AT A GLANCE

The Island:
Guam, an island territory of the Unites States, is located 900 miles north of the equator in the Western Pacific. From four to eight miles in width and 32 miles long, Guam covers approximately 220 square miles (549 sq. km) – the largest island in Micronesia and the gateway to the region. It is approximately 6,000 miles from San Francisco, 3,800 miles west of Honolulu, 1,500 miles south of Japan and 1,596 miles from the Philippines.

The southernmost of the Mariana Island, Guam shares a common culture with the rest of the group, which also includes Saipan, Rota and Tinian. The island was created from the peaks of two ancient volcanoes that into the sea and were fused together millions of years ago. The capital of Guam is Hagåtña (Agana).

Political Status and form of Government:
Organized, unincorporated territory of the United States of America. The government has three branches as set up by Congress through the Organic Act in 1950.

Population:
The population of Guam is approximately 156,000 and can be divided into three ethnic groups. Chamorros, Guam’s original inhabitants, make up approximately 37% of the population, Filipinos 26%, Caucasians (including military personnel and families) 10%, Korean, Japanese, Chinese and other 27%. Age distribution: 1-14 years: 35.1%, 15-64 years: 58.4%, 65+years: 6.4%. Population growth rate; 1.89%

Language:
English and Chamorro are the official languages of Guam.

Climate:
Located in the tropics, Guam’s average yearly temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature rarely falls below 70 degrees or rises above 90 degrees. The average water temperature is also 85 degrees, providing excellent opportunities for a variety of water sports. July through November is the rainy season, December through June is the dry season. September and October are the wettest months, each averaging about 14 inches of rainfall.

Attractions:
Guam’s attractions range from tropical beaches and waterfalls to historic monuments and museums. Petroglyphs (cave paintings) and latte stones (pillars which supported ancient buildings and houses) provide insight into the lives of the ancient Chamorro people. Spanish ruins and World Ward II memorials are reminders of more recent events.

Sports enthusiasts enjoy world-class scuba diving to explore coral reefs and underwater wrecks, as well as snorkeling, windsurfing and swimming. Golf is available of courses designed by the legends of professional golf. Nature lovers can embark on one side of the island’s many hiking trails to spectacular waterfalls, secluded beaches and World War II historical sites. Much of the island’s history is embodied within two major attractions, the Guam Museum in Hagåtña and the War in the Pacific Historical Park in Asan.

Shopping  in Guam is tax-free. For brand conscious, the Duty Free centers abound with all the Celine, Chanel, Dior, and Ferragamo you can buy. For the brand aware who are always on the look out for good buys at Guam’s Premier Outlet and Ross.

Guam’s traditional fiestas – village-wide celebrations introduced by the Spanish in 1668 and held every year since then by the island’s Chamorro people – often allow visitors the opportunity to experience the traditions and lifestyle of Guam’s indigenous people. The island custom is to welcome those who visit the village to join in the festivities.

History:
The first inhabitants of Guam, the Chamorro people, are thought to have traveled to the Mariana Islands from Southeast Asia by canoe. The developed a clan and caste system as part of a matrilineal society and they lived isolated from the rest of the world.

Ferdinand Magellan was the first westerner to set foot on Guam in 1521. Nearly 50 years later, Spain claimed the Marianas and controlled them for more than 300 years. Jesuit missionaries brought Catholicism and a western way of life to the island. Because of its location between the Philippines and Mexico, Guam became an important link in the Spanish empire and its culture, with the church as the center of village life.

A new era began in 1898, when the island became a U.S. territory after the Spanish-American War. Japanese forces invaded in 1941 and assumed control of the island until July 1944, when U.S. troops reclaimed it.

Getting There:
The Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport is served by Continental Airlines and Philippine Airlines from Manila. Guam can also be reached via Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Hong Kong, or other Asian gateways on Northwest Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, China Airlines and Korean Air. Travel time from Manila to Guam is three hours. The time difference with Guam and the Philippines is two (2) hours.