Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

Fort Soledad stands on a headland above Umatac Bay in southern Guam, built by the Spanish around 1810, the last of the forts raised to guard the anchorage where the Manila galleons stopped for water and supplies on the run between Acapulco and the Philippines. The gun platform and part of the walls survive. From the point the bay, the village and the southern coast are laid out below. Two other Spanish forts once stood around the same bay, Fort San Jose and Fort Santo Angel, and fragments of both survive nearby. The galleon route ran for two hundred and fifty years and Umatac was one of its few reliable stops.

Background

The fort stands near Umatac and was built by the Spanish, probably between 1802 and 1819, as the fourth of four defences guarding the anchorage used by galleons sailing between Acapulco and the Philippines. That route fell out of use in 1815. Treasure hunters later damaged the fort, it was eventually turned into a park, and it has been on the National Register of Historic Places since October 18, 1974, with a listed area of 8 acres.

Source: Wikipedia, "Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad"

The main sights

• The gun platform - the position covering the galleon anchorage.
• The bay view - Umatac and the southern coast from the headland.
• The galleon anchorage - the bay the fort was built to protect.
• The surviving walls - the sections still standing on the point.

When to go

December to June is the drier season. Late afternoon light over the bay is best. Typhoon season runs July to November.

Before you go

The fort is partly reconstructed and small. Interpretation is limited to signs. Parking at the top is very limited.

Nearby

Umatac is below, and Sella Bay is north.

Key facts