Latte Stone Park and Chamorro Heritage

The latte stones are the most iconic and evocative symbol of Guam and the ancient Chamorro people who have inhabited the island for thousands of years. These remarkable megalithic pillars, each formed of a tapering stone column, the haligi, topped by a hemispherical capstone, the tasa, once served as the raised foundations for the houses of the ancient Chamorro, and their distinctive shape has become the emblem of the island's indigenous identity. At Latte Stone Park in the capital Hagåtña, a set of these ancient stones, relocated from the interior, stands amid greenery, offering an accessible and atmospheric encounter with Guam's deep pre-colonial past. Enduring and mysterious, the latte stones connect visitors to the island's living Chamorro heritage.

What you actually see

• The latte stones - the ancient twin-piece stone pillars.
• The pillars and capstones - the haligi columns and tasa caps.
• The park setting - the stones amid greenery in the capital.
• The Chamorro heritage - the enduring symbol of the island's people.

When to go

December to June, the drier season, brings the most pleasant weather for exploring the park and the capital, avoiding the wetter months; the tropical climate is warm year-round. The park is a quick, accessible stop combined easily with other sights in Hagåtña.

Honest expectations

Latte Stone Park is a small, quiet site where the ancient stones were relocated for accessibility, so it is a modest, contemplative stop rather than a grand monument. As an accessible and atmospheric encounter with the iconic latte stones, the enduring symbol of Guam's ancient Chamorro heritage, though, the park is a genuinely meaningful and evocative place.

Nearby

The historic sites, Spanish plaza and museum of Hagåtña lie nearby.