Umatac

Umatac sits on a bay on Guam's southwestern coast, a small village with a church, a plaza and a bridge over the river, and it is where Magellan's expedition is traditionally held to have made landfall in March 1521 after crossing the Pacific. A monument on the shore marks it. The Manila galleons later used the bay as a watering stop for two and a half centuries.

Background

On August 18, 2021, the village took the name Humåtak in place of Umatac. The name is thought to come from Umatalaf, the Chamorro word for March, which means to catch guatafi. Humåtak has by far the fewest residents of any village on Guam: 647 in 2020, down from 782 in 2010. Mount Bolanos, at 368 metres the third highest peak on the island, rises 4.5 kilometres away. On the hills either side of the village, the remains of two Spanish forts, Fort San Jose and Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, can still be seen.

Source: Wikipedia, "Humåtak, Guam"

What's there

• The bay - the anchorage the galleons used for two and a half centuries.
• The landing monument - the marker on the shore for the 1521 arrival.
• The village church - San Dionisio at the centre of the settlement.
• The southern coast - the green hills running down to the water.

When to go

December to June is the drier season. The Discovery Day observance falls in March. Typhoon season runs July to November.

Things to know

The exact landing point is disputed and other Guam villages claim it. The village is very small and quiet with few facilities. The bay is not good for swimming.

Nearby

Fort Soledad is above, and Merizo is southeast.

Key facts