War in the Pacific Sites

Guam's War in the Pacific National Historical Park preserves the moving and pivotal story of the island's dramatic role in the Second World War across a series of sites along its western coast. During the war Guam was occupied and then, after fierce fighting, retaken, and the park commemorates these events at beaches, coastal defences, old gun emplacements, trenches and memorials set amid lush tropical scenery. An excellent visitor centre and museum tell the story through absorbing exhibits and personal accounts, honouring the soldiers and the Chamorro people who endured the occupation. Poignant, historic and beautifully situated where jungle meets sea, the park offers a thoughtful and memorable insight into a defining chapter of the island's and the Pacific's history.

What you actually see

• The visitor centre - the museum and moving wartime exhibits.
• The invasion beaches - the historic landing beaches.
• The gun emplacements - the old coastal defences and trenches.
• The memorials - the tributes to soldiers and the Chamorro people.

When to go

December to June, the drier season, brings the most pleasant weather for visiting the coastal sites and beaches, avoiding the wetter months; the tropical climate is warm year-round. The visitor centre and its exhibits are worthwhile in any weather.

Honest expectations

The park's sites are spread along the coast, so seeing them fully involves some travel, and the sombre wartime history makes for a reflective rather than light visit. As a moving, beautifully situated series of sites and memorials preserving the story of Guam's pivotal Second World War history, though, the War in the Pacific park is a genuinely worthwhile and thought-provoking experience.

Nearby

The capital Hagåtña and the west-coast beaches lie nearby.