Managaha Island

Managaha, a tiny uninhabited islet floating in the sheltered lagoon off Saipan, is the picture-postcard jewel of the Northern Mariana Islands, a scrap of paradise ringed by a dazzling beach of powder-white sand and glowing turquoise water. Protected within a marine conservation area, its surrounding reefs teem with colourful fish and coral, making it superb for snorkelling and diving right off the beach, while the calm lagoon is perfect for swimming and a range of watersports. Reached by a short boat ride from Saipan, the island offers shady palms, gentle shores and a laid-back tropical bliss, along with a historic monument or two. Small, beautiful and endlessly inviting, Managaha is the quintessential Marianas day-trip.

History

The islet is the burial place of the Carolinian chief Aghurubw, who is said to have founded the first Carolinian settlement on Saipan in 1815 after leading his people from Satawal following a devastating typhoon; a statue of him stands on the island. Remains of Japanese fortifications from the Second World War are scattered among the trees, and the whole island is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places as a historic district (Wikipedia, Mañagaha).

The landscape

• The white beach - the dazzling ring of powder-soft sand.
• The coral reefs - the fish and coral for snorkelling off the beach.
• The turquoise lagoon - the calm, glowing water for swimming.
• The watersports - the parasailing, kayaking and diving.

When to go

December to June, the drier season, brings the sunniest, calmest weather ideal for the beach and snorkelling, avoiding the wetter, stormier months; the tropical climate is warm year-round. Calm, clear days best reveal the reef life around the islet.

What to expect

Managaha is a popular day-trip islet reached by paid boat transfers and can be busy with visitors and watersport activity, so it is lively rather than secluded. As a tiny, dazzling jewel of white sand and turquoise reef water, superb for snorkelling and swimming, though, Managaha is a genuinely beautiful and beloved tropical escape.

Nearby

The main island of Saipan, its beaches and lagoon lie across the water.

Key facts