This post is the best guide on Guam Travel for all the best travel essentials you will actually use throughout your trip to Guam.
After living in Guam for 7 years, I have experienced the best and worst Guam has to offer, with everything from snorkeling the Piti Bomb Holes on a day with perfect viz to suffering through Cetti Bay hikes that left me sunburnt and dehydrated.
These last few years have allowed me to discover what Guam travel essentials can make or break a day spent outdoors in Guam. Most of these items accompany me on my own vacations, and all of these can be found in my car or closet at this moment.
A lot of these products can be found on island, and I will list the best local shops to pick them up but remember, Guam is very expensive. I recommend saving your money on these essentials so more of your trip budget can go to fun souvenirs and experiences.
This post is all about Guam travel essentials you need to have in your bag before arriving on island.
1. Reef Safe Sunscreen – Reef Repair RSPF 50
Guam’s most beautiful attraction is undoubtedly her ocean shores. With her crystal blue waters, gentle surf breaks, and accessible reef heads, who could resist? As a visitor, it isn’t something you will want to miss.
Like the Caribbean, Guam’s reefs are at risk. According to the most recent NOA survey, GUAM REEFS HAVE BLAH BLAH BLAH. Tackling the environmental crisis may seem unobtainable at the individual level, but Reef-safe sunscreen is a small step you can take with a big impact.
You can find reef-safe sunscreen on island at a really cool shop called Southern Mountain Gear. Check them out here. They are a great resource for the outdoor adventurer visiting Guam.
(Pro-tip: If you are a runner, Southern Mountain Gear hosts a 5k most Tuesday nights, open to all paces. You should check it out. Be sure to head to Carabo Brewery afterward for some post-run beers with the rest of the runners.)
2. Sun Hat – Columbia Unisex Bora Bora Booney Fishing Hat
What many people fail to realize when visiting Guam is that much of central and southern Guam is technically classified as a savannah. This means sun protection is essential. Even those most dedicated sunscreen reapplication will find themself rosy at the end of a hike or a beach day here.
This hat is a Guam travel essential because it’s wide brim will protect not only your face but also those frequently forgotten areas such as your ears and neck. The adjustable chin strap will keep it secured on your head even during peak trade wind season, while the ventilation panel will keep you cool!
3. Women’s Sun Shirt – UPF 50+ Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt
I cannot stress adequate sun protection enough! You do not want to be one of the beet-red tourists in Tumon who went out believing only a little sunscreen was necessary to protect them from Guam’s intense sun. Guam is only SOME MANY DEGREES north of the equator, which means it is very easy to cause lasting skin damage with only one hike.
Southern Mountain Gear has sun tops as well, but since they are a small shop, they can often be out of smaller sizes or only have premium brands available.
4. Men’s Sun Shirt – BALEAF Men’s Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt UPF 50+
I understand that half of this list is sun protection, but you will be happy when you get here to have a few of these tucked away. Honestly, pack more than you think you will need. The Guam sun does not play.
This is my husband’s go-to sun shirt. He owns about 10 of these and wears one almost daily. They hold up to both Wahoo season and hiking.
5. Polarized Sun Glasses- Goodr OG Sunglasses
You are going to want polarized lenses when in Guam. (If you don’t know what polarized lenses are, give this article a gander.)
Polarized lenses allow you to see into the water, so whether you are at Fisheye or Two Lover’s Point, you won’t miss spotting the bobbing sea turtle or the darting black-tip shark. This brand is great because they are much more affordable than the popular Maui Jim’s but also holds up to Guam’s intense hiking scene.
A variety of this brand’s sunnies can also be found at Southern Mountain Gear, but be sure to check that they are polarized.
6. Dry Bag – Breakwater Supply™ Fogland Lite Small Waterproof Submersible Backpack
A dry bag in Guam is a must as we enjoy on AVERAGE RAINFALL a year. While Guam may have a rainy and dry season, my husband and I joke that it’s more like a rainy and less rainy season. Trust that it’s going to rain. It may not, but planning as if it will save you a lot of headaches.
This is the best dry bag for Guam because it is lightweight but also because the backpack style (vs. the traditional bucket style) secures snugly to your body. Remember, most of Guam’s best reefs involve a bit of a hike, and all Guam hikes involve a bit of maneuvering across a few rocks.
7. Trail Guide – The Best Tracks on Guam: A Guide to the Hiking Trails
Hiking, or boonie stomping as it is called here, is the best way to get to know Guam’s beautiful and often ancient history. Many of the routes found in this book are pathways used by the locals since long before Western colonization. Some even feature a glimpse of a latte stone. ( Learn about the latte stone here) Remember, RESPECT THE LOCALS, and treat these sites with dignity and care. Or risk the anger of the Taotaomo’na and being a massive a-hole in general.
You will also find hikes in this book that highlight Guam’s role in both WWII and in the Spanish Galleon trading routes.
This book is hands down the best outdoor guide to Guam. It has detailed trail routes that will be a lifesaver for those hikes with poor GPS. You will find the pictures of trailheads especially helpful since so many of Guam’s greatest hikes often begin in neighborhoods. It provides details on how to request permission for hikes that cross private property. And gives comprehensive information about safety concerns unique to Guam’s trails.
8. Snorkeling Guide – Diving & Snorkeling Guide to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands
If you plan on being in the water, this book is a must. Aside from having some of the most beautiful underwater photography of the Mariana Islands, it is an amazing breakdown of Guam’s best diving and snorkeling spots.
It gives you valuable information about ocean safety that you have to know before getting into the water in Guam. Far too often, I hear Coast Guard helicopters out looking for another tourist who chose the wrong spot or the wrong day to cross the reef. Once, I have woke up to the heartbreaking reports of someone who tried to pocket the wrong shell and caught the often lethal tooth of the cone snail.
You also don’t want to be the tourist standing (and damaging) on the reef head or the one with the Go-Pro chasing the sea turtle.
9. Guam Map- Guam Adventure & Dive Guide Franko Maps Waterproof Map
There isn’t much to say about this map. It’s waterproof, it has all the dive spots marked, and it has an identification of a few of the local reef fish. This item makes the essential list because trust that your GPS will fail because it will. At least this one is pretty and doubles as a lovely souvenir.
10. Packable Shopping Bag – Rockflowerpaper Reusable Grocery Bags
In an attempt to protect Guam’s environment and eliminate single-use plastic, Guam has recently passed laws prohibiting stores from using plastic bags and requiring shoppers to provide their own.
I always have a few of these on hand when traveling and use them for everything from sundry shopping to impromptu beach bags. I even carry one in the airport for plane snacks.
10. Women’s Water Shoe – Teva Women’s W Tirra Sandal
If you are looking to explore any of Guam’s beaches outside of the sandy bottoms of Tumon Bay, you will need foot protection. Many of Guam’s most beautiful beaches are shaped by a considerable amount of limestone. While this makes Guam a great destination for tide pool exploration, it is not always the best for long BAREFOOT walks on the beach. Limestone WILL cheese grater your feet and somehow always leave a scar.
These are the best water-friendly shoe I have found. They dry quickly, and the grip is comparable to a proper hiking shoe. I even wear these on Guam’s easier hikes, like Tarzan Pools!
11. Men’s Water Shoe – Teva Men’s Ankle-Strap M Flintwood
Like the women’s hiking Teva, these also dry quickly and offer some of the security of a hiking shoe. My husband likes the added toe protection these offer since he enjoys climbing over the rocks a bit more than I do.
12. Hydration Gels – GU Energy Original Sports Nutrition Energy Gel
Last but certainly not least, HYDRATION! Heat exhaustion on the trails is a major risk factor in Guam. I’m telling you, the sun goes hard here. To be honest, I resisted these when my husband offered me one because I thought they were for Ironman-level feats. Until I had one out of sheer desperation on a particularly grueling hike. I had been drinking water, but it just wasn’t enough to adequately replace the minerals I was losing in the August heat. With one of these packets, my headache went away after just a few short minutes of rest in the shade. I was also able to not only make it through but actually enjoy the rest of the hike. 12/10 would recommend.
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