If you can’t decide between hiking, stunning ocean landscapes, spelunking (the exploration of caves), swimming, or cliff diving, the Pagat Cave Trail is right for you. There are few places in the world that offer a comparable variety of unique activities within such a short walking distance. The trail is approximately 1.7 miles long (one-way) with an elevation of 550 feet.

Our destination was Facpi Point, a narrow headland projecting off Guam’s west coast into the ocean. The point is just north of Sella Bay and the notoriously rigorous Cetti 7 trail. The noon-day sun was unrelenting and very few clouds glided overhead to offer a shadow of mercy.

The lowering sun offered me approximately two hours to locate a notoriously hard-to-find jungle oasis, the Lost Pond. Putting my head down and stowing my camera, I walked Hilaan beach with intention.

Guam’s Southern Mountain Ridge Trail is one of the most difficult hikes on the island due to its length, difficulty to navigate, and technical challenges. It’s the kind of trail you take if you want to dedicate an entire day to be in nature and avoid seeing another human being for several hours. On an island with 170,000 people, solitude is a rare commodity. But for those willing to pay the steep, and often muddy, price, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for in the mountain heights.

The San Carlos Falls Trail has been one of my favorites since hiking it for the first time in early 2020. In my opinion, it hits the sweet spots when it comes to length, difficulty, ease of navigation, and scenery.