Facpi Point Trail - Guam
It was five minutes past eleven when we arrived at our destination in South Agat.
We parked our car in a large grass clearing just outside the gate of the Adventist World Radio complex. Before venturing down the trail, my wife and I delegated the security of our vehicle to a trustworthy looking carabao who was attempting to camouflage himself in the brush.
A carabao in southern Agat hiding in the roadside brush.
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 route was very well defined and easy to navigate. Vegetation attempting to reclaim the trail is regularly oppressed by off-road vehicles.
The hills surrounding Facpi Point are scarred with the tire tracks of off-road vehicles.
Early on, the trail forked in several directions, but all paths eventually led back to the same waterlogged corridor. Determined to keep my feet dry, I tip-toed along the grassy edge while my wife waded directly through the brown deluge. On the other side of the always-soggy path, the mid-point of the trek was marked by large patches of red earth and sweeping views of the western coast.
Large tracts of red Akina soil dominate much of the landscape of central and southern Guam.
After a quick rest, we began our voyage to the beach. There is no straight course to Facpi Point because the hill immediately in front of the point terminates in a steep cliff. Hikers must choose to descend to the beach on either the north or south side of Facpi and follow the beach line to the headland. Having chosen the north side on my last attempt, which resulted in the worst fire ant attack of my life, we opted for the southern trail. The descent was quick and steep with loose dirt threatening to turn the trail into a slide.
In order to reach the point, hikers must descend from the hills and take the half-mile beach path leading west.
The beach south of Facpi Point was gorgeous. Instead of being overrun by people, it was overrun by wildlife. On the horizon, we saw southern Guam stretch out before us and the location offered a unique view of Coco’s island. Litter was almost nonexistent, in fact, the only thing littering the beach were the hundreds of crabs ducking under rocks as we walked the coast. It definitely isn’t the easiest beach to reach on island and its barriers to entry have preserved its natural beauty.
Coastline south of Facpi Point, Merizo and Coco’s island on the horizon.
A half-mile down the beach, Facpi Point finally came into view. Having grown up on fantasy adventure movies, the point seemed like the perfect setting for a buried treasure or an ancient secret. A small uninhabited island off the coast of a deserted beach rising 75 feet out of the ocean which can only be reached by walking across a submerged and dangerously narrow path at low tide. It’s perfect! It’s the kind of place I dreamed about as a kid.
Distant view of Facpi Point from the southeast.
In truth, my imagination may have gotten a bit carried away. The path out to the point was relatively wide and relatively safe. We were able to walk all the way to Facpi in water no deeper than our ankles. The shallows felt like warm bath water as the sun reached its peak in the mid-day sky. Along the way, we photographed several unique volcanic rock formations while dodging sea cucumbers and frightening the sunbathing eels.
Looking north at low tide towards the strip of land connecting Facpi Point with the west coast of Guam
We finally reached our destination two miles from where we left our carabao friend. The huge stones appeared much larger when we were standing in their shadow than they had from the beach. Lush green vegetation grew all over the site giving it an air of life that is absent from many other rock outcroppings. Clefts in the rock provided shady spots perfect for a picnic. The water surrounding the headland was crystal clear and would be an grand place for a snorkel. Facpi Point did not disappoint! It was as beautiful and awe inspiring up close as it was from far away.
Approaching Facpi Point from the trail.
Every once in a while, I stumble across a location that inspires my imagination and reminds me of the adventures I dreamed about as a child. Facpi Point is one of those locations.
Luke and Megan Taylor walking to Facpi Point, Agat and Umatac in the background
