Tarague Beach on Andersen AFB is really a hidden gem here in Guam. Yes, you do need base access to use it which is probably one of the best reasons those with an ID should use it! It’s rarely crowded there, the water is clear, the beach access easy, and it’s a short 10-15 min drive from main base. There are also some other neat things about Tarague beach that are often overlooked.
Tarague Beach used to have waves that lapped the cliffs but after geological shifting the reef area was exposed and the jungle area grew. It’s home to the endangered Marinas crow, the Marinas fruit bat, and a safe haven for nesting sea turtles. There are remnants from the tribe who lived there in 500 B.C. as well the remnants of a 1900s copra plantation. On clear days you can even see Rota to the North. I am so thankful that we get the chance to enjoy this amazing beach.
From the first main roundabout on Marine Corps Drive it’s about a 10-15 minute drive down to the beach. It’s quite charming as you get the feel of driving through the jungle to reach it!
If your lucky you may even get to see some of the local wildlife like the chickens that mill around the base. Or the wild pigs that are out forging for food, we’ve seen them at least twice on the way to the beach now. Those pigs have some tusks so I don’t recommend getting too close!
You’ll also get an amazing view as you go around the bend of Saunders Slope. It is an amazing preview of the beach area surrounded by the dense and lush jungle area.
When you arrive at the parking area there will be a few spots when you enter, then more down towards the main beach area. The ones at the end are great for if you plan on hiking the trial. Tables and benches are located in this area as well.
Yes, there is a hiking trail at Tarague beach too! Most people I’ve talked to who’ve been here awhile had no idea. It’s also in the Best Track son Guam book. I highly recommend picking this up from the War in the Pacific museum outside of Big Navy. You can see a sign near the entrance as well. We plan to hike it soon.
Of course being on a AFB there are lots of rules, and they are all posted. So make note of the rule and follow them. They are pretty much common sense stuff. Note there are no dogs are allowed at the base beach unfortunately.
Make sure to note the swimming conditions which is posted with the flag. There is also a sign that explains what the colors mean.
There are quite a few amenities in the beach area. There are 2 playgrounds one for smaller kiddos and a larger one as well.
Volleyball area and a covered area where you can have get togethers, etc.
Bamboo Willies is also at Tarague but it does have limited hours. It’s open on Friday evenings & Saturdays depending on how many people are using it. The restrooms are located in the building next to it but we’ve found that they are not well stocked. It’s best to bring your own tissue with you, just in case.
You can also camp at Tarague beach, I’m not a camper so you won’t find me gracing the sand overnight. I’ve heard from many that it’s great, I’ll take their word on it 😉 There are 30 campsites and these can be reserved through Outdoor Rec. You can even rent camping equipment from them if you don’t have any. Camping is open year round but I’ve been told the best time for the least rain & humidity is often Dec-Feb time frame.
One of the best things about Tarague is that it is never crowded! We’ve been several times even on weekends and it’s never overly crowded, I love that about it! Sandy areas for setting up and easy access into the buoyed swimming area are found on the beach. Like any beach here in Guam it’s recommended that you have shoes, felt bottom ones are the best. These will make it MUCH easier to get in and out of the water over the rocky areas. It’s easier/harder depending on high/low tide as well. The BX has the felt bottom shoes but the Home/Garden store at the NEX has ones without the split toe as well. There is also a Dive shop on base that has some as well.
Crabs can be found all over the beach! From huge fist sized hermit crabs to ones that are just bigger than a grain of rice! My kids enjoy finding the crabs and building a ‘home’ for them in the sand. Fish are in the swimming area and can be seen when snorkeling. Some days the water is a bit clearer than others but for the most part there are always fish around to see.
If you turn to the right away from the beach you’ll find signs for Well No. 4. Here you can walk down and see the natural sinkhole with stairs to the pump building. The sign says open during daylight hours. I only had sandals on and there were way TOO many lizards to go attempt that in them and without Mr. B, so I’ll head back to take more pics soon.
Another great spot is the Tarague Scenic Overlook area! When you head to the beach instead of turning at the left towards the beaches keep going straight and follow the Scenic Overlook signs! It’s about a 10-15 min drive from the main roundabout as well and will take you on some curvy roads. The pull off will be to the left after a bend, it looks like there was a sign that used to be there but it wasn’t there a few weeks ago. You’ll see a clearing area to the left and if you go past there will be a fence, so you know you just missed it.
There is a sign up that gives some history about the beach and the area. While the area itself is beautiful it’s always the history that I appreciate the most so I’m always excited when I see signs like this!
The overlook has some amazing views of the beach area, how lucky are we that we get to use this amazing beach?! I want to go back for the sunset view as well! I even know someone who was married at this overlook area, love that idea 🙂
There is also a large Ifit tree as well as a sign that gives some info about them. The Ifit tree is the official tree of Guam and is protected here on the island. We are lucky enough to have one in our backyard here.
So if your here in Guam and have access to Tarague I encourage you to get out and enjoy it! But also make sure your enjoying the rest of the island as well, it’s small but mighty! 🙂
This is a great write-up of Tarague. I look forward to more of your posts. I love how they intrigue and welcome newcomers (especially the military, who my business serves most.) Thank you for sharing the beauty of this island, I call home. http://www.livingonguam.com http://www.facebook.com/livingonguam
I was a B-52 radar navigator and flew many missions out of Andersen during the Vietnam Nam War. Teague Beach was much less developed in the 60s and 70s. I enjoyed your update.
Wow, thank you so much for your service! Hope you enjoy seeing all the posts from Guam 🙂
Was on Guam most of 1962 & 1963 at Andersen & spent time @ Tarague Beach. The only amenities were car parking spots. Also got the experience of sitting through Typhoon Karen. Good memories! ?!?!?
I was there in 1970 with the B-52 MMS I lived in tin city US air force. Things have changed so much.
As someone who was born on Guam and spent my childhood on Tarague beach in the 80’s, I would love to visit but my family is no longer active duty. I would love to show my wife and kids where i grew up, Are there any areas of the beach that are accessible by civilians?
Sorry there is no civilian access. The only access is by military ID or to be sponsored on by a family/friend.
I lived on Guam in 1957 to 1961, my dad was stationed at Anderson AFB. We went to the beach all the time and I grew up with beauty of it. There were unexplored boon docks, WWII Japanese still hiding there and there were no highrise buildings there and we could walk out at nite under a non light polluted sky. We watched weather balloons rise to the heavens and I adored the life there. I was 7 in 57. Now at 67, 50 years later, I still remember so much about that time.
Wow, what great memories! I’m so glad you have so many fond memories of your time in Guam.
I was amazed at how much Tarague Beach had not changed.My dad was also stationed at Anderson AFB from 1974 to 1977. A day trip to this beach with my parents for a cookout and snorkeling was the highlight of my preteen years. Seeing the pics u hav posted made my heart leap as if I was looking at my own childhood photo album. They r both gone and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed your postings. Thank you from a very proud AF daughter
So glad you enjoyed the photos!
Wow!!! Memories of my middle girl child born 1960 at NAS while stationed there 79th Air Rescue Sq- She loved the beach, still does at age 58. She loved being in the water as an infant. We all did. Forget name but lived in Quonset huts housing then. Memories.
So glad that you enjoyed the post and your time here in Guam!
I was stationed there from 94-96. USAF SF. I actually had to evacuate Tarague Beach due to a nasty storm during that time. I would bring my son to the beach when I had time off. It was Very rare because of “Operation Pacific Haven”. But nonetheless it’s a beautiful island. We didn’t have cell phones or internet back then. Really wish I had more pics to show my younger kids. My aunt & uncle were stationed there in the late 60s, my cousin was born there. My uncle was USN who passed in early 70s. My aunt recently passed. On her death bed we would ask if she was seeing her husband in Guam. She would open her eyes briefly and give us somewhat of a smile. Enjoy your time there. It’s a beautiful island. I really wish more people knew how beautiful it is there.
Guam is beautiful for sure and the warm water is nice for water activities! Wow, that’s crazy that Tarague had to be evacuated! We’ve been getting several storms this season and it’s predicted to be an active typhoon year, hoping they are wrong, LOL! There is a group on Facebook called Andersen Air Force Base Guam: Past, Present, Future. There are lots of great photos that get posted and shared there 🙂
i was stationed at guam with the 22nd bomb wing march to sept 67 tdy, instrument repairman, went to tarugue beach with some LA orange county guys , we hiked out of the area and went body surfing , had my cressi rhondine fins in my duffel bag. also we got chased into the water by a pack of wild pigs. very busy time work hours were from 7pm to 7am. interesting time. ssgt bounds
Wow, thanks for sharing your story! Those pigs can be scary!
my buddy is going to guam with ww2 guys and see several islands. he was with the air force aviation construction battalion and his group built the runwaysl on guam after the marines landed. he had fond memories of fighting the japs and finding water and building that runway.
I’m sure Guam will look much different from when he was here before! That’s great that he gets to make a trip back to the area.
Beautiful photos and great narratives, thanks for your hard work. I was there for two 3 year tours in the 1970s, really enjoyed it.
So glad you enjoyed your time in Guam!
I was stationed at Andersen from June 1972 to June 1973 with the 42nd Combat Support Group. Tarague Beach is one of my fondest memories in life. I was privileged to see the Bob Hope Show in December 1972. I received the Air Force Commendation Medal for Operation Linebacker II Dec 18 to Dec 29 also known as the 11 Day War. We worked 7p-7a. What days I did get off I usually headed straight to the ,beach. We went everywhere by bus. In fact I lost my wedding band on the beach because I had so much oil on. It was close to the water on the beach so I’m sure the tide got it. I had a friend who stepped on a urchin. He was in so much pain. The needles had to work themselves out. If you touched them they would break in the wound.
I wish you ad attachment so I could send you some pictures.
Wow, thanks for your service! And thanks for sharing about your time here in Guam <3 There is a Facebook page for Past and Present for Andersen AFB that you can share photos on:https://www.facebook.com/groups/43905202859/
I remember my time on Guam in 67 and 68 with the buff’s on Arclight. working 12 hour shifts in ECM. The time in Guam was hard work in the black B52’s in the hot sun no air conditioning. We really appreciated having the beach to go to on our rare time off between rotating from day to night shift. Then got sent to Vietnam in 69 to work on F100’s which was funny because I had to spend a month at Biloxi to learn some new equipment. The ironic part is the F100’s didn’t even have that ECM equipment! Then got sent back to Guam in 72 for Linebacker. Since that was 179 day TDY it counted as time at my base of preference at Rome NY (Griffiss). I Remember all the typhoon evacs on my 1st tdy to Guam with the B52’s to U-Tapaond and Kadena! In less than a month we were at all of them!
Pat served 26years 7 months
Thank you for your service! So glad you enjoyed the beach! I can only imagine how hot it was with no AC!!
I lived on Guam 1965-67. I was one of six cheerleaders for Dededo junior high first year. My memories of Guam are the fondest of my childhood. My father had a motorcycle accident racing his buddy home from Tarague beach. I had been on the back of his motorcycle on the way down to the beach. Will always love Guam. Cathy S Avilla (McLaughlin)