On Saturday, sleeping-in, rather than participating in the International Coastal clean-up won out by a 2-1 vote. It was another gorgeous day in paradise so we decided to do a boonie stomp to Haputo Beach:
The trail to Haputo Beach includes 212 narrow, steep steps each way and I felt every one of those 424 steps in my calves when I woke up on Sunday morning. The hike takes you down 300 feet to the beach so you can imagine how slow going it was on the way back up. For me, it was a great workout and so much more fun than a trip to the gym.
Haputo Beach has made it to the top of my favorite beaches in Guam. It’s protected by the U.S. Navy in the Haputo Ecological Reserve Area. The beach itself is secluded and very private: it takes some effort to hike there so not many people are willing to make the effort and it requires a military ID or special authorization. It was Saturday and only a half dozen people were on the beach. I can only imagine during the week there’s probably no one there.
Not only is Haputo wonderfully private but the small cove has soft, white sand, crystal clear water and lots of fish. At the southern tip of the beach, there is a mushroom shaped rock formation that makes the beach even more special. I did find a little bit of trash ~ someone left their plate lunch and soda can. Litter is a major problem here in Guam which is very unfortunate since the island is so beautiful. I picked up the trash and felt a little less quilty about not participating in the Coastal Cleanup.
After the hike, I read there’s the site of an ancient Chamorro village near Haputo and next time I’ll try to find it. For anyone planning a visit here, I recommend a couple of turns on the stairmaster so you’ll be in shape for the trek to Haputo.
I was stationed at Andersen AFB in 80-82. My wife and I went there once and it was beautiful and clean..not a soul in sight. They had admission back then..you had to pay with blood taken by the thousands of mosquitoes that met us a few yards into the jungle. It was truly an adventure. Guam was just wonderful, especially in the winter when the humidity abated.
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Thank you for your comment. I’m missing Guam a lot right about now that winter has set in.
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When did they change the name to Haputo? When I was stationed at Anderson 1976-78, everyone referred to it as Bare Ass Beach, and for good reason. I used to spend every weekend snorkeling at the beach because it is one of the few areas on the island that you can swim through a mild current cut in the reef and out into the open ocean. After finished with the snorkeling, a walk back across the beach to the steps often revealed some hot babes sunning in the buff. Whenever we were out on a boat deep sea fishing and went by Bare Ass Beach the captain would always break out the binos for a scan of the shoreline. My favorite snorkeling beach by far!
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Great story about your snorkeling days at Haputo. We rarely saw anyone else at the beach and no one in the buff so never heard the beach referred to as Bare Ass Beach. Hopefully you won’t find it too boring if you return for a snorkel.
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I was stationed there in 1976 to 79. I was a Navy CTO stationed just down the road. Bare Ass Beach was the nickname we Military folks gave it and has always been Haputo…and you are very right about it being the only nude beach on the Island. The Navy needs to give it back to the people of Guam….just the beach frontage alone is worth over $20,000,000.00 alone if put on the market today in 2016.
Most Military people go to Tarague beach anyway, because it is so easy to drive down too. Now Bare Ass Beach is a real workout….with over 200 stone steps cut down through the boonies and then the same long walk back up at the end of the day….That was the Life!
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I was stationed at NCS in 1966 and 67. I will say it has changed dramatically. We used to snorkel and spearfish outside and inside the reef. The one end in the picture, there was a pipe releasing what appeared to be contamination to the lagoon. The lagoon at that end was in poor shape. There were no steps and we were about the only people using it at that time. I remember I was on the path up the hill and I was confronted by a very large lizard, a type of monitor I think, it was about 5 ft long. It was a standoff for a few minutes then I retreated.
They must have stopped the dumping, it really brings back memories.
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It would be great if the military could give access to the beach area for Guam residents. Haputo looks awesome!
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I am glad to see the pictures of the steps. I was stationed at Finegayan from 1973 -1975 and I was one of the Marines in Company C who worked to put in the steps. I am surprised they are still there! They look like the original ones from 1973 or 1974. I frequently went to the beach since I could walk to it from the barracks and I spent many hours snorkeling there… I’d love to go back and visit Guam now, nearly 34 years later. Sigh.
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If you hike out into the jungle…I believe you start at the middle of the beach…and hike straight back you’ll actually find some of the remains of the Chamorroio village. I hiked in after Ponsongua (the typhoon) and the jungle had been beat down a bit so it may be tougher to boonie stomp your way in now. You’ll find some really cool latte stones and I saw a whole bunch of giant crab. You might want some pants and hiking boots…I did it with burks and shorts with out a shirt sort of a bad idea.
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That’s just so lovely — lucky you to have that right in your back yard!
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Beautiful, Patti!
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Josie: you’ve GOT to add Haputo to your photo portfolio. I don’t know what type of authorization is required since I’m not familiar with the Navy rules (hopefully just my signing you in at the gate) but I’ll call and check on it. ANYTIME you want to go, let me know. I’m ready to go back and find the ancient Chamorro site. The only other thing is we went at low tide and I’d rather go back when the tide is high. Oh, no…now I have Blondie in my head. 😉
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I ‘m so glad you took those pictures I love the one between the trees.
You and Logan look great.
Mom
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I’m envious! I’ve never been to Haputo and have only heard great things about it. You guys have access to some really great beaches.
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