Place · Gun Beach & north Tumon Bay
Gun Beach
Snorkel at Gun Beach in the morning: the reef sits close to shore at the north end of the bay; look before you swim, use a buddy and a rash vest, and take a car back at midday.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 45–75 min
- p95 120 min
- Price
- free
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- 00:00–?12:00 AM–?
- verified
- Best time
- 07:00–10:00
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- Painful
- Gun Beach & north Tumon Bay: painful
- Getting there
- Taxi or hotel shuttle to the north end of the bay; a short walk from Two Lovers Point coast path
- Close reef
- Best 07:00–10:00
- Free
- Go 07:00–10:00
- Free entry
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Bags go from the car to the hotel door
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Micronesia ↗Micronesia runs on a handful of weekly flights, so one cancellation can cost several days: build slack into every connection between islands.
- Guam ↗US entry rules apply: visitors need a US visa, ESTA under the US Visa Waiver Program, or eligibility for the Guam–CNMI Visa Waiver Program. Check US Customs and Border Protection for your passport; the Guam–CNMI waiver does not allow onward travel to the rest of the US.
- Guam ↗Guam is outside the US customs territory: complete the Guam customs declaration on arrival and declare food, plants and animal products.
- Guam ↗Drive on the right, as in the mainland US; a valid foreign licence is accepted for short visits.
- Tumon and Hagåtña ↗Buses are infrequent and a hire car or a tour is the practical way to the south; book it for the dry months if you can.
- Tumon ↗Bags go from the car to the hotel door; the strip is flat but hot and the crossings are far apart.
- Tumon ↗Plan the south and Hagåtña as one hire-car day: the strip has taxis but the sights beyond it do not.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours Opens 00:00Hours Opens 12:00 AM
- Crowds
Quietest around 07:00–08:00 · go 07:00–10:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: free
- Child: free to enter; gear priced by size
- Time to spend
- 45–75 min · up to 120 min if you linger
Know before you go
- The name comes from a WWII Japanese gun position nearby; treat any war remains with respect and do not climb on them (check the marker).
- The reef is closest to shore here, so snorkelling is the draw; visibility is best in the morning and outside heavy-rain weeks.
- There can be a current running along the reef edge: swim parallel to the shore.
- Parking is limited; taxis and shuttles are easier.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen; check current Guam rules on ingredients.
- A hotel stretch may reserve chairs for guests; the sand itself is public.
Best time of day
Go 07:00–10:00. Plan 45–75 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and holidays
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
75min
p95
120min
Public beach, open all hours. No lifeguards on some stretches; check the flag and hotel advice.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Public beach access: Access lanes
- Snorkel gear: Hotel or beach kiosks
- Guided snorkel or boat trip: Hotel or tour desks
- Child: Same
- The beach is free; you pay for gear or tours.
- Dress code
- Shoes: Reef shoes in the water.
- Bags & lockers
- Keep valuables in the room; do not leave bags unattended.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) Use your room safe.
- Photos
- Fine; ask before photographing other guests.
- Restricted near hotels and the airport approach (check).
- What's closed
- WeeklyPublic beach, open every day.
- Typhoon or high surfcheckBeach and reef unsafe after storms.
- Water claritycheckMurky after heavy rain.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public beach access | free | Access lanes | — |
| Snorkel gear | US$10–25 a set (2026 estimate) | Hotel or beach kiosks | — |
| Guided snorkel or boat trip | US$40–120 (2026 estimate, check) | Hotel or tour desks | Book the day before. |
| Child | free to enter; gear priced by size | Same | — |
Inside, in order
Beach and shallows
30 minSwimming and easy snorkelling.
Reef edge (confident swimmers)
30 minFish and coral; needs a buddy.
Coast path to Two Lovers Point
15 minA short walk with sea views (check the surface).
Hotel café
20 minAC and drinks.
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- quiet
- Worst while inside
- light
- Leave by
- 09:159:15 AM
- Closing buffer
- 555′
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 18:30. Public beach; plan to leave before dusk.
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
How to do it well
- 1Arrive by 08:00 while the water is clear; check the flag and ask a lifeguard or hotel desk about the conditions.
- 2Wear reef shoes and a rash vest; swim parallel to the shore and stay inside the reef.
- 3Rinse at a hotel shower and have breakfast or a snack nearby before 10:30.
- 4Take a car back to the hotel for your bags or a rest at midday.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Taxi or hotel shuttle to the north end of the bay; a short walk from Two Lovers Point coast path
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Reef shoes in the water; sandals on the path.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Quiet at 07:00; snorkel groups from 09:30; fewer people after 16:00.Quiet at 7:00 AM; snorkel groups from 9:30 AM; fewer people after 4:00 PM.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- high
Bailouts
heat
Hotel café with AC (anchor D)
rain
Underwater World or a hotel café
fatigue
Beach benches (anchor B)
Nearest rescue anchor: D — Hotel café with AC (field-verify)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partlyA few steps at some access points.
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: check · checkIn larger hotels.
- Ramps: yes · yesAsk a hotel for a beach wheelchair or a ramp (check).
- Wheelchair: partly · partlyFlat promenade; soft sand.
- Stroller: yes · yesFine on the promenade.
- Places to sit: yes · yesBenches and hotel terraces.
A hotel-front promenade is flat; the beach itself is soft sand with a shallow entry.
Step-free route
- 1Reach the promenade by taxi; it is flat.
- 2Ask a hotel for a beach wheelchair or a ramp (check).
- 3Use the shaded seating and skip the soft sand if using a manual chair.
Combine with
- 6 minTwo Lovers Point — Walk up the coast path or take a short ride for the sunset view.
- 15 minTumon Bay beach — Walk or taxi south.
- 15 minProa (Chamorro plates) · eat — Lunch or dinner.
- 20 minUnderwater World — Air-conditioned aquarium in the middle of Tumon.
Walk the Gun Beach & north Tumon Bay area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Reef shallows with a waterproof phone case | 08:00–10:008:00 AM–10:00 AM | Do not stand on coral. |
| Bay curve from the north end | Early morning | No drones near hotels. |
| Sunset from the sand | 17:30–18:305:30 PM–6:30 PM | Keep clear of swim lanes. |
Red lines
- Reef edges and currents: snorkel with a buddy and do not stand on coral.
- Heed the flags and leave the water if the surf builds.
- Sun: strong UV; wear a rash vest.
More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids
Rules on site
- food
- Snacks fine; take rubbish with you.
With kids
- with kids
- Good for confident swimmers with adult supervision; the reef edge can have currents.
- child price
- free
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | yes | In nearby hotels and cafés (check). |
| Accessible toilet | check | In larger hotels. |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | Use your room safe. |
| Café or food | yes | Hotel cafés and a snack stand (check). |
| Drinking water | yes | Bottled water. |
| Seating | yes | Benches and terraces. |
| Wi-Fi | limited | Hotels and cafés. |
| Card payment | yes | Cards accepted almost everywhere. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb–May | Calmest, driest months | Best snorkel visibility. | check |
| Jul–Nov | Wet and typhoon season | Swell, currents and murk are more likely. | check |
| Jul 21 | Liberation Day | Beaches are crowded with locals. | check |
| Dec–Jan | Peak season | Busier from 10:00.Busier from 10:00 AM. | check |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit to Guam | good | Close reef and calm mornings. |
| Snorkellers | good | Best reef access on the bay. |
| Families with small kids | caution | Currents at the reef edge; supervise closely. |
| Wheelchair users | caution | Flat promenade; soft sand. |
| Visitors who dislike heat | caution | Go before 10:00.Go before 10:00 AM. |
Skip it if
- The sea is rough or red-flagged.
- You cannot swim or lack a buddy.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Are there shops nearby?
Only a few; bring water and snacks.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it safe for solo swimmers?
Use a buddy at the reef edge.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Why is it called Gun Beach?
After a WWII Japanese gun position nearby. Check local markers for details.
Is Gun Beach good for snorkelling?
Yes, the reef is closest to shore at the north end of the bay. Go early and stay inside the reef.
Do I need a guide?
Not for the shallows, but a guide helps at the reef edge.
Are there lifeguards?
Not on every stretch. Check the flag and ask the hotel.
Can I walk to Two Lovers Point?
It is a short walk along the coast path, though the path can be rough; a taxi is easier with children.
Is the water clear all year?
It is clearest Feb–May and after calm weeks; wet-season swell and rain reduce visibility.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- Sleep areaGun Beach end60 m · 1 min walk
- ClusterGun Beach & north Tumon Bay140 m · 2 min walk
- EatHotel beach bar for sunset (type, confirm locally)450 m · 7 min walk
- ClusterTwo Lovers Point & the northern cliff570 m · 9 min walk
- ClusterTumon central: beach, shops & hotels590 m · 10 min walk
- PlaceTumon Bay beach650 m · 11 min walk
Sources
- officialGuam Visitors Bureau (official)
- secondaryWikivoyage — Guam