Talo'fo'fo' Falls: A Guam Icon

Talo'fo'fo' Falls is one of Guam's most visited waterfalls, offering a glimpse into both the island's stunning natural landscape and its unique history. Located inland from Talo'fo'fo' Bay, the falls are part of the Talo'fo'fo' Falls Resort Park, a privately-owned area that provides easy access to the cascades via a cable car. The falls themselves are a series of cascades on the Ugum River. Several bridges allow visitors to walk and enjoy the water without getting wet. The surrounding park includes a Guam historical museum, a gift shop, and a convenience store. One of the more notable features is a replica of Sergeant Soichi Yokoi's cave. Yokoi was a Japanese soldier who hid in the jungles of Guam for 28 years after World War II. He was finally captured in 1972 by local hunters. Other attractions within the resort park include amusement park-like rides and a ghost house attached to the upper cable car station. The park has also featured caged animals in the past. The Talo'fo'fo area is steeped in history. The original pre-Spanish inhabitants lived in settlements along the Talo'fo'fo and Ugum rivers. Artifacts have been found in the Talo'fo'fo Caves, suggesting they were used as typhoon shelters. In 1672, a Spanish Jesuit priest ordered a church to be constructed near Talo'fo'fo Bay, which became the center of a new Christian community.