Talo'fo'fo' Falls: A Guam Treasure

Talo'fo'fo' Falls, located in the village of Talo'fo'fo' in southeastern Guam, is one of the island's most visited and picturesque waterfalls. The falls are a series of scenic cascades on the Ugum River, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and serene pools.The area is steeped in history. The original pre-Spanish inhabitants of Talo'fo'fo' lived in settlements along the Ugum and Talo'fo'fo' Rivers. Artifacts discovered in the Talo'fo'fo' Caves suggest they were used as typhoon shelters. The village derives its name from the Chamorro phrase “entalo' i fe'fo',” meaning “between the cliffs,” or from “fo'fo',” meaning a bubbling spring.In the early 1970s, Japanese Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi was captured near the falls after hiding in the jungles of Talo'fo'fo' for 28 years following World War II. A recreation of Yokoi's cave can be found at the Talofofo Falls Resort Park.Today, the falls are part of the Talofofo Falls Resort Park, a privately-owned area that offers a variety of attractions. Visitors can take a cable car ride down to the waterfall, walk across bridges to enjoy the water, and explore a small museum, gift shop, and convenience store. Other features of the park include a Guam historical museum, an observation tower, and kids' rides.