6 hotspots you must visit in Saipan
Saipan in a Day- WWII Pilgrimage & Amelia Earhart Tour
1. Managaha Island
A tiny tropical island with waters far clearer than any other beach on Saipan and white sand like something out of a fairy tale
Only accessible by boat from the main island of Saipan, Managaha Island, Saipan, is a little slice of paradise.
The water is so crystal clear, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world just snorkeling.
If you go to Saipan, this place is a must.
Notes. When you enter Managaha Island, you have to pay an environmental tax and a pier tax. The environmental tax is $10 per person, and the pier tax is $3 per person.
2. The crystal-clear western beaches Micro Beach & Pau Pau Beach
The western beach has a natural breakwater made up of coral reefs, so the water is low and calm, while Micro Beach, which fronts on Saipan’s central-western Garapan, is a wide stretch of white sand that stretches for about a kilometer, centered on the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Further north along the coastline, near the Kensington Hotel, is Pau Pau Beach. Pau Pau means “fragrant” in Chamorro. It’s a secluded beach where you can spend some time relaxing. All of the beaches on Saipan’s west side, including Micro Beach and Pau Pau Beach, are spectacular at sunset, when the sunset colors permeate the sky.
3. Bird Island, Saipan
The sunrise on Bird Island, located on Syphilis Cape in the northeast of Saipan, is one of the most spectacular. Bird Island is a small island made of limestone. If you look closely, you’ll see tons of holes in the rock, where birds nest. As the name Bird Island suggests, the island is home to many birds. You can’t go onto the island because it’s a protected area, but you can watch the sunrise over Bird Island from the observation deck off the road. Between Saipan’s main island and Bird Island, the waves crash against the curving shoreline, and the white surf is impressive. It’s also called Bird Island because the shape of the waves crashing around the island resembles the flapping of a bird’s wings! As the sun slowly rises over the deep blue sea, the day on Saipan begins. If you want to see tons of birds in flight, go at sunset.
4. Ladder Beach & Obyan Beach, the locals’ favorite southern beaches
While tourists spend most of their time at the beach in front of their hotel, locals have their own favorite beaches. They’re a bit of a hassle to get to via dirt roads in a rental car, but they’re not hard to find if you follow the navigation instructions. It’s worth it if you want to see unspoiled beach scenes. Ladder Beach and Obzan Beach on the south side of Saipan, near the airport, are small, calm beaches. Locals camp and barbecue here.
5. Vast and wild eastern beaches Old man by the sea & San Juan Beach
Around Kingfisher Golf Links in eastern Saipan are Old man by the sea and San Juan Beach. Both are tucked away on the side of the road and not easy to find. It’s an adventure to find these hidden gems. To get there, you’ll need to park on a small signposted road and hike through the woods for about 20 minutes. Once you’re through the woods, you’ll see Old Man Bythe Sea beach.
The beach is dominated by a giant rock. Maybe it’s because of the name, but the rock looks like an old man’s face. It is said that the boulder became a ghost stone while waiting for fishermen who went out to sea to catch fish. A short drive north of Old Man by the Sea is San Juan Beach. This is another secret beach. On the right side of the beach is a large rock that resembles a crocodile. In front of the beach, there is a natural formation that looks like a stone staircase. It looks like a stage on the sea. It’s hollowed out on the inside, so the water rushes up with each wave. The east beach straddles the edge of the Mariana Trench, so the water is deep and the waves are rough, so be careful not to fall into the ocean. For reference, the average depth of the Mariana Trench is 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers.
6. Northern Attractions with Panoramic Views Banzai Cliff & Suicide Cliff
Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff are a staple of any northern Saipan tour. Both are beautiful scenic viewpoints, but both bear the scars of war. The latter is the site where more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians jumped into the sea and shouted “Long live the Emperor” as they faced defeat against American forces during World War II. Numerous monuments stand around the cliffs.
It is also a popular spot for starry sky tours, as the stars seem to rain down from the sky as darkness falls. Behind the Jubilee Cliffs, on the west side of the 249-meter-high Mafi Mountain summit, is the Suicide Cliff. This 80-meter-high, dizzying cliff faces the Pacific Ocean. Like the Hooray Cliffs, it has a frightening name, and like the Hooray Cliffs, it was here that the last Japanese soldiers and civilians who resisted the American invasion of Saipan during World War II threw themselves to their deaths. Surrounding the cliffs is the Peace Memorial Park and observation deck. It’s a tragic piece of history, but now it’s a scenic spot on Saipan thanks to its panoramic views.
