Contents Saipan ...................................... 03 #01 Grotto #02 Managaha Island #03 Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine #04 Garapan #05 Mt. Tapochau #06 Micro Beach #07 Stargazing #08 Obyan Beach #09 Mount Carmel Cathedral #10 Forbidden Island #11 Street Market #12 Bird Island #13 Sugar KingPark #14 Beach Road Pathway #15 Romance Tinian ....................................... 13 #16 Taga Beach #17 Blow Hole #18 Broadway #19 House of Taga #20 Old San Jose Church BellTower Rota .......................................... 17 #21 Senbon Yashi #22 Rota Hole #23 Songsong Village Overlook Marianas 30 Treasures #24 Bird Sanctuary #25 Teteto Beach Small islands, sparkling like jewels in the Pacific Ocean, Mariana Islands ....................... 21 call you closer with colors that excite your imagination. #26 Flame Tree Settled by seafaring navigators nearly four thousand years ago, #27 Sports #28 War-related Sites #29 The Marianas possess a natural beauty created by the Made in the Marianas #30 awesome power of volcanoes, a surging sea, and sunlit skies.. Night Life And now, the wonders of these islands, Travel Information .................. 27 and the enduring spirit that lives in the hearts of their people, are yours to share. The Marianas Visitors Authority presents the hidden riches of these idyllic islands in Marianas 30Treasures. We warmly invite you to experience the breathtaking locations, unique culture, and friendly people of the islands of Saipan, Tinian, Junji Takasago and Rota as captured through the lens of Photographer nature photographer Junji Takasago. Junji Takasago was born in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan in 1962. His photography, inspired by the natural world, is typically focused on animals, rainbows, landscapes, skies, and underwater locations. Mr. Takasago's publications include Dear Earth, The Rainbow Planet, Night Rainbow, Free, and others. He has been featured on TV and radio and serves as an executive board member of the Oceanic Wildlife Society (OWS), a non-profit environmentalorganization. #16 Taga Beach http://junjitakasago.com Saipan Saipan As you approach Saipan by air, you may think itimpossible that the ocean surrounding this beautiful island can exhibit so many shades of blue.Saipan is your gateway to the The Marianas. It is an island of big smiles, where visitors are greeted with #28 BanzaiCliff “hafa adai” or “tirow,” the greetings of the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people. #28 Last CommandPost #28 SuicideCliff #07Stargazing #01Grotto #02 Managaha Island #12 BirdIsland #01 Grotto #15Romance #06 Micro Beach A Magical Underwater Cave Beckons #04 Garapan You into the Sunlight #11 Garapan StreetMarket #03 Our Lady of LourdesShrine #13 Sugar KingPark #05 Mt.Tapochau #14 Beach RoadPathway #11 Sabalu FarmersMarket #10 ForbiddenIsland #09 Mount CarmelCathedral Saipan International Airport Saipan is the largest island and the capital of the U.S.Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. #08 ObyanBeach Chalan Kanoa, the historic capitol, and Garapan, with its busy downtown, are both located here. Blessed with a tropical climate and average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit), the island has two seasons, dry from December to June and rainy from July to November. Saipan offers beautiful white sand beaches Area : Approximately 115.4 km2 and plentiful year-round activities, including snorkeling, Located at Marpi Point on the northern end of Saipan, the cavernous Grotto attracts divers from around the world. At Population : 48,220 (as of 2010) diving, trekking, golf, jogging, and more. You can drive Highest peak : Mt. Tapochau (475 meters above sea level) the bottom of 116 stairs, you encounter a natural pool filled with blue seawater. Once underwater, you're shown the Island color : Saipan Blue around the island in just three hours, so going places and way by light passing through three horizontal caves that connect to the open sea and direct sunlight from the opening doing things is easy even if your visit is a short one. above. As you swim through the magical light and into the cave, you may be lucky enough to encounter sea turtles and large migratoryfish. 3 4 #02Managaha Saipan It's Easy to Lose Track of Time on This Small Island #03 Our Lady of LourdesShrine A Statue of the Virgin Mary Imparts a Sense of Peace Driving south from Capitol Hill, you encounter a small statue of the Virgin Mary looking skyward in prayer. Local Christians placed the statue here, the site of a cave where Saipanese sought refuge during an invasion in World War II. In front of the statue is a well whose water is said to possess healing powers when poured on an afflicted area. You can also drink the water directly from the well. Candles for prayers may be offered. An annual religious ritual is held here everyFebruary. #04 Garapan One Day Is Not Enough to Experience It All About 20 minutes from Saipan International Airport, Garapan is the largest downtown in the The Marianas. This bustling district stretches along Micro Beach on the western shore of the island and visitors can catch a distant view of Managaha Island from the beach. Many large hotels and visitor attractions such as shopping malls, restaurants, and small shops are in Managaha is a small islet, surrounded by a coral reef, just 10 minutes by Garapan. boat from the shore of Saipan. Only 1.5 kilometers around, Managaha is easily explored on foot. There is no overnight accommodation. However, there are quaint restaurants, shops, and shower facilities for those on day trips. Enjoy snorkeling in crystal clear, startlingly blue waters. Or trek through a palm forest, where you'll discover the sacred burial ground of the Carolinian Chief Aghurubw. Managaha is a designated marine conservation area, so its environment is protected. 5 6 #05 Mt.Tapochau Saipan Enjoy a 360-Degree View from the Highest Point on Saipan Mt. Tapochau is the highest point here at 475 meters above sea level. on Saipan, part of a mountain Because access is via a rugged range that originates in the depths gravel road, a four-wheel drive of deepest point on earth in the vehicle is recommended. A statue of Marianas Trench. From its peak, you Jesus Christ stands on a pedestal can see the streets of Garapan, Lake at the scenic overlook, benevolently Susupe to the south, and Managaha watching overvisitors. to the west. The breeze is refreshing #06 #07 Micro Beach Stargazing A Beach that Changes Color Seven Times a Day Watch the Stars Come Out in the Tropical Night Sky The powdery white sand of Micro Beach, which fronts the resort hotels of the Garapan district, tempts you to remove your shoes and walk barefoot. Micro Beach is said to change its shades of color seven times a day, most notably during Saipan's remarkably beautiful sunsets. With Managaha off the The starry sky has captivated humans from the beginning. The Marianas offer superb locations for stargazing. The coast, Micro Beach is a great spot skies above The Marianas are clear, thanks to cleansing air currents that constantly travel across the Pacific. The to soak up some of Saipan's best Grotto is one of many ideal observation sites as it is located in the northeast of Saipan facing the Pacific, where it is scenery. unaffected by city lights. We recommend that youjoin a stargazing tour for convenience and safety at night. 7 8 #10 Saipan Located at the southern end of #08 Obyan Beach Saipan, Obyan Beach enjoys some Forbidde of the clearest water on the island. Feel the Life of the Sea at a Coral Reef On a good day, you can see the n Island neighboring island of Tinian nearby. A favorite of local people, the beach One of Saipan's Favorite is dotted with green trees, ideal for Day Treks lounging in the shade. Inside the outer reef are beautiful patch reefs Located in LaoLao Bay, Forbidden with an abundance of small fish to Island is a nature reserve that is see when snorkeling or swimming. home to various flora and fauna. At the edge of the outer reef, the Take a 30-minute trek from the bottom quickly drops to a depth of trailhead in the village of Kagman up to 17 meters, which makes this down to the island, where there are site popular among divers. A strong caves and tide pools for snorkeling. current runs outside the reef, so be Take special care if you walk in an sure to enjoy marine activity there area facing the open ocean as waves with a professionalguide. can be rough and arrive unexpectedly. Nevertheless, do not miss a chance to experience the “forbidden” charms of this special island. #09 Mount Carmel Cathedral The Largest Catholic Church in The Marianas With its beautiful Spanish-style exterior, Mount Camel Cathedral attracts many visitors. Reconstructed To discover local food and specialties in the Marianas, street markets are the in 1949 after World War II, it was #11 StreetMarket place to go. The Garapan Street Market, held Thursday nights, features food designated as a cathedral by papal stalls selling skewers of various grilled foods, fresh fruit juice, and more to decree in 1984. Inside, you're Get a Taste of Local Food and Culture enjoy as you stroll. Meanwhile, Sabalu Farmers Market in Susupe is held bathed in gentle light passing Saturday mornings. Here you'll find freshly picked vegetables, hot peppers, and through stained glass windows. This traditional local foods, including apigigi (coconut, tapioca, and other ingredients cathedral provides Catholics living in baked in a banana leaf). “Sabalu” means Saturday in the Chamorrolanguage. The Marianas with a place of worship and serves as a landmark for the Garapan Street Market Sabalu Farmers Market town of Chalan Kanoa. A sugar cane processing plant and a shrine built to celebrate the harvest were in this area during the period of Japanese rule.