Beach holiday / 26.02.2024

Enigmatic Mariana Islands on the map. Northern Mariana Islands on the Mariana Archipelago map

What is interesting to see in the Mariana Islands?

Saipan Island, 23 km. in length and 8 km. in width, it is the largest of the Mariana Islands and is the administrative center of the Commonwealth. Saipan amazes with its beauty and attracts tourists all year round with its warm sea and bright sun. The center, Gararan, is the most...

Video from the Mariana Islands

How to get to the Mariana Islands?

From Russia to o. Saipan can be reached by flying through Seoul, South Korea, or Tokyo, Japan. There are daily flights from both countries to the Mariana Islands.

flight time: 3 hour flight from Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya),

4.5 hours flight from South Korea (Seoul, Busan),

5 hours flight from China - Shanghai (regular charters from Beijing and Guangzhou are also available)

vaccinations: No vaccinations are required to visit the Mariana Islands.

How to comfortably move around the Mariana Islands?

traffic: Traffic is on the right side, cars are left-hand drive. The traffic rules are the same as in Russia with small exceptions, for example, at a red light you can turn right, allowing cars from the opposite lane turning left to pass.

Road traffic and rules are very simple. There are no huge traffic jams here like in big cities. Top speed 35 mph, some larger roads 40-45 mph. To rent a car, the age limit is 21 years or older.

Traffic Laws:

Wear a seat belt (fine starts at $50.00)

Children under 4 must be fastened in child seats, from 4 years and older - with a car seat belt

When there is a stop signal (STOP) on a school bus, you must stop

Driving into oncoming traffic is prohibited

Parking on blue (with handicapped sign) is prohibited

The middle lane (yellow solid or dotted on both sides) is allowed to be used only during a left turn or a full U-turn, but only after a complete stop.

After sunset, low beams must be turned on (18:30)

When a police officer stops your car, do not get out of the car. You need to open the window.

Driving while intoxicated is strictly prohibited.

car rental: Car brands

Toyota, Ford, Nissan, KIA

Documentation

It is enough to have your Russian license with you. You can pay by card or cash.

The car is rented with a full tank and the car must be returned with a full tank. If the agreement is violated, the amount for gasoline will be charged in triple amount.

Some car rental offices ask you to pay for gas in advance.

Insurance

Each car rental office offers several types of insurance.

It is not necessary to insure the car. You can refuse insurance, but in this case you must leave your credit card information.

Taxi: Taxis in Saipan can only be caught in hotel parking lots. Taxi services, although metered, are expensive.

buses: Saipan, Tinian and Rota do not have a public transport system. There is a free Duty Free bus from the store to the hotels and back.

hitch-hiking: It is possible to hitchhike in the Mariana Islands, but it is not a common practice.

airports: There are international/local airports on each island: Saipan, Rota and Tinian. The main airport of the Mariana Islands is the international airport on the island. Saipan.

airlines: Asiana Airline (OZ)

Delta Airlines (DL)

Shanghai Airline (FM)

Continental Airline (CO)

Freedom Air (FRE)

railway: There are no railways in the Mariana Islands.

ports: The only international port is on Saipan, and three local ones are on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Where is the best place to stay when traveling to the Mariana Islands?

Climate in the Mariana Islands

The climate is tropical. O. Saipan is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the owner of the most constant round-the-clock year-round temperature in the world of +27 degrees C. The season for tourists in the Mariana Islands is open all year round.

There are 2 seasons - dry and wet. The wet season occurs for 6 months from July to December. A special characteristic of the wet season is short rains during the day and heavy rains at night, which does not prevent tourists from enjoying the warm sea and bright sun. The average air temperature during the wet season is +33 - +35 degrees Celsius and the average precipitation is 1800-2000 mm.

The dry season occurs for 6 months from January to June. The weather this season is cool with a light breeze and the air temperature drops to +27 degrees Celsius. The average water temperature is +25 degrees Celsius, precipitation is reduced to a minimum, and droughts are possible.

Between July and November, tropical storms and typhoons are possible in the Pacific Ocean. They mainly originate in the Mariana Islands and move north, gaining strength off the coast of the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Korea or Japan.

National cuisine of the Mariana Islands

The cuisine in the Mariana Islands is international. Initially, with the development of the textile and tourism industries on the islands, a multinational population emerged. The Chinese, Filipinos, Thais, Japanese, Koreans, Americans, Australians and other nationalities have influenced the islands' diverse cuisine. Accordingly, the island has many restaurants and eateries to suit each of these nationalities.

The locals are very hospitable, and if you make friends in Saipan, you will definitely invite them to visit, where they will offer local dishes such as red rice, grilled meat or poultry or in coconut milk, corn tortillas, spicy chicken kalaguen, apigigi (young coconut with starch flour, wrapped in banana leaf), tropical fruits and many other dishes. You can sample local dishes in hotel restaurants or at the local fair in Garapan on Thursdays.

Tourist safety in the Mariana Islands

History of the Mariana Islands

The first settlers migrated from Southeast Asia to the Marina Islands 1500 BC. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer and navigator, discovered and charted the Mariana Islands in 1521, and in 1565 Spain declared the islands its territory and...

Mariana Islands: souvenirs

Coconut products Bojobo talisman dolls Products made from Bojobo tree seeds Jewelry made from shells and corals Traditional wood products Traditional bone products Wicker products from coconut palm leaves Traditional bead products Paintings Medicinal products from Noni fruits Noni...

Mariana Islands: fun facts

The world's deepest trench, the Mariana Trench, which is more than 11,000 meters deep, is located east of the island of Saipan.

Guinness Book Records:

Temperature: The Mariana Islands have the most stable temperature in the world at +27 C.

In 2007, Marine Dive magazine put 18 categories of dive-related places around the world up for reader voting. After voting, 5 prestigious awards were determined for the Mariana Islands.

Managaha Island Lagoon took first place as “Best place for snorkeling.”

Fourth place was shared by Managaha for “Best Beach” and the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota for “Best Diving Region”

Fifth place was shared by Rota for “Teteto” beach as “Best Beach” and the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota as “Best Resort Area”.

The underwater cave “Grotto” is considered the second most beautiful place in the world among diving experts. Skin Diver magazine named this place one of the top ten places for scuba diving.

For four years in a row, Managaha Island has been awarded the title of “Best Snorkeling Destination” at the Tokyo International Fair.

Saipan - Treasure Island! The Saipan Museum of History and Culture has the world's largest collection of artifacts and treasures from Spanish galleons! In 1638, off Cape Agingan in the Saipan Strait, not far from the PIC Hotel, the galley “Nuestra Señora de la Conception” with a cargo of gold crashed. Only a small part of the cargo was found by an underwater expedition in the 80s of the last century. Most of the treasures still remain at the bottom of the strait. The most expensive part of the treasure is in the museum and their duplicates can be seen in one of the halls: gold jewelry inlaid with diamonds and other precious stones, necklaces, chains, fine porcelain, etc.

On the island of Saipan lived the artist Douglas Rankin, who created a unique painting technique - banana painting. Instead of a brush, he used banana tree trimmings. He cut and wrapped leaves, cut dies and rollers from trunks. Then he created unique paintings with his unusual instruments. Douglas Rankin died in 2007.

Perhaps one of the most mysterious places on the map of the Earth is Mariana Islands. This is a place that is sometimes considered one of the best remaining mystical corners of America and which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists with its unique nature and many historical sites.

Mariana Islands on the world map

The remoteness of the Mariana Islands from the “mainland” makes them a unique place where an atmosphere of peace and absolute carefree reigns. Real paradise for lovers of magnificent panoramas, unique sunsets and crystal clear air.

Where are they located?

The Mariana Islands are a small island state whose territory covers 15 islands of the archipelago of the same name. They are located at the western tip of the Pacific Ocean, in a region called Micronesia.

Most travelers come here in search of solitude from the noise of big cities and to see with their own eyes the monuments from the Battle of the Pacific during World War II.

The islands of the archipelago are located in such a way that they form two chains with a total length of more than 700 kilometers.

Due to the peculiarities of its geographical location, the Mariana archipelago does not have clear boundaries with neighboring states. To the south of it are Caroline Islands(Federated States of Micronesia). The conditional natural boundary separating the Philippine Sea from the Pacific Ocean passes at the location of the Mariana Islands.

Relief

Mariana Archipelago consists of two chains located from the north and south. In the northern chain, most of the islands are cones formed as a result of volcanic activity, over 900 meters high. It is noteworthy that some of them are small active volcanoes. The islands in the southern chain are partly volcanic in nature and partly formed by corals.

The nature of the Mariana Islands is typical for the tropical region; there are many places where no one has set foot. The coral reefs of the Mariana Islands amaze with their magnificence and fantastic forms, and the deepest place on the planet is 11 km Mariana Trench is located just a few tens of kilometers from the archipelago.

Coastal waters abound with fish, beaches stretch for thousands of meters, and the rich underwater world strives to show all its splendor to lovers of diving and snorkeling.

Climate

The climate of the Mariana Islands is characterized as humid, tropical ocean.

The average air temperature during the day fluctuates around +28/+33 degrees Celsius, and at night drops only a few degrees to +23/+25 degrees.

Humidity quite high and reaches 75-85%. Two seasons are clearly distinguished: from to to the windy season begins in this area, and from to to the time of typhoons begins.

How to get there from Russia?

The easiest way to get here is from some countries in Asia (, Japan, South Korea) or from, so vacationers in the Mariana Islands are dominated by Japanese And Americans.

Due to the great remoteness of the Mariana Islands from no direct flights in this direction.

To the airport of the main island of the archipelago – Saipan– can be reached by plane of Asian airlines. Transfers for flights in this direction are made in Shanghai, Tokyo or. The duration of such a flight will be about 16 hours, and this does not take into account flight connections.

Select plane tickets using this search form. Enter cities of departure and arrival, date, number of passengers.

State structure

Picturesque coral reefs, offshore fishing opportunities, surfing and diving are all available in abundance today. But not all the time life seemed like a fairy tale to the residents of the Mariana Islands.

Story

The development of the Northern Mariana Islands occurred many centuries ago - around 500 AD the first settlers appeared here - Chamorro tribes, having some kinship with the modern peoples of Polynesia. They were experienced sailors, actively explored the Pacific islands and left behind memorable signs - the famous “latte” stones, the height of which could reach 6 meters.

It is curious that some historians see in the latte stones some analogy with the mysterious statues of Easter Island.

European influence on the Mariana Islands began with the legendary navigator Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first European to discover these lands during his circumnavigation of the world in 1521. On his ship he passed through the southern group of islands of the archipelago and named them "Isla de los Ladrones", which translated meant “Islands of Thieves.”

The name was changed to "Las Marianas" in the middle of the 17th century, when the Spanish priest Luis Diego Sanvitores, who found himself in these parts, named them in honor of Queen Anna Maria of Austria.

In 1668, missionaries of the Jesuit order, led by Sanvitores, organized the first mission on the islands, with the appearance of which conflicts began between the local population and European colonists. The war lasted two decades and resulted in the removal of most of the natives to the island of Guam.

In the 19th century resettlement has begun Spaniards and settlers from the Caroline Islands came to the Mariana Islands, and gradually began to show interest in the archipelago. In 1899, Spain sold the Northern Mariana Islands to the German government, which hoped to organize the industrial production of coconut pulp here. However, these plans were adjusted by the outbreak of the First World War, and Japan, which turned out to be stronger and more interested, captured the islands.

The Japanese began to grow sugar cane on the islands, cutting down tropical forests and thickets of coconut palms. In the 1930s, Mariana cane plantations guaranteed the lion's share of Japan's profits.

Dramatic events unfolded in the archipelago area during the years Second World War, when the archipelago became the site for one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles in the Pacific basin. In the summer of 1944, US armed forces landed on the coast of Saipan and simultaneously attacked the Japanese flotilla.

Thousands of soldiers from both armies became victims of the battle, but the civilian population of the islands suffered the maximum damage.

Subsequently, the United States set up a military airfield here, which was destined to go down in history. It was from this base that two heavy bombers took to the skies, dropping atomic charges on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the end of the war, peace came to the islands, they were subject to the United Nations, and since 1947 they have been under US influence.

Policy

The Mariana Islands are a self-governing community. Since 1986, the status of a state has been in force, "freely joined" to the United States, thanks to which the islands gained local self-government. United States trusteeship ended in 1993. The state and government are simultaneously headed by a governor elected by the population.

Valid on the islands representative presidential democratic system. The main person in the state is the governor. The Mariana Islands are in a political union with the United States, and general funds are administered by a special department within the US Department of the Interior.

Most likely, such an unpleasant illness as acclimatization will overtake you in the Mariana Islands. Be prepared for it with help.

Population

The population of the Mariana Islands archipelago is approximately 700 thousand people. Among them are representatives different nationalities:

The vast majority of residents are representatives Filipino — 34%;
Nationality takes second place Chamorro -30%;
On the third Chinese — 12%;
Bringing up the end of the list Micronesians — 8%;
And people from Caroline Islands — 5%.

In addition, on the islands of the archipelago live Americans, Japanese, Koreans, Australians.

Religion and language

The official language of the Commonwealth is English. In second place is language of the Chamorro people, and also an important role is assigned Caroline, Filipino, Japanese, Korean And Chinese languages.

In the Mariana Archipelago, representatives of each religious group have their own organization and premises for performing rituals.

Main religious movements:

Catholicism;
Protestantism;
Islam;
Local religions and cults.

There are numerous activities here sects, ranging from Mormons to Seventh-day Adventists.

Map of the Mariana Islands with cities

Of the 17 islands of the archipelago, only 4 are inhabited: Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam.

Capital

The capital of the Mariana Islands is city of Susupe, which is located on the island of Saipan. It is very popular among tourists from Japan, who come here in large numbers.

Susupe attracts with its unhurried, measured rhythm, the absence of cataclysms and shocks, which is so important for modern people.

In Susupa you can enjoy the warm summer all year round and completely forget about all your worries.

Big cities

The largest city in the archipelago is Garapan, located in the western part of the island of Saipan. Most of the administrative buildings on the islands are concentrated here. The city is unique in that its borders are not clearly defined, and almost along the entire western coast of the island there is a chain of small villages and residential buildings surrounded by farms and lush gardens.
Big village Songsong- the largest settlement on the island of Rota. It is located in the southwestern part of the island. The usual city rules do not apply here - residents cope just fine without traffic lights and shopping centers. At almost every step here you can see all kinds of stones, which are used not only for construction, but also serve as markings.
City Hagatna is the administrative center of the island of Guam. It lies on a narrow isthmus separating the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The city was founded in 1668 by the Spaniards, who created the first Jesuit mission on the island. Here you can admire beautiful landscapes and vibrant historical monuments.

Watch an educational video about the Mariana Islands:

In fact, few people know anything about the island of Guam in the distant sea-ocean... Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Marin Islands chain! We also don’t know much about the Mariana Islands... My story is about the myths and reality of this corner of the Earth!

Myth I . Mariana Islands - a blank spot on the world map

"White Spot" is located 3 hours flight from Tokyo or Manila, 4 hours flight from Seoul. The Mariana Islands are located in Micronesia and roughly separate the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea. That is, the seventeen islands of the Mariana archipelago are washed by the ocean on one side and the sea on the other.

Myth II. The Mariana Islands are named after the Mariana Trench

Exactly the opposite. The trench is named Mariana because it is located relatively close to the Mariana Islands. From Guam, the largest and southernmost island of the Mariana chain, the depression is only 300 km away.

The islands were discovered by Magellan during his trip around the world. This happened in 1521. Fernand called the islands Thieves, because the local residents liked the things on the ship so much that they were not too lazy to steal them.

But already in 1568 the islands were renamed in honor of the Spanish Queen Maria Anna of Austria (wife of King Philip IV).

Myth III. Primitive tribes live on the Mariana Islands

The Marian tribes with a matriarchal way of life were described in their chronicles by Jesuit missionaries, who formed their first settlement in 1568. In 1565, the island of Guam became a colony of Spain. During numerous wars and upheavals, Japanese, Spanish and American threads were woven into the history of Guam.

Today, Guam is the most important air hub in Micronesia, the island of two American military bases and an extremely popular resort, visited by more than 1 million tourists annually. The services of the above-mentioned institutions are carried out by the indigenous population, among whom are lawyers, hotel managers, and doctors. By the way, the Department of Marine Biology at the University of Guam trains some of the best specialists in this field of knowledge.

Myth IV. There are many dangerous animals in the Mariana Islands

One of God's dangerous creatures is the tree snake. It is dangerous for birds because it feeds on eggs that it finds in nests. Snakes live in the jungle, are afraid of all noises and are never the first to attack. There are no snakes in tourist places where there is hubbub and cheers.

Myth V. The Mariana Islands are prone to frequent typhoons

There are two seasons in the tropics - the rainy season and the windy season. The first lasts 4 months - from June to September. Typhoons are possible at this time. But the last strong typhoon passed over Guam in 2000. By the way, in the entire history of meteorological observations in Guam, not a single person died during a typhoon.

The Northern Mariana Islands, which actually and legally belong to the territory of the United States of America (like the entire Mariana Archipelago), are presented here as a separate destination. This was not done by chance: both the very nature of the holiday and many of the nuances of staying here are completely different than at other American beach resorts. For a tourist, the Northern Mariana Islands offer untouched and very beautiful tropical nature, many historical sites associated with the battles for the Pacific Ocean during the Second World War, fantastic coral reefs, sea fishing with a rich and varied catch, golf, surfing, diving, snorkeling and good conditions for a beach holiday.

How to get there

There is no direct flight from Russia to the islands. You can fly to Saipan with a connection in Shanghai (China Eastern), Tokyo (Japan Airlines and Northwest Airlines) or Seoul (Asiana Air). Flight duration (excluding connections) is about 16 hours.

If flying through Tokyo, tourists will need to apply for a transit visa.

Search for flights to Saipan (the closest airport to the Northern Mariana Islands)

Visa to Northern Mariana Islands

To enter the territory of the Mariana Islands for a period of up to 45 days for the purpose of tourism, Russian citizens do not require a visa.

Customs

The import and export of national and foreign currency is not limited. You can import any amounts in cash, traveler's checks and payment cards. Only amounts over 10,000 USD are required to be declared. When importing gold, a declaration is required. Personal items are not subject to duty; the import of perishable foods (meat, vegetables, fruits, etc.), weapons and drugs into the country is prohibited. The export of corals and other local marine life is prohibited.

Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

Useful phone numbers

All emergency services (ambulance, police, fire): 911

Roaming on the islands is not yet available to subscribers of Russian operators, but you can rent a cell phone there. Phone calls to Russia are best made using a calling card from public telephones in hotels, on the streets and in shops. Calls from hotel rooms are noticeably more expensive.

Maps of the Northern Mariana Islands

Electricity

Electrical voltage 110 V, 60 Hz. The socket standard is American.

Weather in the Northern Mariana Islands

Money

Traveler's checks in US dollars are accepted everywhere except the most remote islands. There is no need to exchange them: most hotels, restaurants and large stores accept them as cash. There are commercial banks on Saipan, Rota and Tinian. On other islands, tourists will have to carry enough cash with them to pay for goods and services, since small private shops do not accept traveler's checks. This also applies to the rental of boats and yachts, as well as payment for the services of guides and conductors. Major credit cards (especially Mastercard and Visa) are also accepted almost everywhere, but again only on the larger islands.

Tipping is optional and remains entirely at the discretion of the tourist. There is no generally accepted tip size; traditionally, in bars and restaurants, foreign tourists tip no more than 10% of the bill, and porters and maids in hotels are usually given 1 USD.

Shopping and shops

Prices in all stores are fixed; bargaining is not accepted.

Popular hotels in Northern Mariana Islands

Entertainment and attractions of the Northern Mariana Islands

The best places for snorkeling: Saipan - Managaha Island, Tiniane - Tachona Beach, Rota - Corell Gardens in Sasanaya Bay. All three main islands of the archipelago are good for hiking. The main route on Saipan is the Laderana-Tangka Trail through the Marpi Commonwealth Forest. Tinian has a wonderful route along the Cammer and Taga banks south of San Jose.

Other recreational options: windsurfing, popular here (the best place for it is Micro Beach on Saipan), tennis, golf and short underwater excursions in the lagoon between Saipan and Managaha Island, where on the bottom of the sea, in addition to its many inhabitants, you can see traces of Japanese shipwrecks and American B-29s.

The Northern Mariana Islands are a state in the Pacific Ocean, made up of several volcanic islands rising from the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Nearby is the deepest oceanic trench in the world, the Mariana Trench, which plunges eleven kilometers into the depths. In this trench, one lithospheric plate dives under another, being processed into magma, which will then pour out through volcanoes.

(Use + and - to zoom in and out of the map)

The Mariana Islands were discovered by Magellan in 1521, however, despite the fact that he was greeted there very warmly, he sailed away from there very dissatisfied. The natives didn’t understand that they couldn’t take what belonged to others and they got their hands full of everything they could reach when they climbed onto the ship. And then they dragged the boat away, for which Magellan called these islands “islands of thieves”, and marked them as such on the map. The islands were not too interested in the Spanish crown, which was the ruler of this territory, in fact only nominally. Nevertheless, missionaries periodically came here, whom the local population did not like and merchants, whom they loved, even adored. And he tried to find a prettier girl, because the merchants always presented him with various useful things and children.

And everything would be fine, but they sold the islands to Germany. The Germans began to create a German order there, but quickly got bogged down in wars on the continent and there was no attention left for the islands. During the Second World War, the Japanese captured the islands and immediately began actively planting them. And even more actively, participate in the breeding program, forcibly marrying your colonists to aboriginal women. However, this violence was forced - almost all the aborigines died out from simple European diseases, so many mestizos were required, resistant to diseases.

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Mariana Islands, traditional center of tourism. Honeymoons are popular here. It’s easy to book a banquet on the “honeymoon” mountain, which hints at a honeymoon. Of course, river cruises are not available here due to the absence of any significant rivers, but you can easily organize a boat rental, just pay for relaxation and increased exoticism.

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Enigmatic Mariana Islands on the map. Northern Mariana Islands on the Mariana Archipelago map