Rota

The quietest island in the Marianas, with a natural swimming pool, a Chamorro latte stone quarry, a bird sanctuary and the crystal-clear waters known as "Rota Blue".

Rota is the third-largest inhabited island in the Northern Mariana Islands, lying about 80 km north of Guam and about 130 km south of Saipan. Covering roughly 85 km² with fewer than 2,000 residents, it is the quietest and least developed island in the Marianas. Its exceptionally clear water is known as "Rota Blue", and divers can explore the WWII wreck of the Shoun Maru and the light-beam cavern in Sasanhaya Bay. The island divides into three main areas: at the southwestern tip, Songsong Village with Wedding Cake Mountain, the Songsong Overlook, the Cave Museum and a Japanese cannon; on the north coast, the Natural Swimming Pool, Teteto Beach and Guata Beach; and in the east, the Taga Stone Quarry, the Mochong latte site and the Bird Sanctuary at the northeastern corner. The Sabana plateau in the center is home to primary forest and endemic birds. December–June is the dry season, with calm seas and the best visibility; July–November is the rainy and typhoon season. Small propeller planes fly from Guam in about 30 minutes, and there are also flights from Saipan, but services are limited, so book ahead. There is no public transportation, so you will need to rent a car; roads are simple but unlit at night. Plan on 2–4 days. Restaurants and shops are few and keep short hours; some sites are unstaffed, so please do not climb on or move the latte stones.

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