A view of Humåtak (Umatac) Bay, Guam during the Spanish period of Guam’s history.

Humåtak in Southern Guam was an Ancient CHamoru village for thousands of years prior to European colonization. But after first contact with Europeans in the 16th century, it achieved new importance after Spanish colonization and control was established at the end of the 17th century.

For roughly the first half of the Spanish colonial period, Humåtak was used as the primary anchorage for ships visiting Guam. The galleon ships from Acapulco on their way to the Philippines would stop, often in May or June. A supply ship for the Spanish presence in Guam would come via the Philippines to the island usually in August or September.

As such it is featured prominently in early artist renderings of the island and island life.

In the second half of the Spanish colonial period, ships began to port at Apra Harbor instead, leading to the rise of Sumay which eventually became the second largest village on Guam.