It is likely that it was previously visited in 1522 by the Spanish sailor Gonzalo de Vigo, deserter from the Magellan expedition in 1521, who was the first European castaway in the history of the Pacific.

From 1909 to 1912, the island was leased to a Japanese company, who sent hunters to gather bird feathers for the European hat industry.

[3] During World War I, Guguan came under the control of the Empire of Japan and was subsequently administered as the South Seas Mandate.

The coast is bordered by steep basaltic rock with gables of high ridges which contain deep, rain-eroded gorges.

Among the undisturbed wildlife is the rare Micronesian megapode Megapodius laperouse which can be found only in the Northern Marianas and the Palau Islands.