![]() Given the popularity of tourism among the islands it's rare that you'll ever go a full day without seeing a snorkeling tour or coming across an anchored yacht somewhere, but most of the time there's just the backdrop of crashing waves and your paddle cutting through the surf.Īs one might expect from a remote island nation, prices are high compared to nearby regions such as Southeast or East Asia. With a kayak and a stash of food and fresh water, it's hard to beat paddling between uninhabited islands or through hidden coves by day, and camping beneath the palm trees and starry skies by night. With dive centers running daily boats from Koror to the Rock Islands, it's typically possible to arrange a drop-off and pick-up somewhere on the islands. Rather than heading out for a day, aim to spend a few nights. Snorkeling and scuba diving among the several hundred limestone islands showcase the colorful marine life, as does a swim in Jellyfish Lake. The Rock Islands are the highlight of Palau for most visitors. The most iconic visitor experience in Palau is a quick swim in Jellyfish Lake with up to 7 million stingless Golden Jellyfish – one of several such small lakes across the Rock Islands in which a lack of natural predators and significant oceanic inflow has led to native jelly populations losing their natural defenses.Ī scuba dive in Palau can involve coral, many species of fish and sharks, and a Japanese airplane wreck from WWII © Westend61 / Getty Images My favorite thing to do in Palau Most travelers explore on snorkeling and scuba day trips using Koror as a base, often to the Rock Islands but sometimes just off the shores of Koror itself. More than 500 coral species, 17 thriving species of shark, and at least 1300 species of reef fish can be found here, along with 95% of Micronesian fish species. Nearly every point of interest that brings visitors to Palau is built on the nation's incredible diversity of flora and fauna, particularly under the Pacific Ocean waves. No first-timer's guide to Palau would be complete without a mention of the country's commitment to conservation: Palau declared its water the world's first shark sanctuary in 2009, and implemented a Palau Pledge in 2017 to commit visitors to the cause of conservation as well. Everywhere else, charter or group trips are your only regular options – though popular destinations like the Rock Islands see daily group departures from multiple local operators. Additionally, state-run ferries travel between Koror and the southern islands of Peleliu and Angaur. ![]() Palau's largest city at 11,000 residents (that's more than half of Palau's population of just over 21,000, mind you), Koror's handful of bus routes are the only public road transportation in the country. If time and money are no limit, hire a private boat charter to Kayangel Atoll or the remote Southwest Islands. With more time, opt for several days of diving (leaving a one-day surface interval before hopping back onto a flight) or take the public ferry down to Peleliu to explore the island's jungle-ruin WWII sites and a handful of idyllic empty beaches. Visit Koror's handful of museums upon arrival to get to know the culture and history, spend the next day on a boat trip to the Rock Islands, and finish up with a day hike to 217m-high Ngardmau Waterfall – the tallest in Micronesia. If you're visiting Palau as part of a longer island-hopping itinerary, two to three days is enough to hit the highlights. While the wet season from May to November presents more challenges for tourism, visiting is possible throughout the year as the country does not experience typhoons. With the ideal weather for water sports and visiting the country's many islands, this is of course also the peak tourism season and so prices are higher – particularly during the New Year holidays (both Western and Chinese). Palau's best season is the dry period from December to April. Given that only ninety thousand tourists visited the country in 2019 – and in the years since considerably less – this is the kind of country to live out your scuba diving dreams or Robinson Crusoe fantasies on uninhabited tropical beaches.įrom unique marine life encounters to towering waterfalls and WWII ruins there's plenty here to pique the interest of visitors and, outside of the handful of beach resorts that draw large numbers of Chinese visitors on national holidays, you'll have much of the country all to yourself to explore. A string of 340 coral and volcanic islands spread against the deep blue waters of the western Pacific, Palau is a picture postcard of paradise.
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