Best Time to Visit
November to April (dry season, calmest seas, best diving visibility 30+ meters)
Language
Palauan and English (both official)
Currency
United States Dollar (USD) — Palau uses USD as its official currency
Time Zone
PWT (UTC+9)
Airport
Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR), on Babeldaob island, 8 km from Koror
Population
18,000 (total country); Koror 11,000 (main town)
Climate
Tropical, warm year-round (27-31°C), rainy season May-Oct (brief heavy showers, diving still excellent)
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1) — virtually zero crime
Marine Protection
80% of Palau's waters are a National Marine Sanctuary — the world's sixth-largest fully protected marine area
A marine lake on Eil Malk island containing millions of golden jellyfish that have lost their sting through evolution. Snorkel among pulsing, harmless jellyfish in warm, stratified water. Permit: $100 (Rock Islands/Jellyfish Lake permit, valid 10 days). Closed periodically for conservation — check status before booking. Allow a half day with boat travel.
Consistently rated one of the top 5 dive sites in the world. A submerged reef corner where currents attract sharks (grey reef, whitetip), Napoleon wrasse, barracuda schools, and eagle rays. Divers hook into the reef to watch the action. Advanced Open Water recommended. Dive trips: $120-180 for two-tank dives.
445 mushroom-shaped limestone islands covered in jungle, surrounded by turquoise lagoons. Kayak through hidden marine lakes, snorkel pristine reefs, and picnic on white sand beaches. Full-day Rock Islands tours: $100-150 including lunch, snorkeling, and Jellyfish Lake. A UNESCO Mixed Heritage Site since 2012.
A sheltered cove where white limestone mud on the seabed creates an eerie milky-turquoise color. Swimmers slather the mineral-rich mud on their skin as a natural spa treatment — it's said to be rejuvenating. Included on most Rock Islands day tours. The water is chest-deep and warm. Allow 30-45 minutes.
Palau saw fierce fighting in 1944. Dive or snorkel Japanese WWII shipwrecks, visit Peleliu Island's battlefield (caves, bunkers, rusting tanks), and see Zero fighters in the jungle. The Iro Maru shipwreck dive (30m depth) is covered in coral and teeming with fish. Peleliu day trip: $80-120 by boat from Koror.
A man-made channel cut by German colonizers in 1900, now a famous manta ray cleaning station. Divers kneel on the sandy bottom at 10-15 meters and watch mantas glide overhead to be cleaned by small wrasse. Best from Dec-Apr. Nearly guaranteed sighting. Included on most dive day trips from Koror.
Palau's largest waterfall on Babeldaob island — a 30-meter cascade in dense jungle. The hike from the parking area takes 45-60 minutes through a Compact of Free Association-funded boardwalk and muddy trail. Entry: $5. Bring water shoes (trail is muddy). Swim at the base. 45 minutes from Koror by car.
Fly into Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) on Babeldaob island. Transfer to Koror — the main town.
Arrive and sign the Palau Pledge(30 minutes)
At immigration, sign the pledge stamped into your passport — a promise to protect the environment. Pay the $100 Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee (includes Rock Islands/Jellyfish Lake permit, valid 10 days)
Transfer to Koror hotel(15 minutes)
ROR is 8 km from Koror. Taxi $15-20 (agree on price beforehand). Hotels $100-300/night
Koror town walk(1 hour)
Small but functional town. Browse the shops on Main Street, pick up reef-safe sunscreen (oxybenzone banned in Palau)
Dinner at Drop Off Bar & Grill(1.5 hours)
Waterfront restaurant popular with divers. Fresh fish, burgers, cold beer. $15-30. The sunset over the Rock Islands from here is a preview of what's coming
Full-day tour of the UNESCO Rock Islands and the surreal Jellyfish Lake.
Rock Islands day tour(8 hours)
Full-day boat tour. $100-150 including lunch, snorkeling, and Jellyfish Lake. Operators: Sam's Tours, Impac Tours. Departs ~9 AM from Koror marinas
Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau)(1.5 hours)
Hike 10 minutes to the lake, then snorkel among millions of golden jellyfish that have lost their sting. The pulsing golden clouds surrounding you are otherworldly. Check if lake is open (closed periodically for conservation). Permit included in PPEF
Milky Way Lagoon(45 minutes)
Sheltered cove with white limestone mud creating milky-turquoise water. Slather the mineral-rich mud on your skin. Chest-deep and warm
Snorkeling at coral garden(1 hour)
Pristine coral reefs between the Rock Islands. Fish density is extraordinary — clownfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and Napoleon wrasse
Motu lunch(1 hour)
Included in tour. Fresh fish and local food on a white sand beach
Two of the world's top dive sites — sharks, mantas, and wall diving.
Two-tank dive: Blue Corner + German Channel(6 hours)
$120-180 for two dives. Koror State permit $50 (separate from PPEF). Operators: Sam's Tours, Fish 'n Fins, Neco Marine. Advanced Open Water recommended for Blue Corner (strong currents)
Blue Corner wall dive(1 hour)
Hook into the reef and watch the show — grey reef sharks, whitetip sharks, Napoleon wrasse, barracuda schools, and eagle rays cruise past in the current. Consistently rated top 5 dive site globally
German Channel manta ray station(1 hour)
Kneel on the sandy bottom at 10-15m and watch manta rays glide overhead for cleaning. Nearly guaranteed sighting Dec-Apr. The mantas have 3-4 meter wingspans
Dinner at Elilai Restaurant(1.5 hours)
Palau's finest restaurant overlooking the Rock Islands. Fresh sashimi, grilled fish, and Palauan specialties. $25-45 per person. Reservations recommended
Day trip to Peleliu — site of one of WWII's bloodiest Pacific battles.
Boat to Peleliu Island(1 hour)
Day trip $80-120 from Koror by boat. Or stay overnight. The island is quiet and haunting
Peleliu battlefield tour(3 hours)
A guide is essential. Visit Japanese caves, American bunkers, rusting tanks, and the airstrip. The Bloody Nose Ridge battle in 1944 was one of the war's most costly. An emotional and sobering experience
Snorkeling at Peleliu reef(1.5 hours)
Peleliu has excellent fringing reef. Orange Beach has shore-entry snorkeling over healthy coral
Lunch on Peleliu(1 hour)
Simple restaurant on the island. $10-15
Explore Palau's largest island — waterfall, stone monoliths, and empty beaches.
Drive to Ngardmau Waterfall(45 minutes)
Babeldaob is connected to Koror by bridge. Rent a car $50-70/day. Palau's largest waterfall
Ngardmau Waterfall hike(2 hours)
45-60 minute hike through jungle on boardwalk and muddy trail. Entry $5. 30-meter cascade. Swim at the base. Bring water shoes
Badrulchau Stone Monoliths(1 hour)
37 basalt stone pillars arranged in rows. Origin unknown — predating oral history. Free. In the jungle near Ngarchelong. Atmospheric and mysterious
Dinner at Kramer's Café(1.5 hours)
Casual Koror restaurant. Sashimi, ramen, and local dishes. $12-20
A different perspective — kayak through hidden marine lakes and limestone arches.
Rock Islands kayaking tour(5 hours)
$80-120. Paddle through mushroom-shaped limestone islands, hidden lagoons, and marine lakes. Snorkel between kayak segments. More intimate than a boat tour
Hidden marine lake swim(1 hour)
Some Rock Islands contain landlocked marine lakes (different from Jellyfish Lake). Swim in warm, emerald water surrounded by towering limestone walls
Beach lunch on a Rock Island(1 hour)
Included in tour. Picnic on a white sand beach you share with nobody
Farewell dinner at Mongol(1.5 hours)
Korean BBQ popular with Palauans. Grill your own meat and seafood. $15-25. The local social scene
Final morning in Palau.
Morning snorkel from Koror dock(1 hour)
Some hotels have reef right off their dock. One last underwater look
Pick up souvenirs(45 minutes)
Storyboard carvings (traditional Palauan art), Derau basket weaving, or reef-safe sunscreen as a novelty gift
Airport transfer and departure(20 minutes)
ROR 8 km from Koror. Allow 2 hours before international flights
Citizens of most countries (US, EU, UK, Australia, etc.) receive a free 30-day visa on arrival (extendable to 90 days). US citizens can stay 1 year. Passport must be valid for 6+ months. You must show a return ticket. Flights from Manila (2 hours), Taipei (3.5 hours), Seoul (4.5 hours), and Guam (2 hours).
All visitors pay a $100 Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee (PPEF) on arrival, which includes the Rock Islands/Jellyfish Lake permit. A separate $50 Koror State permit covers diving sites like Blue Corner and German Channel. Budget $150 in permits alone. These fees fund marine conservation.
Palau is expensive — everything is imported. Hotel rooms: $100-300/night. A restaurant meal: $15-30. A full-day Rock Islands tour: $100-150. Two-tank dive: $120-180. Budget minimum $200-250/day. However, the marine life density is unmatched — you get extraordinary value for what you see underwater.
Almost everything happens from Koror — the main town connected by bridge to Babeldaob. Rent a car ($50-70/day) to explore Babeldaob's waterfalls and stone monoliths. For diving and Rock Islands, all tours depart from Koror's marinas. No public transport exists. Taxis are available but limited — agree on price beforehand.
At immigration, all visitors sign the Palau Pledge stamped into their passport — a promise to act responsibly toward the environment. This is taken seriously. Don't touch or stand on coral, don't chase marine life, don't use reef-harmful sunscreen (oxybenzone/octinoxate banned). Reef-safe sunscreen is sold at Koror shops.
Palau's best dive sites (Blue Corner, Blue Holes, Ulong Channel) have strong currents that create the nutrient flow attracting marine life. Current diving experience is recommended — this isn't a beginner destination. Always dive with a reputable operator (Sam's Tours, Fish 'n Fins, Neco Marine are well-established). Carry a surface marker buoy.
Travel GuidesBoth claim the richest marine life on Earth. Both are remote and expensive. One has stingless jellyfish; the other has the highest fish diversity ever recorded. Here's how to choose.
StoriesA day-by-day journal from one of the world's most remote archipelagos — where immigration stamps a pledge into your passport and the underwater world makes every previous ocean experience feel like a rehearsal.
Travel GuidesJellyfish that can't sting you, WWII wrecks covered in coral, and water so clear you can see 30 meters down — Palau is the marine experience that ruined every other ocean for me.
