Highlights
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon
A UNESCO World Heritage area of hundreds of limestone islands covered in forest and undercut by the sea, scattered across turquoise lagoons. Day boat trips from Koror combine snorkelling, kayaking, beaches and lunch on a sandbar.
Blue Corner and German Channel
Palau's most famous dive sites. Blue Corner is a reef wall swept by currents where sharks, barracuda and turtles gather; German Channel, a channel cut through the reef, is known for manta rays.
Jellyfish Lake
A marine lake on Eil Malk island where millions of golden jellyfish with a very mild sting have lived in isolation. Numbers fall and recover with the weather, and the lake has been closed at times, so check whether it is open before you go.
Milky Way
A sheltered cove in the Rock Islands whose floor is covered in pale limestone mud. Boat crews scoop it up so visitors can coat themselves in it before swimming in the milky-blue water.
Peleliu
The site of one of the hardest-fought battles of the Second World War in the Pacific, in 1944. Tanks, guns, bunkers and memorials remain in the jungle, and a small museum tells the story.
Babeldaob
Palau's largest island, home to the capital Ngerulmud, rivers, Ngardmau waterfall, traditional bai meeting houses with painted gables and the mysterious stone monoliths of Badrulchau.
Koror
The largest town and the base for most visitors, with dive shops, the Belau National Museum and the Etpison Museum, which introduce Palauan history, stone money and storyboard carving.
Interesting facts about Palau
- Palau created the world's first national shark sanctuary in 2009, banning commercial shark fishing in its waters.
- Visitors receive the Palau Pledge, an environmental promise stamped in their passport, which they sign on arrival.
- Palau moved its capital from Koror to Ngerulmud on Babeldaob in 2006.
- Palau has a Compact of Free Association with the United States and uses the US dollar as its currency.
- Palauan and English are official nationally, and Japanese has official status in the state of Angaur, a legacy of the Japanese period before the Second World War.
Best time to visit
Palau is warm all year, with temperatures that barely change. The drier months, roughly November or December to April, bring calmer seas and are the most popular for diving. From around June to October rain is heavier and typhoons can pass to the north, though Palau lies near the southern edge of the typhoon belt and is rarely hit directly. Diving is possible year-round, but sea conditions decide which sites boats can reach.
Practical information
| Capital | Ngerulmud |
|---|---|
| Currency | US dollar (USD) |
| Languages | Palauan, English |
| Plugs | Type A, B |
| Voltage | 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not traditional, but tipping dive crews and boat guides, and around 10% in restaurants, has become usual in the tourism sector. |
Getting around
Koror is connected to Babeldaob and the airport by bridge, and a paved road loops around Babeldaob. There is no public transport to speak of: visitors use taxis, hotel shuttles or rental cars. Many cars are imported from Japan with right-hand drive, even though traffic keeps to the right, so take extra care when overtaking. The Rock Islands, Peleliu and Angaur are reached by boat, usually as part of a tour or dive trip. A Rock Islands permit is required for most boat trips and is usually arranged by the operator.
Staying connected in Palau
Palau is connected to the outside world by an undersea cable, and mobile data works in Koror, around the airport and in much of Babeldaob. Coverage is weak or absent across the Rock Islands, on the outer islands and on many dive sites, so expect to be offline on boat days. Wi-Fi is offered by most hotels and some cafés, but speeds can be modest. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so you can reach your dive shop and hotel straight away.
See Palau eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Palau
- Google Maps: Download Koror and Babeldaob offline, as signal is patchy outside town.
- Windy: Wind, wave and rain forecasts that help decide which days suit boat trips and diving.
- WhatsApp: How many dive shops, tour operators and guesthouses communicate with guests.