Jellyfish Lake in Palau

Did you know there are several jellyfish lakes in Palau? See our tips on how to swim with the jellyfish even if you were told it was not longer possible.

Palau scenic flight

How to see the Rock Islands from above.

Read our tips on how to organize scenic flights over the Rock Islands, and where to find scheduled flights to Peleliu and Angaur islands.

What to see and do in Palau

The best places to see in Palau - top 10 destinations in Palau that shouldn't be left out of your travel itinerary.

How to plan a trip to Palau

What to see and do in Palau in 8 days? How to plan a perfect trip? Here's our itinerary, check out how we did it and get inspired.

Palau is a little country located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is inhabited by only 18 thousand people but somehow manages to host about 50 thousand tourists each year. The visitors outnumber the locals, and yet Palau is listed as one of the least visited countries in the world. However, the flow of tourists grows systematically and along grows the consideration about their influence over the Palauan environment, the country's main treasure. Perhaps to keep the hordes of tourists at bay, the Palauan authorities regularly increase the fees the visitors are obligated to pay. It makes Palau also one of the most expensive destinations in the world. To give some examples: you'll be expected to pay 50 USD in total for the departure tax, 50 USD for the Rock Islands use permit in Koror (valid for 10 days), around 30 USD for some other permits if you visit other states...Yes, Palau is costly but what you'll experience here is priceless.

Palau was my dream destination ever since Chris told me about Jellyfish Lake - a marine lake almost separated from the ocean, where some species of the jellyfish evolved to become stingless. Every year the lake allures visitors, as it is possible to swim with the jellyfish.

Or it used to be. When we arrived in Palau we learned that it was no longer an option - during the previous months, Palau experienced some horrible drought that somehow afflicted the jellyfish, reducing their number almost to zero. The environment authorities hope to rebuild their population, but in the meantime, the tourists are prohibited from swimming in the lake. But what we accidentally learned during our trip to the Rock Islands was that in Palau there are more marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish and that at least one is open to tourists.

But Palau is so much more than the jellyfish lakes. It offers some of the finest coral reefs in the world, where among other species you'll find the giant clams, Tridacna gigas, growing to the weight of 200 kilograms. Here you can kayak among beautiful Rock Islands, inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage. Moreover, in Palau, you'll find the traces of the mysterious civilizations: the stone heads (some compare Palau to Easter Island) and other anthropomorphic figures, ancient terraces, giants stone money discs... We confirm: yes, in Palau you'll have it all!

PALAU: WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Belau National Museum (our tips)

Like to know more about places you visit? Don't skip Belau National Museum - it will teach you everything about Palauan history and culture. Plus you'll get to see the beautiful traditional bai.