Milky Way, Rock Islands, Photo: LuxTonnerre, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Palau
Palau, made simple: turquoise lagoons, limestone islands and some of the best diving on earth
Palau is a small Pacific nation of more than three hundred islands: the mushroom-shaped Rock Islands rising from a turquoise lagoon, Jellyfish Lake, the shark walls of Blue Corner, the stone monoliths and waterfalls of Babeldaob, the Second World War battlefields of Peleliu and the white atoll of Kayangel. It can feel far away and uncertain, with the Palau Pledge, environmental fees, permits and few flights. This guide takes the guesswork out so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, the Palau Pledge, seasons, flights and health, answered
- LandingThe airport, SIM cards, US dollars and your first evening in Koror, explained
- Your days in PalauBoat days, diving, culture and food, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, permit, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain environmental fees, Rock Islands permits, tours, cash, cards and tipping so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Palau should feel like calm, not worry. We answer the questions about entry, permits, boats, money and the sea before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Guam, Hawaii or the US mainland to see family, or finally swimming the Rock Islands for yourself? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your PalauDiving, snorkelling, history, culture or slow island days: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry, the Palau Pledge, permits and the right season, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for dive sites, cafés, museums, beaches and stays on every island.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to balance boat days, rest days and the trip to Peleliu or Kayangel.
Everything your Palau trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Koror, the Rock Islands, Babeldaob, Peleliu and Kayangel, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred dive sites, beaches, museums, cafés and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Koror and stays across the islands.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Palau trip
Koror, the Rock Islands and a day on Peleliu
Almost every trip is based in Koror, where the dive shops, hotels and restaurants are. From there, boats head out each morning into the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon for Jellyfish Lake, the Milky Way, sandbars, snorkel walls and the famous dives. Mix in a road day around Babeldaob for waterfalls, stone monoliths and the capitol, and a boat day to Peleliu for its battlefields. A week gives you the heart of Palau; ten days lets you add Kayangel and rest days.
- Swimming with golden jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake
- Sharks and turtles at Blue Corner
- The Badrulchau monoliths and Ngardmau Waterfall
- The 1944 battlefields of Peleliu
Start with the destinations
See how Koror, the lagoon and the outer islands fit together.
Palau destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Palau rewards a little preparation: flights booked early, a Rock Islands permit arranged through your tour, rest days between dives, a day free before flying home and reef-safe habits that honour the Palau Pledge. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic boat and road times
- The right season for calm seas and visibility
- Where to base yourself in Koror
Where to go in Palau
From the small capital of daily life, Koror, to the Rock Islands lagoon, the big island of Babeldaob, the battlefields of Peleliu and the remote atoll of Kayangel.
Koror State
Koror
Palau's busy little hub of hotels, dive shops, museums and harbour restaurants, gateway to the Rock Islands.
Read the guidePhoto: Mandrusian, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Koror State, Southern Lagoon
Rock Islands
Hundreds of forested limestone islands in a turquoise lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage site with world-class snorkelling and diving.
Read the guidePhoto: Luka Peternel, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Babeldaob, ten states
Babeldaob
Palau's largest island, home to the capital, waterfalls, ancient stone monoliths, traditional bai and quiet villages.
Read the guidePhoto: Mandrusian, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Peleliu State
Peleliu
A quiet southern island of memorials, caves and beaches, scene of one of the hardest battles of the Pacific War.
Read the guidePhoto: Doricono, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Kayangel State
Kayangel
Palau's northernmost atoll, a ring of white sand islands around a turquoise lagoon with one small village.
Read the guidePhoto: Luka Peternel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Palau safe to visit?
Palau is one of the safest places in the Pacific for visitors. The main risks are at sea: currents, sunburn and boat safety, plus road accidents and the odd petty theft. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
What is the capital of Palau?
Ngerulmud, in Melekeok State on the big island of Babeldaob, is the official capital. Koror, the largest town, is where most visitors stay.
Do I need a visa for Palau?
US citizens can visit under the Compact of Free Association, and many other nationalities receive a visitor permit on arrival, but the rules vary by passport. Check the Palau government's immigration information and your nearest Palau embassy before you book.
What is the Palau Pledge?
Every visitor signs a promise, stamped into the passport on arrival, to act in an ecologically and culturally responsible way. It means reef-safe sunscreen, no touching coral or wildlife and respect for local customs.
What money is used in Palau?
The US dollar. Cards work at hotels, dive shops and larger restaurants in Koror, but carry cash for small shops, taxis and the outer islands.
Can BlissPoint Travel book my trip?
We are a free travel guide, not a tour operator. Use our trip planner to shape your route, and our partner links to compare flights and stays.
Ready to find your Bliss in Palau?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.