Peleliu: Palau's battlefield island

Why go

For anyone with an interest in history, or with family who served in the Pacific, Peleliu is unforgettable. The battle was one of the costliest of the war for its size, and the landscape still holds tanks, aircraft, bunkers and caves. Memorials from the United States, Japan and Palau stand side by side, and the island's quiet today makes the past feel very close.

Highlights

The **Peleliu WWII Memorial Museum**, set in an old Japanese building, displays weapons, uniforms, letters and photographs. **Orange Beach**, where the marines came ashore, is now a calm stretch of sand with memorial markers. Inland, **Bloody Nose Ridge**, the Umurbrogol ridges, was the centre of the fighting; a climb to the summit memorial gives a view over the whole island.

The **Thousand Man Cave** is a vast tunnel system dug into the limestone. The concrete **Japanese Army Command Post**, scarred by shells, stands in the jungle. The **Peleliu Peace Memorial Park** and the small **Peleliu Shrine** honour those who died. Near the **airfield**, rusting tanks and gun emplacements sit where they fell.

Diving and beaches

Peleliu's waters are among the most dramatic in Palau. The **Peleliu Wall** and **Peleliu Corner**, at the southern tip, have strong currents, sharks, big schools of fish and huge visibility, and are for experienced divers only. Snorkellers and swimmers will find quiet beaches with few people.

Getting there and around

Peleliu is about an hour by boat from Koror. Many dive operators combine Peleliu dives with a land tour, and some tour companies run dedicated history days. A state boat also runs on certain days. On the island, a guided tour by van is the easiest way to see the sites; cycling the quiet roads is a pleasant alternative if you stay over.

Staying overnight

Most visitors come for the day, but staying a night lets you see the island at dawn and dusk when it is at its most peaceful. Accommodation is simple and limited, so book ahead and confirm it is operating.

Safety and respect

Unexploded ordnance from the war is still found on Peleliu. Stay on marked paths, do not enter caves without a guide and never touch or take any wartime object. Many sites hold remains of soldiers, so behave as you would at a cemetery. Peleliu State charges a visitor fee, usually paid through your tour. Bring water, a hat and insect repellent, because the island is hot and the jungle humid.

A sample day

Boats leave Koror in the morning and cross the lagoon past the Rock Islands. Begin at the museum to understand the battle, then visit the landing beaches, the airfield and the command post. Climb Bloody Nose Ridge before the afternoon heat, explore the Thousand Man Cave with your guide and end at the peace memorials. Many tours stop for a swim on a quiet beach before the ride home. Divers often combine two Peleliu dives with a shorter land tour. Families with relatives who fought here can ask tour operators about specific units and memorials in advance so that the day can include them.