Skip to guide
Viamente

Palau travel guide

Palau is a marine landscape with rules that are part of the experience. Koror’s operators organise reef days, the Rock Islands combine sheltered water with protected habitats, and Babeldaob adds villages, terraces and a different road-based perspective. Peleliu’s Second World War sites need sensitive interpretation; Angaur is a quieter separate island. Ask what permits and environmental fees are included, follow current sunscreen and wildlife rules, and never assume a famous marine site is open simply because it appears on an old itinerary.

Free to start · no payment details
Map of Palau showing Koror, Rock Islands, Babeldaob, Peleliu, Angaur, Malakal & Ngerekebesang
6 local guides · Google Maps · select the map to see them

Quick facts about Palau

Best time:
January–April is often useful; dive and boat conditions are site-specific
Places to visit:
6 worked-out local guides
Visa:
Check passport-specific entry and transit rules before booking.
Currency:
US dollar ($ / USD)
Start in:
Koror
Trip length:
8–14 days
Language:
Palauan and English are official; some islands also have their own official languages.
Time zone:
UTC+9 year-round
Explore Palau with Viamente

Who it's for

Is Palau right for your trip?

Every country is somebody's favourite. The honest question is whether it is yours, and for this trip.

This is your trip if…

  • You want marine or island culture with local operators.
  • You can stay several nights per base and absorb changed flights or boats.

Think twice if…

  • You need daily connections and low-cost spontaneous island-hopping.
  • You expect every beach, reef or village to be open without local permission.

Best time to visit

When is the best time to visit Palau?

January–April is often useful; dive and boat conditions are site-specific. Palau is warm and rainy year-round. A relative drier window often falls in the early months, but wind, swell and visibility vary by dive site and coast. Keep non-marine alternatives and a return buffer.

  1. Drier window

    January–April

    Best

    Often useful for marine activities, with conditions still checked daily.

  2. Transition

    May–June

    Good

    Showers increase and boat plans need flexibility.

  3. Wetter months

    July–October

    Mixed

    Rain and wind can change exposed marine itineraries.

  4. Late year

    November–December

    Good

    Conditions vary; keep the final return flexible.

Climate · monthly normals

KororDaily high – low, °CPrecipitation, mm
0°10°20°30°40°29°27°0200400375 mmJFMAMJJASONDJanuary: 29° / 27° · 215 mmFebruary: 28° / 27° · 195 mmMarch: 28° / 27° · 185 mmApril: 29° / 28° · 175 mmMay: 29° / 28° · 280 mmJune: 29° / 28° · 330 mmJuly: 28° / 27° · 375 mmAugust: 28° / 27° · 305 mmSeptember: 28° / 27° · 285 mmOctober: 29° / 28° · 235 mmNovember: 29° / 28° · 240 mmDecember: 29° / 28° · 245 mm

Rounded NASA POWER 2001–2020 daily model averages near Koror. Temperatures are mean daily highs/lows; rainfall is the mean monthly total. A coarse grid can smooth coastal and mountain differences; this is not a forecast.

Festivals and events

What is worth planning around?

Dates a plan should either aim for or steer clear of. Both are useful; the second saves more money.

  1. 1 October

    Independence Day

    Palau

    National events provide cultural context and can affect opening.

  2. Dates vary

    Local cultural programmes

    Koror and villages

    Attend publicly offered performances or workshops through local hosts.

Where to go

Where should you go in Palau?

The places that earn their nights, most important first, with how long each deserves. Nobody needs all of them on one trip.

City and local guides

6 worked-out stops
Map of Palau showing Koror, Rock Islands, Babeldaob, Peleliu, Angaur, Malakal & Ngerekebesang
6 local guides · Google Maps

Map numbers match the local guide cards.

  1. Koror

    Micronesia

    01
    city2–4 days

    Koror is the useful base for permits, museums and marine operators. Leave flexible days rather than booking every boat outing against a fixed arrival schedule.

    Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast

    Explore Koror
  2. Rock Islands

    Micronesia

    02
    travel base3–5 days

    The Rock Islands are best explored through responsible licensed operators. Site availability, marine permits and daily conditions matter more than an old highlight list.

    Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast

    Explore Rock Islands
  3. Babeldaob

    Micronesia

    03
    travel base2–3 days

    The largest island adds cultural sites, forests and village landscapes. Ask about local permissions before leaving the main road.

    Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast

    Explore Babeldaob
  4. Peleliu

    Micronesia

    04
    travel base2–3 days

    Peleliu needs sensitive war-history interpretation and a slower look at present-day village life. Stay with authorised routes around battlefield remains.

    Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast

    Explore Peleliu
  5. Angaur

    Micronesia

    05
    travel base2–3 days

    Angaur is a limited-service island, best visited with a confirmed host and transport. Its history and coast reward a quiet pace rather than a long attraction list.

    Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast

    Explore Angaur
  6. Malakal & Ngerekebesang

    Micronesia

    06
    travel base2–4 days

    These Koror-area islands work as convenient accommodation and marine-departure bases. Choose the stay by operator pickup and actual shore access.

    Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast

    Explore Malakal & Ngerekebesang

Things to do

What should you do in Palau?

Not a bucket list — the handful of things that make this country this country, with the timing catch that stops people doing them well.

  1. 01

    Use Koror as a practical base

    Koror

    Koror is the useful base for permits, museums and marine operators. Leave flexible days rather than booking every boat outing against a fixed arrival schedule.

  2. 02

    Explore the Rock Islands responsibly

    Rock Islands

    The Rock Islands are best explored through responsible licensed operators. Site availability, marine permits and daily conditions matter more than an old highlight list.

  3. 03

    Drive Babeldaob with context

    Babeldaob

    The largest island adds cultural sites, forests and village landscapes. Ask about local permissions before leaving the main road.

  4. 04

    Visit Peleliu’s memorial landscape

    Peleliu

    Peleliu needs sensitive war-history interpretation and a slower look at present-day village life. Stay with authorised routes around battlefield remains.

How to get around

How do you get around Palau?

Base in Koror for licensed marine activities, use a separate road day on Babeldaob and arrange Peleliu or Angaur as their own island stays. Conditions and permits determine access.

Licensed marine operators

Confirm permits, safety equipment and site availability before booking reef days.

Babeldaob road day

Use a rental car or driver and respect village and site access rules.

Outer-island connections

Peleliu and Angaur transport needs current confirmation and a return buffer.

Travel tips

What should you know before you go?

The things locals assume you know. Most travellers learn them by getting one wrong on day two.

Conservation commitments
Follow the Palau Pledge, current protected-area rules and restrictions on reef-harmful products.
Customary access
Village and marine permissions matter even where a place looks unoccupied.
War history with care
Peleliu is a memorial landscape; do not enter tunnels or remove artefacts.

Travel basics

Visa, money, SIM cards and more

The boring section, which is why it is the one people skip and then regret at the airport.

visa

Check entry before buying flights

Check the destination’s own entry rules for your passport, any arrival form, onward ticket and required permits. A US-dollar economy or US-linked flight route does not make US immigration permission sufficient.

money

US dollar and payments

US dollars are used, but cards and ATMs are not a substitute for suitable cash on smaller islands. Confirm payments, fees and meal arrangements with each stay.

connectivity

Coverage and offline planning

Download permits, tickets, maps and contacts before leaving the main town. Mobile data and Wi-Fi can be slow, expensive or unavailable on outer-island routes.

plugs

Type A/B sockets

Typically 110–120 V, 60 Hz; confirm the supply and bring the appropriate adapter.

safety

Marine conditions and protected sites

Use qualified dive and boat operators, follow current conservation rules and never enter wartime tunnels or handle unexploded objects.

health

Remote-island preparation

Arrange route-specific health advice, carry medication and use mosquito and sun protection. Insurance should cover evacuation and any planned diving or remote boat activity.

Trip costs

How much does a trip to Palau cost?

A mid-range trip usually needs about €140–€300 per person per day, before long-haul flights. Permits, environmental fees and boat or dive packages are major costs. Compare complete inclusions and confirm current fees rather than relying on an old room-and-meal estimate.

Simple

€€85–140

per person / day

Stay
Simple guesthouse or small apartment
Food
Markets, bakeries and simple local meals
Transport
Shared transport where available

Check that the low-cost route actually operates; an expensive transfer can outweigh a cheap room.

Mid-range

€€140–300

per person / day

Stay
Comfortable independent hotel or lodge
Food
Local lunches and a sit-down dinner
Transport
A mix of local transport and arranged transfers

Planning allowance per person sharing a room, excluding international flights.

Comfortable

€€300–510+

per person / day

Stay
Boutique hotel, private lodge or best-located room
Food
Destination restaurants and hosted meals
Transport
Private driver, guiding or boat charter

Specialist activities, domestic flights and private charters may add substantially more.

Sample itineraries

Starting points, not scripts

Each of these is a real request you could hand to Menta as written. Change the people, the month and the pace; the structure will hold.

Reefs and the main islands

9 days
  1. Koror
  2. Rock Islands
  3. Babeldaob
  4. Malakal & Ngerekebesang

Use a single base, flexible marine days and one village-and-heritage road day.

Free to start · no payment details

A longer island chapter

13 days
  1. Koror
  2. Rock Islands
  3. Peleliu
  4. Angaur

Add outer islands only with confirmed transport and a safe return margin.

Free to start · no payment details

Common questions

Quick answers about travel in Palau

Short answers to the questions people ask before they book. Use the full guide for the detail and trade-offs.

When is the best time to visit Palau?
January–April is often useful; dive and boat conditions are site-specific. Palau is warm and rainy year-round. A relative drier window often falls in the early months, but wind, swell and visibility vary by dive site and coast. Keep non-marine alternatives and a return buffer.
How much does a trip to Palau cost?
Plan about €140–€300 per person per day for a mid-range trip, before long-haul flights. Permits, environmental fees and boat or dive packages are major costs. Compare complete inclusions and confirm current fees rather than relying on an old room-and-meal estimate.
How do you get around Palau?
Base in Koror for licensed marine activities, use a separate road day on Babeldaob and arrange Peleliu or Angaur as their own island stays. Conditions and permits determine access.

More destinations

Where else?

Palau is a good trip. Make it your trip.

Everything on this page is context Menta already has. Add the people going, the dates and what you actually care about, and the plan starts smarter than a blank chat.

Unlimited journeys free. No payment details. Help before and during travel.

Start planning Palau

Guide last reviewed 2026-10. Check visa rules against your own passport before you book.