Palau: Location Spotlight

Pack your goggles! This is one of the best places in the world to swim, snorkel, or dive - with underwater clarity and shoaling sea life that defy all expectations...

One of the best-kept secrets in the swimming world is this island country in Micronesia. Palau is well-loved for its offerings to those who travel for snorkelling and diving excursions. As we know, this usually means it's incredible for swimmers too. 

Palau's lagoons and reefs are world-famous, bustling with life and blessed by unshrouded depths of sunlit clarity. Visibility can reach as far down as 160 feet and at times you may feel as though you've entered an unwalled aquarium. At times, the geography here is otherworldly, like when you visit the Rock Islands - limestone islets shaped like overgrown mushrooms. Then there are coves, lagoons, and natural pools in many shapes, sizes, and an array of colours all irresistible to swimmers.

Here, at the heart of the Coral Triangle, we are blessed to find ourselves in a marine environment of unique biodiversity. There are over 700 species or coral and around 1,300 species of fish that live here. Then you have the larger animals, like sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks, grazing the coral gardens and seagrass meadows. In fact, Palau's government has created a sanctuary for marine life, which spans 80% of its blue-green ocean territory.

BOOK YOUR TRIP TO SWIM PALAU

Inland, we will make our way to Palau's Jellyfish Lake - don't let the name put you off, the water is filled with millions of golden jellyfish, but they are all harmless. You can simply dive in and swim this soup of tentacled invertebrates, unbothered by their stingers. 

There are no natural predators in the lake, so why would they need a sting?

Worried about the cold? Fear not, the sea temperature in Palau rises to a toasty 27–30C year-round. Beginners can also feel very comfortable swimming the sheltered lagoons, where the waters are more settled.

'Jellyfish Lake - don't let the name put you off, the water is filled with millions of golden jellyfish, but they are all harmless. You can simply dive in and swim this soup of tentacled invertebrates, unbothered by their stingers.'

Wildlife To Look For When You Swim Palau

It may be one of world’s smallest countries but what Palau lacks in land it makes up for under the surface of its salty surrounds. Among the dotted islets you will find patches of shallow Pacific waters serving as a playground for anyone with even a minor inclination to swim or snorkel. 

Rembrandt’s Cove and Einstein’s Gardens - known for multi-coloured brain corals - are two specific spots where we have plenty of goggled-time in the water. Throughout the trip, we will get to know Palau’s legendary seascape, scattered with shipwrecks and wonders unique to this part of the world. 

Here are some of the local species of marine life you might meet as we roam the Coral Triangle - one of our planet's most biodiverse ecosystems:

• Reef Fish: Get ready for a colourful variety of tropical reef fish, including angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and orange-and-white-striped clownfish (think Nemo!) 
• Corals and Invertebrates: As you explore the reefs, enjoy having time to spot all the different hard and soft corals, as well as sea fans, sponges, anemones, starfish, sea cucumbers, and even giant clams!
• Sharks and Rays: Palau's local waters were declared a 'shark sanctuary' and reef sharks flourish here, including blacktips, whitetips, and greys. There are hammerhead sharks too that patrol the depths and manta rays that fly like graceful alien spaceships through the dappled light. The manta rays arrive in greater numbers during mating season, from December to March.
• Sea Turtles: Green sea turtles are commonly sighted in Palau's waters, as well as endangered Hawksbill turtles that make a buffet of the sea grass.
• Large Marine Animals: Dolphins, whale sharks and pilot whales are all known to inhabit the deeper waters around the archipelago. There are even rare dugongs sometimes spotted in the more secluded interior lagoons.

'Throughout the trip, we will get to know Palau’s legendary seascape, scattered with shipwrecks and wonders unique to this part of the world.'

Our Itinerary

This safari in Micronesia takes us to swim the colourful waters of the western Pacific, exploring some of the 340 islands that make up the Republic of Palau. 

We've learned a little about the wildlife that make this region so famous, revealing why travellers call it the ‘underwater Serengeti'. Now, let's look at our planned itinerary for Palau, including visits to Jellyfish Lake and excursions to Peleliu and Einstein's Gardens.

During a typical trip, we will seek out some of the archipelago's lesser-known secrets. Together, we will marvel at the brain corals of Einstein’s Gardens, follow the shimmering ‘Milky Way’ and dive down among the reefs of world-class snorkelling sites, like Symphony Bay.

After our swims, we can relax at Palau Central Hotel in central Koror - just a 45-minute boat ride from Jellyfish Lake.

Here's how our itinerary unfolds:

• Arrival at the Palau Central Hotel (Day 1): You are met at the airport from your inbound flight and taken to your accommodation. After some time to relax, we will meet for a trip briefing where we will go through the plan for the upcoming week.

• Swim, snorkel and hike (Day 2): Our first day takes us to Ulebsechel Island, one of only 2 islands in the whole Rock Islands archipelago that features volcanic rock, thereby creating a unique mix of flora and fauna during our swim. After lunch, the afternoon is given over to discovering Nikko Bay which lies just south of Koror Island. The Bay is home to some of Palau’s finest and largest coral forests, protected from the elements by sheer limestone walls. 
• Swim the Milky Way (Day 3): A 40-minute boat ride will deliver us to Ngeruktabel Island. First of all, we will hike to an ancient village before heading into the water on the island’s south coast. We start from the stunning white sands of Ngeremdiu Beach. Our first swim stop is to visit the maritime wreck of a Japanese Zero aircraft which ended up here after a dogfight with the American military during the WWII campaign. From here we carry on round the island visiting 'Milky Way' Lagoon on the way. After lunch on the beach, we’ll snorkel the multi-coloured and abundant brain coral formations of the appropriately named Einstein’s Gardens.

• Giant Clams & Jellyfish lake (Day 4): Our journey south continues as we travel to the islands of Macharchar and Euidelchol. We have the option of swimming along either coast and will make the decision based on weather conditions at the time.  If we choose to swim at Euidelchol we will swim over Giant Clam Beach named after all the giant clams that are on the sea floor in this rich ecosystem. The afternoon is given over to swimming in the quite unique UNESCO World Heritage site of Jellyfish Lake, home to the golden jellyfish, which due to a lack of predators over the centuries is totally harmless.
• Ngardmau Waterfalls (Day 5): Today we ease up from the water exploration, but this doesn’t mean your adventure is on hold. There are plenty of opportunities to discover Palau by land. We will travel across the archipelagos largest island of Babeldaob and hike to the biggest waterfall in Palau, where we can bathe in the waters below it. The hike itself gives us the ability to take in a lot of the island's flora.
• Ngemelis Reef & German Channel (Day 6): Today, we travel our furthest way south as we visit the outer reef of Ngemelis which features some stunning drop off swimming. In the afternoon we swim along German Channel, what was initially a man-made marvel, but which features crystal clear waters often containing manta rays along with rich and varied marine life. Both swims will be unforgettable.

• Island hopping in the Ngeruktabel Islands (Day 7): We visit the islands to the west Ngeruktabel Island. These limestone outcrops have been weathered over the millennia leading to caves, sea arches and rocky outcrops dotting along this section of islands. The reefs here are a menagerie of corals, sponges and various marine invertebrates, many of which are unique to this area of the Pacific. It’s a wonderful way to finish off our swimming journey in these truly special islands.
• Rest & relaxation in Koror (Day 8): This day is for one for you to do with what you like. There are many excursions you can choose to do from hiking to diving. Or you may choose to chill out on one of the many beaches dotting the coastline.
• Departure (Day 9): After breakfast we transport you to the airport to catch your flight back home, bringing an end to this week of discovery of the Pacific nation of Palau.

"The reefs here are a menagerie of corals, sponges and various marine invertebrates, many of which are unique to this area of the Pacific..."

Ready to book your next adventure to Palau? Visit our trip page today and learn more about this incredible location...