The story of Palau
Palau's islands were settled by seafaring peoples, probably from Island Southeast Asia, around three thousand years ago or more. Over the centuries Palauans built a complex society based on matrilineal clans, villages led by councils of chiefs and a traditional money system using rare beads and ceramic pieces. They carved stone terraces into the hills of Babeldaob and raised great meeting houses called bai, richly painted with story-boards depicting legends. One extraordinary tradition saw Yapese voyagers quarrying giant stone discs in Palau's Rock Islands and carrying them home by canoe to use as money.
European contact grew in the eighteenth century: in 1783 the British ship Antelope wrecked off Palau, and its crew were helped by the High Chief Ibedul of Koror. Spain claimed the islands in the nineteenth century, then sold them to Germany in 1899. Japan took control in 1914 and, under a League of Nations mandate, developed Koror into a busy administrative town. During the Second World War, US forces fought a fierce battle on Peleliu and Angaur in 1944; tanks, planes and bunkers still lie in the jungle and on the seabed.
Read the full history
After the war Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Palau adopted its own constitution in 1981 and, after several referendums, entered a Compact of Free Association with the United States, becoming independent in 1994. The capital moved from Koror to Ngerulmud on Babeldaob in 2006.
Today Palau is renowned as a global leader in ocean conservation, protecting most of its waters in a vast marine sanctuary. Visitors come for the extraordinary diving and the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, but also find a living culture in village bai, ancient stone monoliths at Badrulchau and wartime relics on Peleliu.
Timeline
- c. 1000 BCEarly settlers arrive in the Palau islands
- 1783British ship Antelope wrecks off Palau
- 1899Spain sells Palau to Germany
- 1914Japan takes control of Palau
- 1944Battle of Peleliu
- 1994Palau becomes independent on 1 October
- 2012Rock Islands Southern Lagoon listed by UNESCO
- 2015Palau National Marine Sanctuary established by law
Entry rules depend on your passport and change often.
Before you book, check the official rules for your passport:
- Visa policy of Palau (Wikipedia) ↗
- IATA Travel Centre – passport, visa & health rules ↗
- U.S. passport holders – State Department country pages ↗
- UK passport holders – GOV.UK travel advice ↗
The latest visa and entry news for Palau appears below as soon as publishers report it.
🛰️ The agents haven't spotted fresh news about Palau in the last few days – here is the travel guide, plus the latest from nearby countries.
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#Indonesia#Vietnam#Hotels & StaysThings to do in Palau
- Kayak the Rock IslandsPaddle among hundreds of mushroom-shaped limestone islets rising from turquoise lagoons.
- Swim in Jellyfish LakeFloat among golden jellyfish in a marine lake on Eil Malk, when it is open to visitors.
- Dive Blue CornerHook onto the reef at one of the world's top dive sites as sharks and schools of fish swirl by.
- Bathe in the Milky WaySmear yourself with white limestone mud in a sheltered lagoon in the Rock Islands.
- Explore PeleliuVisit war memorials, tanks and caves on the island where a fierce WWII battle took place.
- See Badrulchau stone monolithsWander among ancient carved basalt stones on the northern tip of Babeldaob.
- Visit a traditional baiAdmire the painted gables of a Palauan meeting house, such as the restored bai in Airai.
- Snorkel the German ChannelSpot manta rays and reef sharks in a channel cut through the reef in colonial times.
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Where to go in Palau
- KororMain town · culture & servicesPalau's commercial hub, with museums, restaurants and boat departures to the Rock Islands.
- Rock Islands Southern LagoonUNESCO site · islands & lagoonsA spectacular maze of limestone islands, beaches and marine lakes.
- 📍BabeldaobLargest island · nature & heritageHome to the capital, waterfalls, stone monoliths and traditional villages.
- PeleliuSouthern island · WWII historyA quiet island packed with war relics, memorials and beautiful beaches.
- Ngardmau WaterfallBabeldaob · waterfallPalau's tallest waterfall, reached by a jungle trail.
- 📍KayangelNorthern atoll · beachesA remote, peaceful atoll with white sand and clear lagoons.
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- Dive Blue Corner and German Channel
- Kayak through the Rock Islands
- Swim in the Milky Way lagoon
- Snorkel in Jellyfish Lake (when open)
- Fresh sashimi – Japanese-style raw fish
- Coconut crab – local delicacy
- Taro – staple root, often in desserts
- Tapioca – cooked in sweet coconut milk
Best time to visit Palau
Palau is hot and humid year-round, with highs around 30–31 °C. Rain can fall in any month, but the late part of the year is usually calmer for diving.
Typical daytime highs and rain in Koror (approximate averages).
- 1 OctoberIndependence DayPalau celebrates its nationhood with parades, cultural performances and sports.
- 9 JulyConstitution DayA national holiday marking Palau's constitution with community events.
- December–JanuaryChristmas and New YearChurches, families and villages celebrate with services, feasts and community gatherings.
How many days in Palau?
Day 1: Koror's museums and town. Day 2: Rock Islands kayak or boat tour with Milky Way and snorkelling stops. Day 3: dive Blue Corner or snorkel the German Channel. Day 4: Babeldaob waterfalls and stone monoliths.
Day 1-4: Rock Islands dives and kayaking. Day 5: Babeldaob road trip. Day 6-7: Peleliu WWII sites and beaches. Day 8: relax in Koror.
Backpacker budget: about $80–120 a day
- Palau is expensive; budget guesthouses in Koror are the best bet for accommodation.
- Join group tours to share boat costs to the Rock Islands.
- Rent a car or scooter to explore Babeldaob independently.
- Eat at local snack shops and markets rather than tourist restaurants.
- Budget for environmental fees and permits required for the Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake.
Stay safe
- Palau is very safe with low crime.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen; Palau bans certain harmful sunscreen ingredients.
- Check the condition of WWII sites carefully – unexploded ordnance may still be present in some areas.
- Dive with reputable operators and follow guides' instructions, especially in strong currents.
Money
- Palau uses the US dollar.
- Credit cards are accepted at larger hotels and dive shops; carry cash for small shops and outer islands.
- Tipping is not traditional but appreciated in tourism services.
Emergency: 911
Palau International Airport (ROR) on Babeldaob, near Koror, has flights connecting via Guam, Taiwan, Manila and other regional hubs.
✈️ Cheap flights to Palau: airports, flight times & best time to fly →
- Visitors to Palau sign the 'Palau Pledge', a promise to protect the environment, stamped into their passport.
- Palau created one of the world's first shark sanctuaries in 2009.
- Its Jellyfish Lake contains jellyfish that have evolved with very weak stings.
- Palau's flag shows a yellow moon on a blue background, representing the full moon's importance in traditional life.
- The Rock Islands include hundreds of limestone islands, many uninhabited.
Palau travel questions
Is Palau safe for tourists?
Palau is very safe, with low crime. The main safety considerations relate to diving and sun exposure.
When is the best time to visit Palau?
November to April offers calmer seas and the best diving. Rain can occur any time but is usually brief.
How many days do you need in Palau?
Four or five days covers the Rock Islands and a few dives. A week or more is ideal for divers and history buffs.
Do I need a visa for Palau?
It depends on your passport – many visitors receive entry on arrival, but rules vary. Check the official Palau government site before you travel.
Is Jellyfish Lake open?
Jellyfish Lake has been closed at times when jellyfish numbers dropped, so access varies. Check with local tour operators before you visit.
Approximate daily cost per person (stay, food, local transport).
Taxis and hotel shuttles serve Koror; rent a car to drive around Babeldaob. Boats are needed to reach the Rock Islands and Peleliu.
- Sign the Palau Pledge to protect nature on arrival
- Use reef-safe sunscreen only – some sunscreens are banned
- Ask before taking photos in villages
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