Top 10 Things to Do in Palau, Ranked by a Frequent Visitor
Palau has a way of making you feel like you discovered something that should not be this easy to reach. I landed on Koror on my first trip with a list of five things, and by the end of that week I had a list of twenty. On the trips that followed I kept coming back to the same handful of experiences again and again, because they are the ones that genuinely stay with you. Some people come for the diving, some for the quiet beaches, and some just for the chance to float in a lagoon that sounds too strange to be real. Whatever draws you in, the joy is that the island delivers on almost all of it. Here are the ten that I would never skip, in the order I would chase them, and the small practical notes that made each one better for me.
1. Float in Jellyfish Lake
There is no snorkel like it anywhere on earth. You swim out to the middle of a saltwater lagoon where millions of golden jellyfish pulse along with the sun, and because they no longer need to sting to survive, you can drift right beside them completely unharmed. It felt otherworldly the first time and it felt just as strange the fifth. Book the early slot to beat the boat lines and have the water mostly to yourself.
2. Island hop the Rock Islands
This UNESCO listed lagoon is the centerpiece of Palau. Hundreds of mushroom shaped limestone islands rise out of turquoise water, hiding secret lagoons and tiny white beaches between them. A full day boat tour lets you drop in for snorkeling, stop for a beach picnic, and just sit in the quiet between islands. Even the ride itself is a highlight.
3. Dive or snorkel Blue Corner
This is the dive site people fly across the world for. A clean current sweeps you along a reef wall where gray reef sharks, tunas, and Napoleon wrasse crowd a cleaning station so dense that the water seems to shimmer. Divers who are certified should absolutely do it, and even snorkelers can catch action near the surface on calmer days.
4. Kayak the rock islands
The slow pace changes everything. Paddling through the narrow channels between the limestone islands lets you notice the tiny caves, the stingrays resting in the shallows, and the birds scattering as you pass. A guided kayak tour feels a world apart from the group boats, and the silence between strokes is the part I still think about.
5. Catch a Rock Island sunset cruise
Every island trip needs one lazy sunset, and Palau delivers. A late afternoon cruise slides you past silhouetted islands while the sky turns a shade of orange I have stopped trying to describe. It is calm, easy, and worth every dollar of what ended up being my favorite hour of the whole week.
6. Walk the markets of Koror
To understand a place you need to walk its streets, and Koror delivers at the Palau PX and the surrounding markets. I found local crafts, betel nut sellers, and the kind of friendly chaos that makes an island capital feel alive. It is a small detour with an outsized dose of local character, and the vendors will happily talk your ear off over a cold drink if you stick around.
7. Snorkel the German Channel
Named for a channel the Germans blasted through the reef, this spot is famous for manta rays gliding over their cleaning stations. The visibility is often excellent, the water stays calm, and if you are lucky you get to hover while a manta the size of a dining table circles underneath you. I stood on that boat grinning like a kid for an hour straight.
8. Explore the quiet side of Babeldaob
Palau is mostly about the water, but the island of Babeldaob holds its own quiet rewards. Dense jungle, hidden waterfalls, and the striking capitol building in Ngerulmud give you a land based day that resets the pace. I appreciated it most on trips when the salt had gotten into everything.
9. Swim in a hidden Rock Island pool
Some of the hidden lagoons open into shallow, sandy floored pools so clear you can count every grain. My guide called it nature’s version of a luxury pool, and honestly that undersold it. Warm, waist deep, and completely enclosed by limestone walls, it was the most relaxed hour I spent in Palau.
10. Spend an afternoon with a local family
The best kept secret in Palau is its hospitality. A village visit on Babeldaob introduced me to families who shared food, stories, and a perspective on life that no tour brochure could ever capture. It reminded me that the reefs are the draw, but the people are the reason I keep coming back.
How to fit it all in
The trick to enjoying Palau is resisting the urge to rush. Most tours are full day affairs that leave early and return tired, so plan on one major excursion a day and let the evenings float. A week gives you a comfortable sweep of this list, with a little room left for a repeat trip to your favorite lagoon.
