A little more
Palau.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Palau: what to know before you go

Palau is a Pacific island nation of a few hundred islands in western Micronesia, best known for some of the world's finest diving and the green, mushroom-shaped Rock Islands. It is small, quiet and deeply committed to protecting its ocean. It suits divers, snorkellers and kayakers, and anyone happy with a slow island pace.

Where to go

• Rock Islands Southern Lagoon. A UNESCO World Heritage area of hundreds of limestone islands covered in forest and undercut by the sea, scattered across turquoise lagoons.
• Blue Corner and German Channel. Palau's most famous dive sites.
• Jellyfish Lake. A marine lake on Eil Malk island where millions of golden jellyfish with a very mild sting have lived in isolation.
• Milky Way. A sheltered cove in the Rock Islands whose floor is covered in pale limestone mud.

Best time to visit

Palau is warm all year, with temperatures that barely change. The drier months, roughly November or December to April, bring calmer seas and are the most popular for diving.

Staying online in Palau

Palau is connected to the outside world by an undersea cable, and mobile data works in Koror, around the airport and in much of Babeldaob. Coverage is weak or absent across the Rock Islands, on the outer islands and on many dive sites, so expect to be offline on boat days. Wi-Fi is offered by most hotels and some cafés, but speeds can be modest. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so you can reach your dive shop and hotel straight away.