Palau in 5 Days — Rock Islands, Diving & Babeldaob

Activities

1. 08:00 Depart Koror by tour boat 1h

   Boat tours leave from Koror in the morning. Your operator handles the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon permit (around $50 per person, valid ~10 days). Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard, water shoes and a dry bag.

   Cost: Rock Islands permit ~$50 p.p. (often arranged by operator) TIP: Confirm in advance whether the tour price includes the permit, lunch and water. Reef-safe (mineral) sunscreen only — chemical sunscreens are banned and can be confiscated. Boat days start early and can be rough; bring motion-sickness tablets if you are prone.
2. 09:30 Rock Islands lagoon cruise 1h30

   Cruise the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands — hundreds of green mushroom-shaped limestone islets rising from turquoise water, one of the Pacific's most photographed seascapes. The boat threads between islands toward the day's stops.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Keep your camera in a dry bag. This is the scenic heart of the trip; conditions are best on calmer, drier-season days. The islands are protected and uninhabited — there are no shops, so carry everything you need.
3. 11:00 Milky Way — white-clay lagoon 1h

   A sheltered lagoon with a bed of silky white clay. Visitors scoop the clay and smear it on as a popular natural-spa ritual before rinsing off in the turquoise water — a signature Palau photo stop.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Fun and harmless, but it is folklore rather than proven skincare — enjoy it for the experience and the photos. The clay rinses off easily. Watch your footing on the boat ladder.
4. 12:30 Long Beach + picnic lunch 1h30

   Stop at Long Beach (a sandbar that emerges at lower tide) or a similar island beach for lunch — typically a packed meal or simple barbecue provided by the operator. Time to swim and relax.

   Cost: Lunch usually included TIP: The exposed sandbar depends on the tide, so the stop varies by day. There are no facilities — use the boat's. Reapply reef-safe sunscreen; the midday sun is intense.
5. 14:00 Snorkeling stops (and Jellyfish Lake if open) 2h

   Snorkel coral gardens such as a clam-rich shallow or a drop-off reef. If Jellyfish Lake is open and the operator includes it, you hike over Eil Malk island and snorkel among the golden jellyfish (separate permit, around $100).

   Cost: Jellyfish Lake permit ~$100 p.p. if visited TIP: Ask first what people are actually seeing at Jellyfish Lake — golden jellyfish numbers crashed in 2017-2018 and were reported very low again in 2025, so the experience varies year to year. No diving in the lake (snorkel only). Snorkel within sight of the guide.
6. 16:30 Return to Koror + dinner 2h

   Cruise back to Koror in the late afternoon. Rinse off and head out for dinner — Kramer's Cafe for a casual waterfront meal, or Drop Off Bar & Grill on Malakal for fresh fish.

   Cost: Dinner $15-40 TIP: You will be sun-tired — keep dinner easy. Tip your boat crew (cash, around $10-20). If diving the next day, hydrate well and skip a heavy night.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:30 Dive shop check-in + boat departure 1h

   Meet at your Koror dive shop, check gear and certification, and board the dive boat. A standard outing is a two-tank boat dive visiting two of Palau's signature sites.

   Cost: Two-tank boat dive ~$160-260 TIP: Bring your certification card and logbook. Advanced certification is recommended for current-heavy sites; reef hooks are commonly used. Non-divers can book a snorkel boat instead and still see plenty.
2. 09:00 Dive 1 — Blue Corner 1h

   Palau's most famous dive: a reef wall and plateau where current draws in grey reef sharks, schooling fish, Napoleon wrasse and more. Divers hook into the reef and watch the action drift past.

   Cost: Included in dive package TIP: Strong current is the whole point here, which is why a reef hook and good buoyancy matter. Follow the guide's plan exactly. Conditions vary with tide and season.
3. 11:00 Surface interval + Dive 2 — German Channel or Ulong 2h

   After a surface interval, dive a second site — German Channel, known for manta rays at cleaning stations, or Ulong Channel, a classic drift dive along a coral-lined cut. Snorkelers visit shallow reefs nearby.

   Cost: Included in dive package TIP: Manta sightings at German Channel are seasonal and never guaranteed. Drift dives at Ulong require comfort with current. Respect no-fly-after-diving times before your departure flight.
4. 14:00 Return to Koror + rest 2h

   Boats return to Koror in the early-to-mid afternoon. Rinse gear, rest and rehydrate. A good time for a relaxed late lunch in town.

   Cost: Lunch $10-25 TIP: Diving is tiring; take it easy. Carp Restaurant or Mog Mog are convenient Japanese-Palauan options near the dive-shop area.
5. 18:30 Dinner in Koror 2h

   Dinner in town — The Taj for a change from seafood, or Elilai Seaside for a higher-end waterfront meal with sunset views.

   Cost: Dinner $15-60 TIP: Reserve ahead at Elilai for a sunset table. Tip dive guides and crew in cash. Keep alcohol light if diving again or flying soon.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:30 Dive shop departure (second dive day) 1h

   A second two-tank boat dive lets you go beyond the first day's sites — combinations like German Channel (mantas), Ulong Channel (drift), or wreck and corner dives, depending on conditions and your level.

   Cost: Two-tank boat dive ~$160-260 TIP: Tell your shop what you missed on Day 2 so they can vary the sites. Advanced certification widens your options. Conditions and manta sightings are never guaranteed.
2. 09:00 Dive 1 — German Channel or a wall site 1h

   Dive German Channel for manta-ray cleaning stations and big-fish action, or another wall such as a drop-off, depending on the day's plan.

   Cost: Included in dive package TIP: Mantas are seasonal and tide-dependent. Keep good buoyancy off the reef. Follow the guide's depth and time plan.
3. 11:00 Surface interval + Dive 2 — Ulong Channel or a wreck 2h

   After a surface interval, dive Ulong Channel (a coral-lined drift) or a WWII-era wreck site. Palau has both reef-current dives and historic wrecks.

   Cost: Included in dive package TIP: Drift comfort matters at Ulong. Wreck penetration requires the right training — stay outside if you are not qualified. Respect no-fly times before your flight day.
4. 14:00 Return + relaxed afternoon in Koror 2h

   Back in Koror by mid-afternoon. Rest, rinse gear and take it easy, or browse town and pick up any supplies for the Babeldaob land day tomorrow.

   Cost: Lunch $10-25 TIP: If renting a car for Babeldaob, arrange it this afternoon. Hydrate and rest after two dive days.
5. 18:30 Dinner in Koror 2h

   Dinner at Mog Mog for Japanese-Palauan seafood, or The Taj for a non-seafood option.

   Cost: Dinner $15-45 TIP: Tip dive crews in cash. Confirm tomorrow's car rental or Babeldaob tour pickup time.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Drive north onto Babeldaob 1h

   Babeldaob is Palau's largest island, reached by the bridge from Koror. A rental car or guided land tour lets you explore its jungle interior, villages and sights — a complete change from the boat days.

   Cost: Rental car ~$60-90/day or guided land tour TIP: Roads circle much of the island but services are sparse — fuel up and carry water and snacks. A guide adds context to the cultural sites. Allow a full day.
2. 10:00 Ngardmau Waterfall hike 2h30

   Palau's well-known waterfall, reached by a jungle trail (and, at times, a small monorail for part of the way). The pool at the base is good for a cooling swim.

   Cost: Entry/local fee applies TIP: Wear proper footwear — the trail can be muddy and slippery. Confirm whether the monorail is running, as it varies. There may be a local site fee; bring cash.
3. 13:00 Ngerulmud capitol + lunch 1h30

   Drive past Ngerulmud, Palau's purpose-built national capital, with its distinctive government buildings set in the Babeldaob hills. Stop for a packed lunch or at a simple local eatery if open.

   Cost: Lunch $5-15 (bring food as backup) TIP: Ngerulmud is administrative and quiet — it is a photo-and-curiosity stop, not a tourist town. Bring your own lunch as eateries are scarce on Babeldaob.
4. 15:00 Traditional bai + cultural sites 2h

   Visit a traditional bai (a Palauan men's meeting house with painted gables and storyboard art) and, depending on routing, sites associated with traditional stone-money exchange and old village remains.

   Cost: Local site fees may apply TIP: Treat cultural sites and any artifacts with respect — do not touch or remove anything. Ask permission before photographing people. A guide greatly improves the experience here.
5. 17:30 Drive back to Koror + dinner 2h30

   Return across the bridge to Koror for the evening. Dinner at Kramer's Cafe (casual) or Elilai Seaside (higher-end, sunset).

   Cost: Dinner $10-60 TIP: Return before dark — rural Babeldaob roads are unlit. Reserve Elilai ahead for a sunset table. Fuel up the rental before returning it.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Breakfast + Belau National Museum or Etpison Museum 2h

   After a slow breakfast, visit a Koror museum — the Belau National Museum or the privately run Etpison Museum — for Palauan culture, history and traditional storyboards. A gentle, low-key morning that respects no-fly-after-diving rules.

   Cost: Museum entry ~$5-10 TIP: Good for a non-water morning, especially if you dived the day before. Modest, walkable activities only before a flight. Confirm opening hours, which can be limited.
2. 11:30 Koror walk + souvenirs 1h30

   Stroll central Koror, pick up reef-safe sunscreen or local crafts, and grab a casual plate lunch or bento. Settle any cash needs (ATMs can be limited).

   Cost: Lunch $5-15 TIP: Buy reef-safe sunscreen here if you need more — it is required island-wide. Carry US-dollar cash for small shops. Keep it light if your stomach is sensitive before flying.
3. 14:00 Hotel checkout + transfer to ROR airport 1h

   Check out and transfer to Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) on Babeldaob, a short drive across the bridge from Koror. Many hotels arrange transfers; otherwise pre-book a van or taxi.

   Cost: Transfer included or ~$20-30 TIP: Flights often depart late at night — confirm your exact time and the no-fly interval after your last dive. Arrive with buffer; the airport is small but procedures take time.

Meal Recommendations