Palau Reasons to Go | Dream by Luxury Escapes

The island nation of Palau, located in the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, could genuinely be one of travel’s best-kept secrets, in a world where there aren’t many left.

This cluster of more than 300 emerald-hued islands is an unsung paradise of Eden-like rainforest, volcanic mountains, coral reefs and atolls – all with some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world. And here’s the good news: it’s accessible via direct flights from Australia, making it surprisingly easy to get to.

Scroll on for everything you need to know about Palau.

1. It’s paradise personified

It’s little wonder why Palau was chosen as the visually delicious backdrop for the 2005 season of US Survivor: its islands are the epitome of untouched castaway beauty, with endless powdery white sands, impossibly clear waters, fairytale-like waterfalls and flourishing rainforest and mangroves. For those who favour the dream-like beauty of the Maldives, the French Polynesian islands and the Seychelles, Palau, which is even more blissfully untouched, should absolutely be an addition to your bucket list.

2. Its underwater world is magical

As spectacular beneath the ocean as it is above it, Palau is an underwater playground, with the bucket-list Blue Corner reef plateau considered one of the best dive sites in the world. Amid the flourishing, rainbow-coloured corals are drifting manta rays, sea turtles and 1,400 species (and counting) of tropical fish. You may also see a shark swim past; as the world’s first national shark sanctuary, the protected waters here are a haven for species including grey reef sharks and hammerheads. From snorkelling the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, to scuba-diving the cavernous depths of the Chandelier Cave, you’re guaranteed an otherworldly sight.

3. There’s accommodation for every travel style

For a relatively small destination, Palau offers a surprisingly diverse range of accommodation, from luxe overwater villas (at Palau Pacific Resort) to hotels and jungle-clad stays (Palau Plantation Resort). A favourite is Palau Sunrise Seaview Landison Retreat, whose Signature Sunrise Villas are scattered on the hillside along the beachfront. The uber-luxe Four Seasons even has a floating resort in residence here: the Explorer, a catamaran-cum-five-star-hotel from which you can check in and out wherever you please.

4. You can fly direct from Brisbane, Australia

Qantas launched a direct flight from Brisbane to Koror, Palau last year – the ‘Palau Paradise Express’ – meaning you can now reach this castaway idyll in as little as six hours from Australia. The service departs Brisbane every Saturday, with the return flight taking off from Koror on a Sunday. The new route makes this relatively undiscovered destination more accessible than ever before.

5. It’s an adventurer’s wonderland

This pristine natural playground compels you to explore, whether that’s by hiking the volcanic islands, kayaking on the crystal-clear lagoons or taking a mineral-rich, white-mud bath in the Milky Way lagoon. Going beneath the waves is a must: small-boat dive tours can facilitate scuba-diving trips to shipwreck sites and blue holes. By far one of the most spectacular ways to take in the landscape is from above, on a scenic flight operated by Smile Air. From your privileged bird’s-eye view, see Mother Nature’s finest work unfold in a patchwork of coral-laced turquoise lagoons, sand bars and velvety green islets.

6. It’s home to a UNESCO World Heritage site

Palau’s beauty is bountiful, but perhaps no more so than at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon. Here, hundreds of bulb-like, limestone islands are scattered like emeralds across the turquoise lagoon, all fringed by coral reefs. A place of exceptional geological value and biodiversity, it’s home to more marine lakes than any other site in the world, with an incredibly complex reef system. Sharks, manta rays, giant clams, jellyfish and more than 700 species of fish call the lagoon home, along with more than half of Palau’s endemic plant life. Fascinatingly, remnants of rock art, burial caves and stonework villages point to one-time human occupation, dating back thousands of years.

7. It has World War II shipwrecks

There are more than 50 wrecks hiding beneath the azure waters of Palau, many of which are remnants from the conflict between Japanese and American vessels during World War II. The island of Peleliu was the site of a particularly fierce battle, with much lost over the two-month attempt by the US Marine Corps to claim the island from Japanese occupation. Here, you can see plane wrecks and tanks from this time entangled amid the vines of the jungle. Beneath the waves are wrecks of every size, from the Iro Maru oil tanker to a Japanese seaplane. These museum-like sites have been reclaimed by the seabed and encased in coral, holding endless fascination for divers.

8. It’s one of the only places in the Pacific where you can board a traditional Micronesian canoe

Step back in time and sail the lagoons as locals have been for thousands of years aboard a handmade wooden sailing canoe with Paddling Palau. A feat of artisanal craftsmanship, the hull of this crescent-shaped boat is carved by hand from a single breadfruit tree. Lost to the passage of time, the art of whittling these boats was almost ancient history until recently, when the family-run tour company located a collective of navigators and craftsmen from Micronesia’s furthest islands to recreate a number of these vessels in the traditional style. Take in the passing landscapes as your navigator guide shares the fascinating tale of how these boats connected islands and communities over the centuries.

9. It’s rich in history and tradition

More than 3,000 years of history awaits in Palau, and with it a long lineage of cultural traditions and colonial influences, from Spain, Germany, Japan and the US. Palauan heritage is proudly preserved in the villages of the islands, with time-honoured undertakings such as arts and crafts (in particular, weaving and wood crafting), ceremonial dance, storytelling and seafaring practised to this day. You can encounter its traditions on a cultural tour led by Palau Visitors Authority, ‘Experience Airai’, which will see you visit a village Chief’s meeting house, enjoy a farm-to-table lunch and observe the crafting of a hibiscus bark skirt.

10. It’s won awards for sustainability

While Palau may be small in size, it’s big on sustainability, with its efforts recognised by the United Nations. Woven into the fabric of Palauan society is a deep understanding and appreciation of the land and sea, and a need to tread gently to preserve their wonders. This was solidified with the introduction of the Palau Pledge; written by local children, every visitor to the islands is required to acknowledge it in their passport on arrival and declare ‘the only footprints I shall leave are those that will wash away’. It was the first country to ban sunscreen that’s not reef-safe, it encourages eco-friendly public transport, and it requires tour operators to provide reusable food and water containers.

Feature image: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon. Source: Palau Tourism Authority.