Because of their beautiful scenery, the Rock Islands in Palau are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular places to visit in the country of Palau. Many people choose to take a beautiful flight over the islands, but a boat tour is another great way to see them.
On a speed boat tour to the Rock Islands in Palau, you can do lots of fun things like swim in a bright blue lagoon called the Milky Way, walk on a soft white sandbar called Long Beach, and even snorkel in a lake full of stingless jellyfish!
This travel guide will tell you everything you need to know about visiting the Palau Rock Islands by boat, including the best tour company, current tour prices, a plan of the islands, and the best things to see and do in the islands on a day trip from the town of Koror.
The Best Rock Islands in Palau
Viator has a highly rated boat tour of Palau that goes to many of the best places on the Rock Islands in one day.
This tour includes lunch, snorkeling gear, free hotel pickup and drop-off in Koror, and 5 to 8 hours of touring and swimming at places like the Milky Way and Jellyfish Lake.
Keep in mind that the schedule can change from day to day depending on the tide and other factors, so if there’s a place you really want to see, you might want to ask your tour company about it before you go.
Where exactly are the Rock Islands?
The Rock Islands in Palau are about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Palau’s largest island, Koror. This makes them easy to get to by boat.
With a sailboat, you can get to places like the Milky Way in less than 30 minutes.
The best things to do in Palau’s Rock Islands
Here are some of the best things to see and do in the Rock Islands in Palau.
This isn’t a full list of everything you can do in the islands, but these are some of the best things you might see on a one-day boat tour.
Jellyfish Lake
The Jellyfish Lake is one of the best-known places in Palau. Here, you can swim with millions of jellyfish that don’t hurt you.
There are two kinds of jellyfish in this lake: the golden jellyfish and the moon jellyfish. Neither one is harmful to people in any way. They can’t hurt you in any way.
Snorkeling with jellyfish near the lake’s top is easy, and Palau is one of the few places in the world where you can do this. Make sure to ask your tour company about the Jellyfish Lake’s current state and whether or not it’s open before going there.
Long Beach
Long Beach is a natural beach in the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon that can only be seen when the tide is low. This was one of my favorite places in the Rock Islands, and I could have stayed there all day.
We got off the boat in the shallow water and walked all the way to the end of the beach and back. It took us about 30 minutes to enjoy the view at Long Beach. The sandbar is almost 1 kilometer (1/2 mile) long when it is completely uncovered.
I’ve been to places like Indonesia and the Philippines where there are nice sandbars, but I have to say that this is one of the best ones I’ve seen. The water is very calm and pretty, and the sand is so white that it’s almost blinding.
Milky Way
In the Rock Islands, the Milky Way is a natural lagoon with some of the brightest blue water you’ll ever see. This place is well-known for its mudbaths. You can cover your face and body with the white limestone mud, which is said to be good for your skin. The mudpacks are provided by the tours, and it’s a fun thing for people of all kinds to do.
We floated in the milky-colored water for about 30 minutes at the Milky Way. It is a beautiful lake.
Babelomekang Island
After touring the Rock Islands for a few hours, tours usually stop somewhere to eat lunch.
Some tours stop for lunch at Carp Island Resort, but we went to a nice little paradise island called Babelomekang. Our tour guide gave us each a Bento box, which is a Japanese set dinner, with rice, chicken, spring roll, orange, vegetables, and more.
This was a quiet island with a nice white sand beach, trees for shade, and lots of room to walk around. We ate lunch here for about an hour and then took it easy on the beach.
German Channel
The German Channel is a manmade waterway that was made by the Germans during World War II so that ships could pass through the reef. The river is now a place where people go scuba diving because it goes as deep as 40 meters (130 feet).
Even though I think it’s more interesting to see the channel from the air on a beautiful flight, many boat tours also stop here for a short time.
The water is a beautiful shade of blue, and if you’re lucky, you might even see sharks or manta rays moving through the channel!
Are drones allowed in the Palau Rock Islands?
In the Rock Islands of Palau, you can fly a drone, but you need a permit to do so. Fill out this form on the website of the Palau Visitors Authority if you want to get a pass to fly a drone.
The application is free and easy to fill out. Just type in your name, country of origin, and other personal information, as well as the date and reason for your drone launch. If you’re going for reasons other than business, just say you’re doing photography as a hobby.
You should also read the drone rules on that page. You can only fly below 120 meters (400 feet) and within your line of sight. You can’t fly near planes or bases, of course. In my case, the permit was approved in just one hour, but they say you should apply at least three days ahead of time to make sure they have enough time to handle it.
If you’re accepted, you should also tell your Rock Island tour company about this and save a copy of your permit to show them on the day of your boat tour. This way, there won’t be any confusion.
How to Pack for the Boat Trip
Bottled Water: Find out if the tour company you are going with gives you bottled water. If they don’t have any, you should bring your own because diving will make you thirsty for sure.
Drone: An aerial camera is a great way to take nice shots of the Rock Islands, but you need a permit and must follow the rules, which are explained above.
Sun protection: The sun in Palau is very strong, so you should wear a hat and sunscreen. If you bring sunscreen from home, you should know that some kinds are illegal in Palau and may be taken away at the Koror airport.
A waterproof bag: It is a must-have for boat tours to keep your tools safe. I brought a 30 liter bag, which was big enough to hold my drone, computer, camera, phone, and a lot of other things. Everything stayed dry!
Gear for snorkeling: Some places to swim have beautiful corals and fish that you won’t want to miss. Tour companies often give snorkels and masks away for free, but if they don’t, you’ll need to bring your own stuff.
Best Time To Visit The Rock Islands
All year long, it rains a lot in Palau, but any time is a good time to go. January through April are the driest months in Koror and the Rock Islands, but it still rains a lot during those months. Rain usually comes in the evening or at night, so I wouldn’t worry too much either way. No matter when you go, you can never be sure that the weather will be great. I went to Palau in September, which is meant to be one of the rainiest months of the year. However, the weather was great and it didn’t rain for several days, so it didn’t bother me at all.
