Rock Islands - archipelago in Koror State, Palau

The Rock Islands is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Palau, just south of Koror.

Understand

The Rock Islands were listed as a mixed world heritage site in 2012. They constitute an archipelago of about 300 practically uninhabited islands (in 2014 they had a population of 6) and one of Palau's finest diving destinations.

History

Landscape

The archipelago is a coral reef partially sticking up from the ocean covering an area of about 100 km². The islands have the appearance of limestone peaks or hilly forested islands with many lakes, the most famous of which is the Medusa/Jellyfish Lake. There's a coral reef south of the archipelago made up of 385 different species of coral, also part of the world heritage site.

Flora and fauna

Climate

Get in

Diving operators are based in Koror; see Koror § Diving for details.

Fees and permits

Rock Island Use Permit is 50 USD per person. If you also want to go to Jellyfish Lake it is 100 USD. Permits are good for 10 days. Fishing permits may also be available.

The permits may be paid for at the Koror State capitol building Finance Office in Ngerbeched or the Finance Field Office Rangers Station on Malakal Island.

Get around

See and Do

• Dolphins Pacific, 7.3116°, 134.4468°. The world's largest dolphin research facility, is open for tourists who are interested in swimming and interacting with trained dolphins. 2021-03-08 May be closed.

• Jellyfish Lake (Medusa Lake, Ongeim'l Tketau (Fifth lake)), 7.161111°, 134.376111°. A brackish lake formerly connected to the ocean through a passage. The lake is now home to an abundance of jellyfish that has been able to proliferate without predators. 2021-04-02

• Big Drop-off, 7.057°, 134.255°. A scuba diving hotspot. 2021-04-02

• Ngercheu Island, 7.091°, 134.271°. The island has a white sand beach, bordered by coconut palms. 2021-04-02

• Blue Corner, 7.134°, 134.218°. Another good place for diving despite strong currents and sharks. 2021-04-02

Eat

There is food and drink available at Carp Island Resort.

Sleep

Lodging

Camping

All campsites have outhouses. Certain campsites have collected rain water with unclear safety to drink.

• Peninsula Camp
• Ngchus Campsite (southernmost end of Ngeruktabel Island): shelter
• Euidelchol Island: Busy
• Ngermaeus Island
• Ulong Island: Survivor Beach, Turtle Cove
• Giant Clam Beach Campsite
• Ngermdu Beach
• Blue Devil (Lee Marvin) Beach
• Long Beach

Backcountry

Stay safe

Go next

There are two options; back to Koror or south to the islands of Peleliu, Angaur, and a few hundred kilometers to the southwest, the remote Sonsorol Islands.