Palau

Located in Micronesia roughly 800 kilometres east of the Philippines, Palau consists of around 340 inhabited and uninhabited islands within a total land area of approximately 459 km². Its capital is Ngerulmud — one of the world's least populated capitals — and the commercial hub is Koror. English and Palauan are both official languages; the currency is the US dollar. Palauan culture blends Austronesian traditions with modern Pacific Island identity, and the nation is internationally recognised for its marine conservation commitments.

Many nationalities, including citizens of the United States, European Union member states, Australia, and Japan, may enter Palau visa-free for stays of up to 30 days. Palau does not operate a widely used eVisa portal; entry conditions are handled at the port of arrival. Travellers should verify current requirements through their nearest Palauan diplomatic mission before departure, as conditions may vary by nationality.

Jellyfish Lake on Eil Malk Island holds a landlocked population of golden jellyfish that have evolved without stingers, allowing visitors to snorkel directly among them. The Blue Corner dive site off Ngemelis Island is regarded as one of the premier drift dives in the Pacific. The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompasses roughly 445 mushroom-shaped limestone islets. Ngardmau Waterfall, Palau's largest, descends through dense jungle in the north of Babeldaob. The Palau National Museum in Koror documents Palauan cultural heritage including traditional storyboards.

Palau has a tropical oceanic climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round, typically between 26 °C and 32 °C regardless of season. A drier period runs roughly from November to April, which is generally considered the best time to visit for diving and outdoor activities. The wet season from May to October brings heavier rainfall and occasional typhoon risk, though sunny intervals remain common. Lightweight, quick-dry clothing is appropriate throughout the year; a thin rain layer is practical from mid-year onward.

• Declared the world's first shark sanctuary in 2009.
• Palauan currency is the US dollar despite independence.
• Ngerulmud is among the world's least populated capitals.
• Palau's waters host over 1,300 species of fish.
• Traditional bai meeting houses are still actively used.

• pristineparadisepalau.com — official Palau tourism authority and visitor information
• palaugov.pw — official Government of Palau portal
• weather.gov/guam — US National Weather Service forecast hub covering Palau
• faa.gov — aviation authority overseeing Palau's international air access