“Pristine” is the perfect word to describe Palau. This archipelago of about 340 limestone and volcanic islands in Micronesia is known for its incredible diversity of marine life.

Here’s the good news: Palau is working hard to stay pristine, despite increasing tourism. Visitors sign the Palau Pledge, which requires them to act responsibly and respectfully during their trip. Only a few liveaboard vessels are allowed to take visitors around the islands.

Discover a few of the best things to do and places to go in this Pacific paradise.

3 reasons you should always buy travel insurance for Palau

1. Palau is very, very remote. That’s a wonderful thing for your vacation… but a big problem if you experience any kind of medical emergency. “Serious medical conditions requiring hospitalizations or evacuation to the United States or elsewhere may cost tens of thousands of dollars,” the U.S. Department of State warns.¹ Air evacuations overseas typically aren’t covered by domestic health insurance plans. Travel insurance with emergency transportation benefits can cover the cost of a medically necessary evacuation for a covered illness or injury, as well as repatriation home (up to the limits in your plan).
2. You need to protect your travel investment. Flights to Palau aren’t cheap. Resorts in Palau aren’t cheap, either. If you’re spending thousands of dollars on your vacation, you don’t want to risk losing it all in case of a last-minute cancellation. Trip cancellation/trip interruption benefits can reimburse you (up to the limit specified in your plan) if you have to cancel or cut short your trip for a covered reason.
3. Travel insurance can help when your plans go awry. It’ll take you at least 22 hours of travel to reach Palau from the United States (sometimes more than 50 hours, depending on your flights). Trust us: a lot can go wrong when you’re traveling that long. That’s why you need travel delay benefits, baggage protection, and 24-hour assistance—just in case.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Palau

• OneTrip Prime is our most popular plan for all-around protection on international vacations. Plus, kids 17 and younger are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).

• OneTrip Premier is a top-of-the-line plan for extraordinary vacations—like your Palau vacation! Enjoy peace of mind with up to $75,000 in emergency medical benefits and up to $1 million in emergency transportation benefits.

• AllTrips Premier is a wise buy for frequent travelers. It protects every trip you take in 365 days and can cover your entire household. Choose your preferred benefit level for trip cancellation/interruption.

Find out why more than 55 million American travelers each year trust Allianz Travel Insurance to safeguard their biggest adventures! See all our plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Palau

1. Explore an underwater wonderland. Palau is considered one of the top dive sites in the entire world, with 193,000 square miles of protected marine territory—more than any other nation. In Blue Corner, you can see big fish like tuna and sharks. German Channel is famous for huge schools of manta rays and eagle rays.² Just be aware that your Allianz Travel Insurance plan excludes losses from free diving and scuba diving at a depth greater than 60 feet, or without a dive master.
2. Sit by some ancient stones. On the northernmost point of Babeldaob Island stand 52 basalt stone pillars lined up in two rows. Considered a sacred place in Palauan traditions, the Badrulchau Stone Monoliths may have once formed the foundation of an enormous bai (men's meeting house).
3. Learn about Palau’s “forgotten hell.” “The fight for Peleliu was one of the most vicious and stubbornly defended battles of the war,” said General Clifton Cates, yet this conflict between American and Japanese forces is little known.³ Learn the history at the Peleliu World War II Memorial Museum and see sites such as the Thousand Man Cave, where Japanese soldiers sheltered during a standoff.

3 of the best resorts in Palau

The best resort in Palau isn’t a building—it’s a boat. The Four Seasons Explorer is an 11-cabin luxury catamaran that sails different routes around 340 islands and 193,000 square miles of protected marine territory. Enjoy fresh fruit and cold drinks in your room, fine dining indoors and out, all the watersports you can imagine, and shore excursions led by experienced local guides.

Palau Pacific Resort offers all kinds of accommodations: over-water bungalows, villas by the pool, rooms overlooking the ocean, and spacious suites. Located on the western shore of Ngerkebesang Island, a short trip from Koror, this resort has a private beach and good snorkeling offshore. Its newest section, the Pristine Villas and Bungalows, promises more luxury than the main resort.

If you don’t care for the beach-resort vibe, consider the delightfully secluded Palau Carolines Resort. Perched on a hill in the forest, Palau Carolines houses guests in elegant canvas bungalows that overlook the Rock Islands. Fall asleep on the supremely comfortable beds, then wake to breakfast on your private terrace.

3 of the best places to eat in Palau

Elilai Seaside Restaurant and Bar is one of the best restaurants in Palau for fine dining. Take in a stunning sunset while savoring authentic Palauan flavors, such as the Koror mangrove crabs, steamed fish, and taro soup.

Canoe House promises “the best cheesecake in the Pacific.” What more could you ask for? This cozy, lively pub on Main Street in Koror is decorated with local artifacts and license plates, and serves up surprisingly good pizzas and other American fare.

Every tropical paradise should have a great beach bar. In Palau, that’s the Riptide Beach Bar and Grill. Enjoy live music, excellent cocktails, and the freshest seafood. “Where else can you order a plate of fish & chips and be shown a photo of the blue marlin from which it came?” raves one guest.

Ready to escape to Palau? Travel insurance is the first thing you should buy. When something goes wrong and you need help, contact 24-hour assistance by phone or via the Allyz® app. Our team of multilingual problem-solvers will do everything they can to get your trip back on track. Find the best Allianz Travel Insurance plan for you.

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