The Rock Islands are 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 hertiage site.
Flora and fauna
Climate
Get in
Diving operators are based in Koror; see Koror#Diving for details.
Fees and permits
Get around
See and Do
- 1 Dolphins Pacific. The world's largest dolphin research facility, is open for tourists who are interested in swimming and interacting with trained dolphins.
- 1 Jellyfish Lake (Medusa Lake, Ongeim'l Tketau (Fifth lake)) (Eil Malk island). 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.
- 2 Big Drop-off. A scuba diving hotspot.
- 3 Ngercheu Island. The island has a white sand beach, bordered by coconut palms.
- 4 Blue Corner. Another good place for diving despite strong currents and sharks.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
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.