Destination : Palau
Micronesia: Palau, Family Vacation Ideas – Kayaking, Dolphin Encounters, and Snorkeling. Imagine a spot on the planet where one can safely interact with sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, dolphins; see firsthand World War II memorabilia; go kayaking into inner lagoon wonderlands and snorkel above awesome coral reefs. The destination described is the North Pacific destination of Palau, Micronesia, which is a natural, ecologically-responsible habitat worth a visit.
Palau doesn’t appear anywhere near the top of mainstream family vacation lists which is precisely why I was intrigued by the information that crossed my desk. I am passing on some very cool family vacation possibilities. From the US it’s a long flight but why not cash in the frequent flyer miles and go for it.
Snorkel or dive among old growth corals. Anyone’s who’s ever wondered through an old growth forest of Douglas Fir or California Redwood can immediately appreciate the ancient beauty of ancient timber. Palau, interestingly enough offers snorkelers the same feeling of timeless scenery in the form of our old growth forests. While many species of sun loving corals grow with amazing speed, those corals found within the shade of overhanging limestone islands are limited to imperceptible growth. The vertical walls of Palau’s rock islands serve as cathedral like walls, protecting ancient corals from seasonal winds, waves, and even typhoons. As a result, the corals within the rock islands are often hundreds and even thousands of years old! Without any physical disturbance to limit their growth, the rock island corals can form massive boulders, delicate branches, or even absurdly giant baskets. These protected habitats are akin to the “high rent district” of a bustling city. In this case, multi-colored corals are literally climbing over one another competing for every inch of available real-estate.
While the divers flock to the vertical walls of the outer reef, the snorkelers have discovered the profusion of life around the patch reef habitats. These current swept environments are bathed in nutrient rich waters and tropical sunshine. The combination of food sources creates an ideal habitat for giant table corals and multi-colored branching or stag-horn corals. Competing for sunlight, these corals create mutli-level tiers, in order to block their neighbors light! Living within this coral city are an uncountable number of reef fish swimming the protected maze of their coral home. These coral habitats may be enjoyed on both speed boat and kayak/snorkel excursions.
In Palau sharks have their own week. The Micronesian Shark Foundation is a Palauan-based, non-profit foundation whose goal is to research and monitor the many sharks of Palau as well as scientific shark data collection. Between February and April, hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate. This generates a fabulous opportunity for shark lovers to dive with the world famous sharks of Palau and to participate in data collection, which is invaluable in the study of migration and behavioral patterns of the sharks in these waters.
Go croc spotting on a jungle cruise. One of Palau’s newest attractions, the Jungle River Boat Cruise, put crocodiles are at center stage. Located in Ngchesar State, the Jungle River Boat Cruise is one of Palau’s eco-friendly tours, providing visitors with the ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy the island’s natural attributes firsthand.
Swim with friendly jellies – really! Under normal circumstance no one would knowingly swim in water inhabited by jelly fish. But things are slightly different in Palau. Too cool – like Jellyfish Lake, is the home to two types of jellyfish – the golden jellyfish known as Mastigias and the moon jellyfish known as Aurelia. This intriguing lake departs radically from convention for it is an enclosed body of water wherein, over the course of millennia, resident jellyfish have completely lost their sting because they haven’t had to fight off predators, allowing adventure seekers a rare opportunity to swim amongst these truly unique water creatures.
Swim with dolphins in Dolphin Bay. Dolphins Pacific is a local outfit that was created to preserve the integrity of these popular mammals, educate visitors about their unique place in the environment and to study their behaviors and abilities. The facility, located in an enclosed bay within the Rock Islands, offers several public encounters, including everything from a basic one-hour interactive program to fantastical wedding ceremonies. One favorite is the Dolphin Symphony, which is priced at only $80 and provides the opportunity to swim with several dolphins in the clear blue waters of “Dolphin Bay.”
Kayak around the islands. Palau’s uplifted limestone islands are studded with marine caves, natural archways, tropical beaches, emerald bays, and even siphon tunnels leading into inner lagoon wonderlands. There’s no better way to explore this labyrinth of limestone than with the eco-friendly kayak. Freed from the noise of outboard motors, the kayaks let us explore this Micronesian maze at leisure. Guided by professional local naturalists, the subtle beauty of the multi-colored reefs, tropical flowers, and endemic birds comes to life.
Among the myriad of hidden treasures are the world famous marine lakes and lagoons. Accessible only via kayak at precise tides, we weave through crystal clear mangrove forests into isolated wonderlands. These natural marine preserves are filled with nesting sea birds, fragile corals, and enormous clams which can be hundreds of years old. The ultimate high for paddlers is however slipping through the siphon tunnels and spilling into the calm water oasis within. Protected from winds, waves, surf, surge, and current, these protected habitats are home to reef fish nurseries, shark & stingray pupping grounds, and perhaps most impressively, giant baskets of multi-colored coral. Marine Biologist Ron Leidich says that “each isolated lake is like an evolutionary laboratory. Much like the individual islands of the Galapagos, the creatures found within the confines of the lake are unique to each individual habitat.” Nowhere else on earth do you find so many species in such unique assemblages in such a protected environment.
