Kayaking and Camping in the Rock Islands of Palau

I've finally written up my report about my kayaking and camping trip in the Rock Islands of Palau:
Kayaking Palau

I expect to be adding more information in the future but 19 pages is enough for now.

Great trip report Silvanocat, sounds like you had a great time in Palau. I look forward to hearing more about the trip. I'm sure there are a bunch of us that would like to hear more, 19 pages is not enough. I missed the Marine Club in my book, though I ate lunch at the restaurant one day. As I recall the rooms were just reserved for their dive customers, perhaps they have since opened it up to all visitors. Sounds like a great addition to the limited budget lodgings over in the Malakal area. Lot's of helpful information on camping and permits. Too bad you missed Ron over at Sam's Tours, we spent an hour discussing Palau and his plans for preserving the islands. Did you talk to the people at the Carp Island Resort dock in Malakal? They run a shuttle daily to their place in the Rock Islands in the morning and return at night, I would think you could make a deal to ferry you to and from, for a more reasonable amount, since they make the round trip each day.

Again thanks for the great report.

Papa Mike

Great report. Definitely not too long at 19 pages

I had a great time reading your report - all 19 pages! We will finally be there in mid-late February and I am so looking forward to it. I have been wanting to visit ever since I saw the Rock Islands on the cover of Islands Magazine in 2000. Reading about Jellyfish Lake sealed the deal! I was wondering if you did some of the tourist things, such as Jellyfish Lake ,and what you thought of them? Do you have information on mundane things, like grocery shopping or car rentals? I'm looking forward to the rest of your report. I will read your report on Tahiti next. Thanks again for posting this.

You Rock!

Fabulous report!

Awesome reports and links. Hoping to sail through Micronesia next season and this kind of information is invaluable for yachties. Mahalo!

Thanks all!

The Carp Island boat is a good idea. I had initially wanted to make Carp Island one of the places I visited (aside from the kayaking trip) and do some kayaking from there. They, however, charge $10 per hour for their kayaks. When I remarked (via email) that it was very expensive she offered to knock an hour off. So it would be $70 for 8 hours, instead of $80. (Insane!) But you can camp there for $30 per night.

Jellyfish Lake was incredible. There are so many jellyfish all around you. I didn't feel the mildest of stings. I just wish that they would put up some Quiet Please signs because some of the large tour groups who go to visit are very loud. (Teenage girls, maybe they'll be in school in February.) It's not to be missed. Visited the new capitol building, I was impressed. Up close it has a Palauan feel.

Didn't rent a car. The driver is on the curb side. I'd be too scared to drive like that. You can spend your whole vacation trying to make a left turn in Koror.

I’ll look at my receipts and write up something about grocery shopping. I spent a lot of time in grocery stores on this vacation.

Silvanocat - Thanks for the replies. We have driven in all kinds of places - in the Caribbean on the left with the driver on the left(so weird to get used to) and in Australia on the left with the driver on the right -that was tough at first! I am more concerned about walking (which we love to do) as Papa Mike indicates that the drivers hug the curb - should make for fun times!

I took a kayak tour of the Rock Islands several years ago and you did a good job of describing the locations and amenities. I was impressed with Ron Leidich and he was very good at helping me plan my own spin from his guided portion of the tour. Great information.

to silvanocat!
this are really brilliant websites, thank you for all this information,
as i am about the same age as you and just about to set off somewhere - probably (dont know yet...)
to the southpacific for another gap year to gain the power to work until my final retirement
thanks a lot

Hey Newfie - I added a grocery shopping page for you: http://kayakingpalau.blogspot.com/2008/12/grocery-shopping.html

Thanks so much Silvanocat - great information there - it will sure help with our budgeting. It's nice to know we can get sandwiches and such at the gas stations - I would not have thought of them as a source of food - a lot more like the US and Canada than I thought. Six and a half weeks to go - hard to keep my mind on other things!