Day Trip to Jellyfish Lake in Palau

Imagine floating in a real life lava lamp, surrounded by millions of gelatinous golden orbs that drift gently through the water.

These orbs swirl effortlessly around you, in search of sunlight. They  swarm around your fingertips, brush up against your body, and coast right in front of your incredulous eyes.

It might sound like a dream, but such a place exists on the tiny uninhabited island of Eil Malk in Palau.

It’s called Jellyfish Lake.

And it’s extraordinary.

 

JELLYFISH LAKE IN PALAU: AN OVERVIEW

Jellyfish Lake lies amidst Palau’s Rock Islands, southeast of both Babeldaob Island and the country’s largest city, Koror. The marine lake connects to the ocean through fissures and tunnels in the limestone.

The lake’s relative isolation and lack of predators has fostered the ideal habitat for millions of golden orb jellyfish to flourish.

Scientists believe that the jellyfish came to inhabit the lake after a rise in sea levels trapped them in the lagoon some 12,000 years ago.

With an abundance of algae for food and no predators to keep them in check, the jellyfish numbers began multiplying quickly. A lack of predators has not only caused the numbers of jellyfish to multiply, but it has also allowed them to evolve without stinging capabilities.

Over the centuries, their numbers have waxed and waned. In 2005, there were around 30 million jellyfish in the lake. Yet, over the next decade, the numbers began to plummet. By 2016, there were almost none.

Luckily, the population of jellyfish began rebounding in the last few years. And though the jellyfish haven’t yet reached their pre-2016 population, they now number in the millions once again.

 

JELLYFISH LAKE DAY TOUR ITINERARY

Snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake is, without a doubt, the #1 thing to do in Palau. The underwater experience is so unique and mesmerizing that it must be seen to be believed.

During our four day trip to Palau, my friend and I joined a Jellyfish Lake day trip with Impac Tours. The tour included kayaking in the South Rock Islands, swimming in the Milky Way, and a bento-box lunch on Ngermeus Island.

• KAYAKING THE SOUTH ROCK ISLANDS

We began our day trip to Jellyfish Lake with a kayaking excursion around the South Rock Islands—a collection of more than 200 weathered limestone knobs that dot Palau’s transparent waters.

Much like the limestone formations near Koh Phi Phi in Thailand, the Rock Islands jut out of the sea and support lush vegetation and mangrove forests that are teeming with life.

Kayaking amid the jungle-like vegetation of the Rock Islands was peaceful and serene. Overhead, we could hear a cacophony of birdsong and the light rustle of leaves.

• THE MILKY WAY LAGOON IN PALAU

Palau’s Milky Way is a scenic lagoon with brilliant turquoise waters. A popular stop on tours of the Rock Islands, it is both touristy and worth the stop.

The natural spa is known for the baby blue color and therapeutic properties. The color is a result of the white limestone mud that coats the lagoon floor.

• SNORKELING AT NGERMEAUS ISLAND

After a pit-stop at Palau’s premier natural spa, our tour stopped for lunch on Ngermeaus Island.

There, we ate our lunch quickly in order to squeeze in a bit of snorkeling before our highly anticipated visit to Jellyfish Lake.

The reef around Ngermeaus island did not disappoint. We saw brilliantly colored fish, delicate coral and giant clams. Shortly before leaving the island, we had the opportunity to swim amongst docile black-tipped reef sharks.

 

SNORKELING AT JELLYFISH LAKE

The promise of swimming amidst millions of non-stinging jellyfish is what first enticed me to visit Palau.

So it is safe to say that I had high expectations for my tour.

But it is also safe to say that the Jellyfish Lake completely blew my expectations out of the water.

The isolated marine lake is the crown jewel of any visit to Palau. There is just no other place in the world quite like it.

Jellyfish Lake was much bigger than I had imagined and its water was a deep emerald green. To reach its shores, we had to climb a steep path and then descend back down to the water’s edge.

Following the suggestion of our tour guide, I jumped in the water and swam toward the center of the lake. Away from the shade, I eventually began to see a few jellyfish floating in my direction.

Then, I started to see them in clusters; first in groups of two or three, and then in the hundreds.

The farther I swam, the denser and denser the the crowd became.

As we arrived at the point with the most direct sunlight, the water suddenly pulsated with golden orbs.

It was magical. Surreal. And 100% worth the hype (and price tag).

 

JELLYFISH LAKE TOURS AND FEES

Visiting Palau’s Jellyfish Lake is expensive. To swim in the lake, we had to join a tour that cost us upward of $100 per person. In addition to the price of the tour, we were required to purchase a $120 conservation permit for the lake and surrounding islands. Thus, our day trip to Jellyfish Lake resulted in a tab of over $200.

Since my visit, the price of visiting Jellyfish Lake has only gotten more expensive. Day tours now cost about $200, excluding the mandatory Koror State Permit. Day tours of Jellyfish Lake are bookable online and include lunch.

Worth it? Absolutely.

I can’t think of many places I’ve been that can compare.

 

WHERE TO STAY IN PALAU

Palau has a decent variety of hotel offerings compared to some of the Pacific’s other far-flung islands. Though it doesn’t have the dreamy brochure-worthy resorts of more well-trodden island chains like Hawaii and French Polynesia, you’ll still find a smattering of hotels at different price points.

Most accommodations in Palau center around the island chain’s largest city, Koror.

Yogi Dives B&B is among the cheapest places to stay in Koror.

The 4 star Cove Resort is another popular option that boasts an outdoor swimming pool, garden, and restaurant.

The Palau Pacific Resort is generally considered to be the nicest accommodation option on the island.

 

GETTING TO PALAU

United Airlines flies to Palau from Guam and Manila. Connecting in Manila, you can continue onward on the Island Hopper to various Micronesian islands—including Chuuk, Kosrae and Pohnpei in the FSM, and Majuro in the Marshall Islands.

Alternatively, you can fly to Palau on China Airlines from Taipei or Jeju Air from Seoul.

There are no scheduled boats or ferries between the Palauan islands and its neighboring countries.

 

****

Palau is a small island nation with beautiful scenery and extraordinary snorkeling.

Between swimming with sharks, bathing in the Milky Way and kayaking among the mangroves, our day trip to Jellyfish Lake was perfect from start to finish.

And our tour’s cherry on top—snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake—turned out to be one of the most visually stunning experiences in my travels to date.