Palau, lying about 500 miles east of the
Philippines, is one of the most beautiful island groups in Micronesia.
Its coral reefs are among the healthiest and most diverse on earth;
its Rock Islands are sublimely verdant isles; its network of white
sand beaches is extensive; and its native flora and fauna are
among the most intriguing to be found anywhere in the Pacific
Ocean. The exquisite, world renowned Rock Islands are rounded,
undercut mounds of limestone that seem to float like emerald mushrooms
on a turquoise-fringed sapphire lagoon. Formed from the weathering
of ancient uplifted reefs, the islands have secluded beaches,
lush rainforest, tranquil channels, clear, tropical aquamarine
water, and unbelievably rich coral formations and marinelife.
With a seemingly endless array of calm, protected waterways between
the Rock Islands to choose from, Palau is truly a kayaker's fantasy!
Palau's barrier reefs are magnificent! Marine experts have rated them among the seven underwater wonders of the world. The diversity in Palau's waters is truly amazing--here you'll find over 1,500 species of fish, more than 700 types of corals and anemones, and over 60 steep vertical drop-offs which provide a fantastic, spectacular snorkeling experience. The water is warm and very clear, with an average visibility of 100-200 feet!
Kayak Connection has organized a camping/kayaking/snorkeling
adventure that will enable you to fully and 
completely
experience Palau and the Rock Islands. This tour features 6 full
days and 5 nights of sea kayaking in the exquisite, turquoise
waters of the Rock Islands, camping out on the white sand beaches
each night, and snorkeling the rich, colorful barrier reefs and
remarkable drop-offs with their incredible array of fish and coral.
We will have an experienced, private guide to show us all the
special treasures of the Rock Islands, and a Palauan chef to prepare
our delicious meals. The tour package also includes a day's tour
of Babeldaob, an island north of Palau's capital of Koror, which
is an area rich in Palauan history and known for its natural beauty.
The cost of all this, the 6 full days of camping, sea kayaking and snorkeling the Rock Islands, the tour of Babeldaob, including all meals, accommodations and equipment, is listed at the top of this page. The group will be kept to at most 10 people to ensure a quality experience.
See the pictures taken by one of the participants, Randy Laferte, during the 2003 Palau trip!
The final itinerary will be determined by the winds and the weather, but a typical itinerary for this Palau adventure is:
Day 1 Arrive in Koror in the evening, and get settled into a local hotel.
Day 2 We will spend the
day with a Palauan archaeologist touring Babeldaob, an island
rich in history and 
known for
its natural beauty. We'll hike the jungle trail to Taki, Palau's
largest waterfall, and then along the edges of a mangrove lagoon
searching for the endangered saltwater crocodile and the elusive
monitor lizard. We'll visit traditional bai, old Palauan communal
meeting centers. We'll visit Badrulchau, birthplace of Palauan
legends, and examine the massive stone monoliths which testify
to the origins of the Palauan people. We'll see WWII cannons and
planes. An alternate Palauan outing will be chosen if the road
conditions are not good.
Days 3-7 Each day of our Rock Islands adventure will be a mix of paddling, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, beachcombing, and exploring. Our guide, who has the benefit of years of experience in Palau, will bring us to some places that most tourists never see. We'll paddle through emerald green lagoons, beachcomb along coconut tree fringed sugar white beaches, and snorkel in warm, crystal clear water along colorful coral reefs teeming with marine life of stunning beauty and variety.
We'll visit Jellyfish Lake, a landlocked marine lake created when the Rock Islands rose from the sea. Living in the lake are millions of jellyfish, which over the eons have evolved into a stingless species. Snorkeling among these beautiful, pulsating harmless jellyfish is an amazing, unforgettable, unique experience!
We'll
explore Lost Lake, which can only be entered through an arch at
low tide. We'll snorkel at the distinctive Leather Coral Arches
and Soft Coral Arches. We'll snorkel and kayak at Blue Corner,
one of the best known diving and snorkeling spots in Palau. We'll
snorkel at Turtle Cove and Big Drop-Off, on Ngemelis Wall, considered
by the late Jacques Cousteau to be the finest wall dive in the
world. Just below the sea's surface beautiful coral gardens teeming
with iridescent reef fish flourish on the edge of a vertical drop
that plunges abruptly to thousands of feet. Giant clams, massive
barrel sponges, sea turtles and reef sharks are commonly sighted
in these crystal clear waters.
For each of the 5 nights we will camp out in tents on beaches in the Rock Islands. A Palauan chef will prepare our delicious meals for us.
Day 8 We’ll spend the day kayaking and snorkeling the walls on the outer reef of Palau, and in the afternoon we’ll head to Carp Island to spend the night on the only resort in the Rock Islands.
Day 9 We’ll spend the day on Carp Island hiking and exploring the island and head back to Koror in their afternoon boat. Facilities will be available to shower and clean up. We will enjoy a traditional Micronesian dinner at a local restaurant and prepare to fly home the following morning.
Day 10 Depart Koror early in the morning (currently 2:30 AM!).
We can make arrangements for you to do some diving after the end of the kayak trip. Palau is one of the premier diving destinations in the world. Or you can travel to Yap to dive with the manta rays, another unforgettable experience.
Kayak Connection
413 Lake Avenue, #4
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-479-1121
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