Rock Islands

The Rock Islands are like nowhere else on earth. It's no exaggeration to say that these unique island formations scattered across a 32km stretch of turquoise ocean southwest of Koror are the reason to come to Palau. From any vantage point – under water, from the air, lying prone on a beach or aboard a boat – it's a mesmerising fantasy-scape of limestone islets surrounded by crystalline waters. The bases of the islets have been undercut by water erosion, fashioning them into peculiar mushroom shapes. The surrounding waters contain some of the most abundant and varied marine life on the planet – small wonder it was added to the Unesco World Heritage List in 2012. Unsurprisingly, the Rock Islands are a world-class destination for diving, snorkelling and kayaking.