Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism in Palau

Travel alerts, currency, climate, transit, health, and safety information for visitors to Palau.

Practical Information

Travel alert status, currency, climate, and transit details.

Travel Alert Status: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Time Difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Climate: Palau has a tropical climate with annual rainfall of about 150 inches. The climate tends to be drier during El Nino years. Rain falls throughout the year, though January through March are usually the driest months. Palau is outside the normal typhoon track, but from June to November a tropical storm can settle over the country and dump heavy amounts of rain for several days. The temperature averages range from a high of 87 degrees to a low of 77 degrees year round. Humidity is high, ranging from 86% to 91%, and non-air conditioned environments can get moldy. Air quality is excellent and free of pollutants.
Ethnic Groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%, Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28%, white 2%
National Holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994)
Geographic Coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Airports: 3

Health and Safety

Medical facilities, vaccinations, disease risk, and sanitation conditions.

Medical Facilities and Care

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Health facilities in Palau are adequate for routine medical care, but the availability and quality of services are limited. Serious medical conditions requiring hospitalizations or evacuation to the United States or elsewhere may cost tens of thousands of dollars. The Belau National Hospital will accept payment by cash, credit or debit card, while private clinics may require cash payment. Please be advised that Palau has occassional outbreaks of Dengue Fever.
Accessibility: While in Palau, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Palau’s overall accessibility for the disabled is very limited. There is no legislation in place that mandates access to transportation, communication, and public building for persons with disabilities. The only existing legislation is access to government buildings, which requires that there be at least one designated parking space close to the main entrance of each national government building open to the public. These parking spaces shall be clearly designated through use of words or symbols, as being available for use only by persons with disabilities. While many buildings have ramps to facilitate persons with disabilities, others do not. There is no public transportation equipped to transport persons on wheelchairs and sidewalks around Palau are limited. There are no free or reduced fares for disabled persons in taxis, or at communication, lodging, medical facilities, restaurants, cafes, bars, or other tourist spots.

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