Island Hopping in Palau: Getting Around Airai, Koror and the Rock Islands

Most journeys to Palau begin at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport in Airai, a modest yet efficient entry point that belies the extraordinary experiences that await. After clearing customs—a process I found remarkably streamlined compared to other Pacific destinations—you'll want to arrange your onward journey to Koror, where most luxury accommodations are concentrated.

Rather than rushing straight to your hotel, I recommend engaging one of the premium transfer services that offer scenic routes to Koror. During my visit last December, I arranged a private helicopter transfer through Palau Pacific Airways, which provided breathtaking aerial perspectives of the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge connecting Airai to Koror—a magnificent feat of engineering spanning the azure channel.

For those preferring to keep feet on solid ground, several luxury car services offer private transfers in climate-controlled comfort. I was particularly impressed with Palau Royal Resort's fleet of Mercedes vehicles, which include complimentary cold towels and locally sourced coconut water—a thoughtful touch that immediately acclimates you to island rhythms after a long-haul flight.

While budget travelers might opt for standard taxis or shuttle services, investing in a premium arrival experience sets the tone for your entire Palauan adventure. My travel binoculars proved invaluable during this initial transfer, allowing me to spot flying foxes (Palau's magnificent fruit bats) soaring between the canopies as we traversed the coastal road.

Koror may be Palau's commercial center, but this is urban living reimagined through a distinctly Micronesian lens—where traffic jams are replaced by harbor congestion and skyscrapers give way to low-slung structures that honor rather than dominate the landscape.

During my two-week stay, I discovered that Koror's compact nature makes it surprisingly navigable. The main drag of Malakal Street connects most luxury resorts, fine dining establishments, and premium dive outfitters within a 3-mile stretch. While rental cars are readily available (I recommend the surprisingly capable Suzuki Jimny for its combination of comfort and off-road capability), I found myself gravitating toward more bespoke transportation options.

The Palau Pacific Resort offers guests complimentary use of premium electric bicycles—an enlightened approach to sustainable luxury that allowed me to explore Koror's hidden corners while maintaining the environmental ethos that makes Palau so special. For evening excursions to restaurants like Elilai or The Cove, nothing beats arranging a private water taxi through your concierge. There's something undeniably cinematic about arriving for dinner via speedboat, the setting sun casting golden light across Malakal Harbor.

For photographers and filmmakers, I cannot overstate the value of investing in a waterproof carrying solution. My waterproof camera backpack proved indispensable, protecting my equipment during unexpected tropical showers and spontaneous harbor crossings.

One particularly memorable transportation experience in Koror was arranging a vintage WWII Jeep tour through the Palau Visitors Authority. These meticulously restored vehicles offer a fascinating historical perspective on the island while providing access to viewpoints inaccessible to standard vehicles.

If there's one transportation splurge worth making in Palau, it's securing a multi-day private yacht charter to explore the Rock Islands. After researching numerous options, I settled on Sam's Tours Exclusive Charter service, which pairs their 47-foot luxury catamaran with an experienced marine biologist as your personal guide—a combination that elevates the experience from merely scenic to profoundly educational.

During my five-day charter, Captain Tova navigated us through the labyrinthine channels of the Rock Islands with the confidence of someone reading familiar text. We anchored in secluded lagoons inaccessible to day-trip boats, allowing for dawn snorkeling sessions when the marine life is most active and the light penetrates the water with ethereal clarity.

The advantage of a private charter becomes most apparent when visiting Palau's marquee attractions like Jellyfish Lake and the Blue Corner dive site. While day-trippers must adhere to rigid schedules, our flexible itinerary allowed us to arrive at these locations during off-peak hours, sometimes having entire UNESCO World Heritage sites entirely to ourselves—a privilege that justifies the premium cost.

For underwater documentation, I relied heavily on my underwater camera, which captured the vibrant coral gardens and pelagic encounters with remarkable clarity. The yacht's dedicated camera rinse station and charging facilities ensured my equipment remained in optimal condition throughout the journey.

Beyond the freedom and exclusivity, what distinguished the private charter experience was the culinary dimension. Our onboard chef, Manny, prepared gourmet meals featuring sustainable local seafood, often incorporating ingredients we foraged from islands where traditional harvesting is permitted. Dining on the aft deck as phosphorescent plankton illuminated our wake created moments of pure cinematic magic that no resort restaurant could possibly replicate.

As someone who's spent a career crafting visual narratives, I'm constantly seeking perspectives that reveal new dimensions of familiar landscapes. In Palau, nothing accomplishes this quite like exploring the archipelago by helicopter. Pacific Island Aviation offers custom aerial tours that transform your understanding of this remarkable ecosystem.

During my second week, I arranged a three-hour charter that provided breathtaking vantages impossible to appreciate from sea level. From 500 feet above, the true scope of Palau's marine protected area becomes apparent—a vast network of coral reefs, channels, and lagoons that function as a single, interconnected marine ecosystem. The helicopter's maneuverability allowed our pilot, Derek, to hover briefly above German Channel, where we witnessed manta rays forming feeding trains visible through the crystalline water.

What particularly impressed me was the pilot's knowledge of optimal lighting conditions. Having communicated my interest in photography beforehand, Derek planned our route to maximize the dramatic morning shadows across the limestone formations, creating natural contrast that emphasized their sculptural quality. For serious photographers, I recommend the doors-off option (weather permitting) which eliminates glare and reflections.

The helicopter experience also offers practical transportation benefits. Remote locations like Peleliu Island, with its significant WWII historical sites, become easily accessible as day trips from Koror rather than requiring overnight arrangements. My compact camera proved ideal for aerial photography, its fixed lens and intuitive controls allowing me to focus on composition rather than technical adjustments during the flight.

While helicopter charters represent a significant investment (expect $1,500-2,500 per hour depending on aircraft type), the efficiency of covering vast distances combined with the unparalleled visual perspectives creates value that transcends mere transportation. For filmmakers, photographers, or anyone seeking to understand Palau's geographic context, this aerial dimension completes the narrative in ways no surface-based exploration can match.

My passion for wellness traditions began in Kerala years ago, but Palau offered an unexpected continuation of this healing journey through its unique blend of traditional Palauan and imported Asian therapeutic practices. What makes the wellness circuit here particularly special is how transportation between treatment destinations becomes part of the healing experience itself.

The Palau Pacific Resort has pioneered what they call 'Island Wellness Journeys'—curated day trips combining transportation and treatments across multiple locations. My favorite itinerary began with a sunrise yoga session on their private beach in Koror, followed by a short boat transfer to a secluded Rock Island where their therapists had established a temporary open-air treatment pavilion. Receiving a traditional Palauan coconut oil massage while listening to waves lapping against limestone formations created a multisensory experience that conventional spa rooms simply cannot replicate.

For those with deeper interest in indigenous healing practices, I recommend the wellness program at Palau Royal Resort, which incorporates foraged medicinal plants into treatments. Their 'Healing Waters Circuit' begins with a private boat transfer to natural hot springs near Aimeliik, followed by a guided meditation session during the return journey to their main spa facility.

To fully embrace these experiences, proper preparation is essential. I found my quick-dry travel towel indispensable for transitioning between water activities and treatments. Its compact size and rapid drying made it perfect for the day's multiple transitions between boat, beach, and treatment rooms.

What distinguishes Palau's approach to wellness tourism is the thoughtful integration of movement between locations. Rather than viewing transportation as merely functional, providers here understand that the journey between treatment destinations—whether by traditional outrigger canoe or modern solar-powered launch—creates valuable transition time that enhances the therapeutic impact of each subsequent experience.