Rock Islands Southern Lagoon
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon · Lagoon south of Koror, Palau
A mixed heritage site of mushroom-shaped limestone islands and three-thousand-year-old stone villages.
Know before you go
- Don't touch or take coral or shells
- Palau has banned reef-toxic sunscreens, so use reef-safe products
- at the stone village sites, keep quiet and don't move stones.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Inscribed in 2012 as a UNESCO mixed (natural and cultural) site: mushroom-shaped limestone islands, undercut by the sea, are scattered across a turquoise lagoon, and the stone village sites, rock art and burials on them bear witness to three thousand years of settlement. It sums up the Palauan view that 'the ocean is home'.
Local customs
Palauans practise the traditional 'bul' fishing moratorium, under which chiefs declare certain waters closed to fishing — an idea shared by modern marine protected areas. Every visitor must sign the 'Palau Pledge' on arrival, promising to travel responsibly, and the pledge is stamped in your passport.
Religion & beliefs
- Traditionally animist with ancestor worship, and burials at the stone village sites are still respected
- most Palauans today are Christian, with traditional taboos and modern faith coexisting.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Don't touch or take coral or shells
- Palau has banned reef-toxic sunscreens, so use reef-safe products
- at the stone village sites, keep quiet and don't move stones.
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals love kayaking and freediving
- the lagoon is the 'back garden' they grew up playing in.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- You must join a licensed local boat tour
- check prices and itineraries on operators' official websites. Bring well-fitting snorkelling gear of your own if you can
- UV is strong on the lagoon, so protect yourself from the sun.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
The Rock Islands are an uninhabited protected area with no food on the islands; day trips usually include a packed lunch on board or a barbecue on a picnic island
Must-try
- Mangrove crab
- Seafood
- Taro / cassava
Eat back in Koror: mangrove crab, seafood, taro / cassava
| Where to eat | Restaurants and seafood places in Koror town, meals on boat tours |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | The lagoon is a World Heritage Site — don't take shells or coral, and bring all picnic rubbish back; fruit-bat soup and coconut crab raise conservation issues, so we suggest not ordering them |
| Typical price per person | A meal in Koror USD 20–35 ≈ CNY 142–249 |
| Tips | Stock up on water and snacks at a Koror supermarket before going out by boat. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
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U.S. Marine Corps（Cpl. Casandra Marrero） · Public domain
Photos
Photos
Peter R. Binter (=Binter); The original uploader was Binter at German Wikipedia. (Original text: Peter Binter) · Public domain
Dbuges33 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dbuges33 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes
More in Islands & Polar Regions
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