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Palau is a great place to see from the top of a stand up paddle board. In fact I can’t think of a better place in the world to explore this way. There’s so much to see. The Rock Islands create a labyrinth of waterways among these mushroom-shaped, limestone wonders. Here are some of the places we really enjoyed paddling during our 7 months in Palau and think would make great destinations for a day on a stand up paddle board. We spent our days in Palau paddling these amazing waters, stopping to snorkel, enjoying the beautiful beaches, exploring their hidden wonders, goofing off, and, generally, have the time of our lives. We hope you do too.
Remember to get your Rock Island Permit before heading out. It’s good for 10 days and the money goes toward preserving and maintaining this amazing place.
Pincher’s Lagoon 
You don’t need boat support for this expedition. Launch from Malakal. We launched from the boat dock across from the Jive Cage. Then paddle through the harbor by Sam’s Tours and follow the island string on the right. There’s a couple of great swimming spots along the way – perfect to jump off your board to cool off, some fun places to snorkel, and an utterly peaceful lagoon, complete with a sunken Japanese boat from WWII that is just under the surface.
Pinchers Lagoon is about an hour’s paddle away. It’s a nice big lagoon that opens up with views out to the Rock Islands to the south. The calm, clear waters along with the beautiful surroundings, invite you to make this a great lunch spot. If you’re an experienced paddler, you might want to make it a loop and return to your launch point by paddling back along the opposite side. You’ll get to see some great caves and a WWII canon. It’s not a hard paddle, just a bit less secluded and with some consistent swells.
Nikko Bay
There are tons of waterways and lagoons throughout Nikko Bay. You could spend a whole day exploring this area and still not see it all. We loved visiting all the caves – Bat Cave, Tarzan Cave, Skylight cave and others whose names escape me at the moment. Skylight Cave has a “window” on the side opposite the entrance. Hike up to that opening and you’ll get a view that will take your breath away. Tarzan Cave is deceiving at first look. It opens up into a huge cavern with a skylight. Vines, trees and rock formations make it clear how this cave got its name. Or paddle out to Pillbox Channel, park your board, and climb up to the Pillbox for lunch and some great turtle watching. If the tide is right, paddle to Disney Lake and guide your board through the tunnel to a seldom-visited marine lake, complete with jellyfish.
Risong Bay
The peaceful, beautiful waters of Risong Bay are a great place to explore on a stand up paddle board. There are no views of civilization in this place. It’s just nature at its best. You could make this a good full-day paddle by launching from Long Beach, the dock near Kramers, near where the ferries to Peleliu and Anguar pick up. Or you could enlist some boat support and get dropped off in Risong Bay. If you don't feel up the entire paddle to Risong, just cruise up toward it and check out all of the inlets and waterways. Stunningly beautiful!
Ngchuus
This is one of my very favorite places in the Rock Islands of Palau. The surrounding waters are warm, calm and protected and perfect for exploration by stand up paddlers. It’s so secluded with a fantasatic beach area. No wonder Survivor used this spot to host a bunch of their challenges. There’s even some WWII wreckage just below the surface of the water. Cruise the waters at Ngchuus, have lunch on the beach and soak in the views. You could even paddle around the tip toward Fantasy Island or over to Neco Island for more snorkeling, exploring and fun.
Jackson Beach and Two Dog
One of our greatest moments in Palau was a morning we kayaked through these waters. The were completely flat, as if we were gliding along the top of an ice cube or glass. It was amazing. We had rays swimming alongside us. We saw fish we had seen out at the drop offs. It was so surreal. We felt like we had been plucked from one of those photos in National Geographic. We couldn’t wait to get out on these waters on our stand up paddle boards. Paddle the waters around and between these two islands – with two of the best white-sand beaches in the Rock Islands. Then explore above and below the surface and take the time to really enjoy this at the slower pace it deserves.
Giant Clam and Beyond
How about starting with some snorkeling to see giant clams, then paddling to Jellyfish Lake for a totally unique swimming experience. The islands of Macharchar create tons of waterways and bays begging to be explored. There’s also Wonder Channel and Shark City nearby. You could spend days in this area. You should plan on boat support for this one.
Ulong
You heard it here first – the real truth about Ulong. Though its beaches are beautiful indeed and it may be a great location for sunset viewing, we’d recommend being in the waters instead on the land. The furry inhabitants of Ulong are especially brave and quite a nuisance. We renamed the island Rat Island. We preferred to stick to paddling around the island, enjoying its inlets and coves and great snorkeling spots instead. You should probably arrange for a boat to and from Koror.
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