Jellyfish Lake

Jellyfish Lake, hidden within one of Palau's Rock Islands, is one of the most extraordinary natural experiences on earth. This landlocked marine lake, connected to the ocean only through cracks in the ancient limestone, is home to millions of golden jellyfish that, over thousands of years of isolation from predators, have largely lost their sting. Each day they migrate across the lake following the sun, and snorkellers can slip into the water to float, harmlessly, among the vast, pulsing swarm of translucent golden creatures drifting all around, a surreal, mesmerising and utterly unique encounter.

What you actually see

• The golden jellyfish - the millions of harmless drifting jellyfish.
• The snorkelling swim - the float among the pulsing swarm.
• The marine lake - the unique landlocked saltwater lake.
• The jungle setting - the Rock Island reached by a short hike.

When to go

November to April, the drier season, for the best boat conditions; the jellyfish are present year-round, though their numbers have fluctuated over the years with environmental changes, at times dropping sharply before recovering, so it is worth checking current conditions. The lake is reached by boat and a short, steep jungle hike, and only snorkelling, not diving, is allowed.

Honest expectations

The jellyfish population has swung dramatically over the years, crashing during a drought before recovering, so numbers vary and it is worth checking before visiting; only snorkelling is permitted, sunscreen is banned to protect the fragile lake, and it requires a permit and a short steep hike. When the jellyfish are thriving, though, floating among millions of harmless golden creatures in a hidden jungle lake is a genuinely surreal and unforgettable experience found virtually nowhere else.

Nearby

The Rock Islands, the Koror dive sites and the reefs surround it.