If you’re thinking of going kayaking during your time in Palau, you have to check out the excursions on offer by Paddling Palau. During my solo travel in Palau, a lot of the trips on offer depended on group bookings. Keep reading if you would like to read about my kayaking day trip to Risong Bay in Palau.
Morning Start
To start, I was picked up from my accommodation by Mac who was a local Palauan guide at 7:45am. Make sure to bring a water bottle and your rock island permit. I was joined by a family who were on holidays in Palau for a few days.
Our briefing was all about what we will see in Risong Bay. One of the things that struck me from the very beginning was you could see the sardines shooting up out of the water. This was before we even got on the boat! We were on the boat and set off for 8:45am.
First Stop
Our first stop was to Black Tip Lake. I could hear a kingfisher sing and see black herons flying around. Mac, our local guide is extremely knowledgeable. He pointed out all the different types of fish along the way as we paddled along. I found the area very peaceful and unspoiled. If you want to be truly immersed in nature, this is your place. I would definitely recommend protecting yourself from the heat as it was very hot, even in the morning. If you are interested in purchasing reef-safe sunscreen, make sure to check out Pura Vida Palau.
Cave Visit and Lee Marvin Beach
After that, we visited a cave where Mac pointed out the formation of stalagmites and stalactites. We had a quick photo opportunity there as well. It reminded me a lot of my geography classes in school! Mac also pointed out Lee Marvin Beach. He told us about an actor called Lee Marvin was in a movie called Hell in the Pacific.
It was about a Japanese naval officer and an American pilot who come across one another during World War 2. They are stranded on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. It follows the relationship between both of them and how they must put their differences aside in order to fight for survival.
Lunch Stop
Later, we stopped for lunch in shaded spot not too far away. The food was really good from from King’s Palace in Koror and it was included in the price. We did some snorkelling and then we went from Risong Bay to Shipwreck Bay. I have never been so up close and personal with a shipwreck in my life!
Our next stop was to Mandarin Fish Lake. We did even more snorkelling and saw many different kinds of fish there. There was also a Mandarin fish hiding away. You really had to look carefully! I’ll put my hands up and admit I barely saw it.
Lolita’s Channel
On the way back, we passed through Lolita’s Channel. While I was starting to get tired, this was a very worthwhile stop. The tide comes in and brings lots of nutrients for fish so there’s a lot of action under the water! We swam with the channel and it was so strong it almost felt like flying over water. We saw a mantra ray (Lolita herself) it came right up to the boat! Mac told us that the whiter the lines are, the more food she has been fed.
I found it funny how many people go scuba diving in search of mantas and this one came right up to the surface. Another thing which I was very ignorant to before this trip was the strength of some currents. It really made me think about how local knowledge is imperative before you get into the water on a lot of trips.
Back to Shore
We arrived back for 4:30pm and then I was dropped back to my accommodation. Overall it was a great day and I would definitely recommend doing a trip with Paddling Palau. They also organise kayaking and camping trips but you would need to contact them directly for more information. Finally, the cost was: $150 USD. This included lunch, guide, snorkel, mask and kayak rental!
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to break up your time in Palau with some outdoor excursions which don’t involve diving, this is a great way explore the islands. It was very informative, relaxing and worthwhile. I would recommend this for children and adults. It was very family-friendly and I would happily do it again!
Thanks for reading! If you would like to read more of my posts on Palau, please check out the following:
The Best Restaurants to Eat at in Palau
Palau Day Trip | Rock Islands Tour
Shell Villa Apartel Resort | Affordable Accommodation in Palau
