Senior travel: Koror
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 1 stop a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 110 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Palau International Coral Reef CenterStep-free: yes · about 75 minA modern building; confirm step-free access.
- Malakal harbour and dock walkStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 30 minFlat quay, but boat steps.
- Belau National MuseumThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 90 min
- Rock Islands boat dayThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 360 min
- Ngarachamayong Cultural CenterStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 45 minConfirm step-free access before you go.
- Etpison MuseumStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 60 minConfirm step-free access with the museum.
Getting around in Koror
Koror is manageable by car but hard on wheels: pavements are patchy and kerbs are high, and boat trips and beaches involve steps and sand. Plan door-to-door taxis and choose a ground-floor room.
- Pavements:
- Patchy, with open drains in places; the main street is the best stretch.
- Getting around:
- Taxis and hotel shuttles are the step-free option; boats need steps.
- Hotels:
- Some hotels have accessible rooms; confirm before you book.
- Toilets:
- Hotels, cafes and the museums; rare on the islands.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Palau guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Dengue:
- Present in the Pacific: use repellent from dawn to dusk and sleep in a screened or AC room.
- Sun and heat:
- Strong UV and humid heat: sunscreen, a hat, a rash vest and plenty of water.
- Diving:
- Do not dive within 24 hours of a flight; a hyperbaric chamber exists in Koror, but carry insurance that covers diving and evacuation.
- Coral and sea life:
- Coral cuts infect easily: clean and cover them at once; do not touch jellyfish or lionfish outside Jellyfish Lake.
- Food and water:
- Tap water is treated in Koror, but many visitors drink bottled water; eat fresh, hot food from busy places.
- Vaccination and clinics:
- Ask a travel clinic several weeks before you travel; the hospital is basic, and serious cases go abroad.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.