Things to Do in Palau in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Palau
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Prime dry season conditions with minimal rainfall despite 10 rainy days listed - December typically brings brief afternoon showers that clear within 20-30 minutes rather than all-day downpours, meaning you'll rarely lose a full diving or snorkeling day
- Water visibility peaks at 24-30 m (80-100 ft) during December as calmer seas and reduced runoff create ideal conditions for diving Palau's famous Blue Corner and German Channel - you're looking at some of the clearest water you'll see all year
- Manta ray and shark aggregations reach their peak in December as nutrient-rich currents converge around Palau's outer reefs - marine biologists working here will tell you this is genuinely the best month for pelagic encounters
- Tourist numbers remain manageable despite being technically high season - Palau's remote location and limited flight connections mean you'll never experience the crowds you'd see in Thailand or Philippines, even during peak months
Considerations
- Accommodation pricing jumps 30-40% compared to September-October shoulder season, with waterfront resorts in Koror reaching $250-400 per night during the Christmas and New Year weeks - book before September for any chance at lower rates
- Liveaboard diving trips book out 4-6 months ahead for December departures, and the limited number of operators means you'll pay premium rates of $350-450 per day with essentially zero last-minute availability
- That 70% humidity combined with 30°C (87°F) temperatures creates the kind of sticky heat that makes any non-water activity feel like work - hiking to Ngardmau Waterfall or exploring inland attractions means you'll be drenched in sweat within 15 minutes
Best Activities in December
Blue Corner and Peleliu Wall drift diving
December brings the strongest and most predictable currents to Palau's signature dive sites, which sounds counterintuitive but actually creates the conditions that draw massive schools of grey reef sharks, barracuda, and Napoleon wrasse. The current does the work while you drift along watching the show. Water temps sit at 28-29°C (82-84°F), so you'll be comfortable in a 3mm wetsuit. Visibility typically runs 24-30 m (80-100 ft), occasionally pushing to 40 m (130 ft) on exceptional days. You'll want Advanced Open Water certification minimum for these sites - the currents and depths aren't beginner-friendly.
Jellyfish Lake snorkeling
The golden jellyfish population tends to be most concentrated near the surface during December's calmer conditions, making this the most reliable month for that surreal experience of swimming through thousands of pulsating jellyfish. The lake reopened in 2019 after the population crashed, and numbers have been steadily rebuilding. December's lower rainfall means less freshwater runoff disrupting the lake's salinity layers where the jellyfish concentrate. You'll need the $100 Rock Island permit plus $50 Jellyfish Lake fee - yes, it's expensive, but the permit funds conservation work that's actually keeping this ecosystem viable.
Milky Way lagoon and Rock Islands kayaking
December's calmer seas make this the ideal month for kayaking through the Rock Islands' maze of limestone karsts and hidden lagoons. The Milky Way - a shallow lagoon with mineral-rich white mud that locals swear has skin-healing properties - sits protected enough that even December's occasional afternoon showers don't create dangerous conditions. You're looking at 3-4 hours of paddling covering roughly 8-10 km (5-6 miles), which sounds manageable but that humidity will test your endurance. Most tours leave at 8am to avoid the midday heat and return by 1pm before any afternoon weather moves in.
Peleliu Island WWII battlefield tours
December's drier conditions make the unpaved roads around Peleliu's battlefields actually passable - during wetter months you'll need serious 4WD and still might get stuck. The island saw some of the Pacific War's most brutal fighting in 1944, and the jungle has slowly reclaimed most of it, creating this eerie landscape of rusted tanks, concrete bunkers, and artillery pieces being consumed by banyan roots. It's genuinely moving if you have any interest in WWII history. The heat is intense though - you're looking at 4-5 hours of exposure with minimal shade, so this isn't for everyone.
Ngardmau Waterfall and interior jungle hiking
This is Palau's tallest waterfall at roughly 30 m (100 ft), accessed via a muddy 40-minute jungle trek that's actually more challenging than most tour descriptions suggest. December technically has less rainfall, but the trail stays perpetually muddy and slippery - proper hiking shoes with ankle support aren't optional. That said, the waterfall pool is deep enough for swimming and genuinely refreshing after the humid slog to reach it. You'll see far fewer tourists here compared to the marine sites, which is either a pro or con depending on your preference for solitude versus having help if someone twists an ankle on those roots.
Traditional Palauan cooking classes and bai meetings
December falls outside major festival periods, which actually makes it easier to arrange authentic cultural experiences rather than tourist-focused performances. Several family-run operations in Koror offer half-day sessions where you'll learn to prepare traditional dishes like fruit bat soup (yes, really - it's a delicacy here), taro, and fresh reef fish cooked in coconut milk. Some experiences include visits to a bai (traditional meeting house) where elders explain the intricate social systems that still govern Palauan life. These aren't polished tourist shows - expect genuine interaction that might feel awkward at first if you're not comfortable with less structured experiences.
December Events & Festivals
Christmas and New Year celebrations
Palau is roughly 65% Christian, so Christmas is genuinely celebrated rather than just being a tourist attraction. Churches across Koror hold midnight mass with traditional Palauan hymns that blend Pacific Islander harmonies with Catholic liturgy - attending as a respectful visitor is welcomed. New Year's Eve brings fireworks over Koror harbor and beach parties at the larger resorts, though honestly it's pretty low-key compared to major tourist destinations. What makes it special is the genuine community feel rather than manufactured tourist entertainment.