Melekeok Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Melekeok.
Palau's public health hub sits in Koror; Melekeok has a tiny dispensary open weekday mornings only.
Belau National Hospital (Koror, 35 min) takes referrals. Bring cash or card. Foreigners pay upfront.
Stock up at Penthouse Drug or Surangel & Sons in Koror before driving to Melekeok. The capital has no pharmacy.
Officials at Palau International Airport demand proof of medical-evacuation cover before they stamp you in.
- ✓ Pack a pocket reef kit: antiseptic, waterproof plasters, tweezers for sea-urchin spines.
- ✓ Give your guide your blood type and allergies. The local clinic still files paper charts.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
The equatorial UV index tops 11 most days. Glare from white Capitol roofs and the lagoon doubles burn speed.
No streetlights line the Compact Road through Melekeok. Dogs nap on the warm tarmac and Friday-night drink-drivers are routine.
Entries from the old Japanese pier hide fire coral and the odd stonefish.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Guys at the dock may insist you owe a 'chief's fee' to snorkel near Melekeok. No such charge exists.
Drivers often quote a flat fare that ignores the tariff sheet taped inside the cab.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Enter water with a buddy; Melekeok has no permanent lifeguard.
- • Carry a surface-marker buoy. Local boat traffic cuts close to shore.
- • Fuel at the Koror roundabout before heading east. The next pump is 50 km away.
- • Keep headlights on during daytime rain squalls, Palauan law.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Women travelling alone say they feel relaxed walking between Melekeok hotels and the Capitol by daylight. Evening meet-ups are normally set up through hotels.
- → Accept lifts only from registered taxis with yellow plates. Private cars rarely carry passenger insurance.
Same-sex relations legal. No anti-discrimination statute.
- → Word of mouth can hook you up with gay-friendly dive operators in Koror who run day trips to Melekeok reef sites.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Medical evacuation to Manila opens at US$18,000; insurers demand prior approval before the plane leaves Palau.
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