BIOMES
Tropical rainforest
Grassland
Freshwater
Ocean
EXPERIENCES
Family
Honeymoon
Intrepid
Photography
Birdwatching
Marine
Cultural Conservation
SPECIES
Manta Ray
Green sea turtle
Palau flying fox
Palauan fruit dove
Palauan horned star
Mandarinfish
Crocodilefish
Napolean wrasse
Sharks
BEST TIME TO VISIT
December – April
VISIT PALAU
Palau is an archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean, an oasis of unique flora and fauna and outstanding biodiversity. Renowned for its pristine coral reefs, Palau shelters a kaleidoscope of marine life, including reef sharks, manta rays and colourful coral formations. Its iconic Jellyfish Lake is home to millions of stingless jellyfish and the Palauan communities remain deeply connected to the environment, maintaining unique traditions that are displayed with dancing, storytelling and ancient stone monoliths. Engage with exemplary conservation projects, such as the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, Island Conservation’s preservation of island ecosystems and Scripps’ research of marine habitats as you discover Palau’s commitment to the safeguarding of its natural treasures and the coexistence of ecological preservation and cultural heritage.
Hosted journey
to Palau
The journey will be hosted by Dr. Penny Becker, Island Conservation’s Vice President of Conservation, and Dr. Stuart Sandin, a community ecologist and Director of the Centre of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Your days will be spent discovering the extraordinary on-land and under-sea wonders of Palau. You will dive and snorkel in colourful reefs, kayak in sheltered lagoons, hike forest trails and explore archeological heritage sites.
Conservation
impact
Our Impact Pledge is our commitment to support the advancement of pioneering conservation projects through direct donations with every journey. In 2023, and our second calendar year, we raised and directed over $50,000 to grassroot conversation projects. We do this by created hosted and private conservation travel experiences in Palau and around the world.
YOUR IMPACT
PEOPLE AND PROJECTS
WITH PURPOSE
PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE:
PENNY BECKER
Penny joined Island Conservation in January 2020 and, as Vice President of Conservation, will be your terrestrial journey host. She received a BS in Biology from Willamette University and PhD in Wildlife Management from the University of Pretoria. After several years spent living, travelling and working internationally, Penny returned to the U.S Pacific Northwest where her work focused on recovering at-risk wildlife species and conserving biodiversity. Her wide-ranging conservation and research experience includes coastal community initiatives, fisher re-establishment and building cooperation across diverse people for natural resource challenges and establishing partnerships with governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations, citizens, and industries for wildlife.
PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE:
Stuart Sandin
Stuart Sandin is a community ecologist interested in considering the patterns of change in marine ecosystems, in particular, noting how ecological communities respond to variations in environmental conditions. His research focuses largely on the ecology of coral reefs with the goal of finding effective management and restoration approaches for this threatened ecosystem.
Having received a BS in ecology, behaviour and evolution from UC San Diego and PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University, Dr. Sandin is a professor and serves as the Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Stuart will be your marine journey host.
PROJECTS WITH PURPOSE:
ISLAND CONSERVATION
Island Conservation, a global nonprofit, is dedicated to preventing extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. Collaborating with local communities, government management agencies, and conservation organizations, they target islands with the highest potential for preventing the extinction of globally threatened species. Island Conservation develops humane plans for invasive species removal, implements these plans, and conducts research to understand the positive impact on island ecosystems. Their comprehensive approach contributes significantly to safeguarding vulnerable native species and fostering resilient, balanced island environments while informing future conservation strategies.