Many travelers dream of one day exploring the tropical paradise of Polynesia – visions of fire twirling, overwater bungalows, and drinking from coconuts dancing in their heads. Far fewer ever think about exploring Micronesia, one of Polynesia’s counterparts in Oceania lying mostly north of the equator. The region is home to thousands of tiny islands and islets stretching across thousands of miles, from Kiribati in the southeast to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the northwest. The remoteness of these islands have led to the development of diverse cultures within the region. These islands also feature vastly different geographies for the intrepid traveler to explore – some are mountainous, covered in dense rainforests, others are coral atolls peaking just a few feet above sea level. For these reasons, a traveler exploring this region is offered a bounty of things to see and experience. Here is an introduction to a few of the island nations who call Micronesia home. travel guide Micronesia

Republic of the Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands are a chain of coral atolls lying approximately 2,400 miles to the southwest of Hawaii. These islands average just a few feet above sea level, and are typically no more than a few hundred feet wide, so land-based activities are few and far between. However, adventure-seeking explorers can venture out of the main island, Majuro, to some of the far-reaching outer island atolls for spectacular diving and surfing. A handful of divers each year are lucky enough to dive on one of the most unique and restricted sites in the world, Bikini Atoll. History buffs will recall this was the site of U.S. nuclear testing; the island is still restricted for habitation and fish from the lagoon are unsafe to eat, but the reduced pressure from fishing has sparked a massive boom in marine life on the reefs and shipwrecks here. It is arguably one of the best dive sites in the Marshall Islands. travel guide Micronesia

Federated States of Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are made up of four main islands (Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, and Yap), surrounded by over 600 smaller outer-lying islands, spanning nearly 1,700 miles of ocean. This geographic remoteness has led to wide cultural diversity across the nation.

Kosrae

Each of the main islands are appealing in different ways. Kosrae’s moniker as the “Land of the Sleeping Lady”, a reference to how the mountain peaks resemble a reclining woman, is truly fitting. Kosrae is a small, quiet, sleepy island. It’s lush mountain terrain and beautiful coral reefs make it the perfect spot for a traveler who is looking to unwind and reconnect with nature (bonus: my favorite resort on island hosts yoga retreats). Kosrae offers a number of jungle hikes, waterfalls, preserved ruins of the earliest inhabitants, World War II (WWII) sites, and dozens of pristine reefs, shipwrecks, surfing, as well as its own Blue Hole to explore. travel guide Micronesia

Sleeping Lady

Pohnpei

Pohnpei is livelier than Kosrae, with a number of bars, restaurants, and even a two auditorium movie theater. It is also is the island to visit for the best hiking, surfing, and fishing in FSM. The diving in Pohnpei is also excellent; manta dives are the main attraction here, and the lucky diver might even spot a few orcas. A true wonder of the ancient world can be found on Pohnpei – Nan Madol, a city of megalithic structures constructed on a series of man-made islets, lies nearly hidden just off the coast in the Madolenihmw village.

Nan Madol

Chuuk

However, for the serious diver, Chuuk is the island that cannot be missed. Chuuk lagoon boasts the largest concentration of wreck dives in the world. In 1944, the U.S. launched Operation Hailstone, sinking 50 ships and 265 aircraft. Many of the wrecks lie in 100-120’ of water, making them easily accessible to an advanced certified diver. travel guide Micronesia

Yap

For a traveler looking for an unforgettable cultural experience, Yap is one of the most fascinating islands in the entire region. Try to time your visit around March 1, to experience Yap Day – a colorful celebration of Yapese heritage. Work with local guides to arrange a visit to one of Yap’s many outer islands, to have an immersive experience in the local culture. If you can’t make it to the outer islands, don’t worry. A guided tour of the villages on Yap can be arranged, where you’ll learn about the history and value of Yap’s stone money, walk along centuries old stone paths leading to thatched roof faluw (men’s house) or p’ebay (community house), important traditional meeting houses.

Palau

Palau’s population is small, and the main island is rather sleepy, save for the disco on Friday nights at Taj, the best Indian restaurant in the Pacific (you heard it here first). If you do have a day to spend on the main island, take an easy hike to the Ngardmau waterfall or the Ngardok Nature Reserve, visit the enchanting Badrulchau stone monoliths, and buy a day pass to relax at the M&A Beach Bungalows, offering one of the only swaths of natural each on the island. travel guide Micronesia

Golden Jellyfish – Jellyfish Lake

However, Palau’s crown jewel, the Rock Islands, make this island a must-do for anyone traveling in the region. The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasting 445 mushroom-shaped limestone islands surrounded by the most brilliant shade of turquoise lagoons. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs, and swarming with marine life. Palau established the first shark sanctuary in the world, and now their populations of 13 shark species are thriving, providing divers amazing viewing opportunities.

For those not dive certified, a variety of tours are offered to allow visitors to kayak, snorkel, or simply view from the boat the majesty that is the Rock Islands. Jellyfish Lake, a protected marine lake, is a major draw to the Rock Islands, but there are dozens of other fascinating lagoons where snorkelers can spot colorful mandarin fish, juvenile black tip reef sharks, cuttlefish, moon jellyfish (different than the Golden jellyfish of Jellyfish Lake), and hundreds of other marine species.

Guam

Guam is the most developed island in the region, complete with luxury shopping, resorts, white sand beaches, and chain restaurants. Don’t let that dismay you though, Guam is a beautiful island that offers plenty of activities for adventure travelers. In addition to diving, fishing, and kayaking, Guam’s topography begs to be explored on foot. Locals take part in weekly “boonie stomps”, or treks through thick jungle usually ending at a waterfall or deep underground caves. Visitors to the island can join the non-profit Guam Boonie Stompers on Saturdays for $2.00 guided hikes.

Two Lovers Point

Even though Guam is the most populated island in Micronesia, the southern end of the island is mostly uninhabited. Rent a car and drive toward Inajaran for even more gorgeous scenic views and secluded beaches.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Saipan, the most populated of the small island chain, has a flourishing tourism industry that makes it feel more similar to Guam or Waikiki, with a bit of Vegas flare, than the rest of Micronesia. The small main strip in Garapan boasts a mini-strip of luxury shops and a handful of ostentatious casinos. The real draw, though, is on the north end of the island. Rent a car and drive Route 30 north for your self-guided tour of the main attractions on the island. Stop first at the memorials to the fallen soldiers of Korea, and the Japanese last command post. Next, drive down to the Bonzai Cliffs, where dozens more memorials stand. From here, you can see the face of Suicide Cliff, where hundreds of Japanese soldiers and their families jumped to their deaths when American forces invaded. Drive up to the top of the cliff for more memorials, and a view of the islands of Rota and Tinian.

After this somber excursion, get back to nature with a jump into the whirlpool waters of the Grotto. You can finish your tour by driving to the observation deck for Bird Island, where you can be on the lookout for colonies of seabirds, sea turtles, and even whales. A little off the beaten path, just past the observation point, is the Kalabera cave. A newly installed observation deck allows visitors to peer into the skull-like cave where ancient Chamorro cave drawings indicate a sacred history.

Grotto

The islands of Rota and Tinian are small and sparsely populated, but travelers can enjoy many more WWII sites, as well as Chamorro ruins and cultural sites. Fishing and diving boats can be chartered for Saipan for a full day of activities on these small outposts.

The thousands of islands of Micronesia offer a diversity of culture, ecology, and topography. The journey to reach this forgotten region of the world is long, but for lovers of nature and history, the experiences to be had in Micronesia are unrivaled.

Sojourn Information

Culture & Safety Tips: If you do visit Yap during the Yap Day festival, note that in certain areas of the festival, traditional garb is required from participants and spectators. That means women will be topless, donning only their vibrant green, red, and yellow grass skirts.

Kosrae takes the Sabbath very seriously. Visitors to the island are encouraged to spend this day relaxing, rather than diving. Sometimes hikes are arranged for visitors and ex-pats on Sunday, so work with your hotel and local guides to determine an acceptable activity, or simply spend the day relaxing and enjoying the idyllic scenery of the island.

Chuuk does have a reputation in the region for being the most unruly. Visitors should play it safe by retiring to their hotels after sundown. The two main dive operations, Truk Stop and Blue Lagoon, both offer scenic patios where divers can spend the evening hours enjoying dinner, drinks, and incredible sunsets.

What to Pack: The region is hot and humid most of the year. The amount of rainfall varies by island – some have distinct wet and dry seasons, and others are wet nearly year-round. The islands of FSM and RMI are more conservative than the others, particularly for women. Try to pack clothes that will keep you cool, but are also not too revealing to avoid stares, whispers, and cat-calls from adolescent boys. Make sure to pack your dive and snorkel equipment, some good hiking shoes, a GoPro, and a good camera. Checked bags go through the ringer out here, so make sure to pack something durable. Check out our essential travel gear page for all of our tried and tested travel gear.

Where to Stay: Here are links to my favorite hotels in Kosrae, Saipan, Guam, Yap, and Majuro. Find more of my recommendations on what to see and do in the Federated States of Micronesia here.

Non-Rev Travel: Non-rev travelers have many options for getting to the jumping off points of Honolulu for the easternmost islands and Guam for the westernmost islands. Zed options become extremely limited after that, as United Airlines is the only U.S.-based carrier servicing the islands of FSM and RMI. On that note, non-revving on United’s “Island Hopper” route is something of a bucket list item for many aviation geeks, and I can attest that it is truly a unique flying experience. Besides United, smaller international carriers tend to cycle through the region, the most recent being Air Nuigini (though, buyer beware).

Micronesia is a rarely-explored, but fascinating region of the world. I have had the great honor to travel throughout the region dozens of times throughout the last few years, and I highly recommend exploring the region to adventurous travelers seeking new experiences. Have you been to Micronesia, or do you plan to go? Leave a comment below!

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