Discovering Culinary Delights: Top Restaurants in Palau for Every Foodie

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Juan

Palau, an enchanting archipelago nestled in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, is not just a haven for divers and adventurers but also a burgeoning hotspot for culinary enthusiasts. From traditional Palauan dishes to international cuisine, the island’s dining scene offers a taste of paradise for every palate. This guide explores some of the top restaurants in Palau, ensuring you savor every bite of your visit.

restaurants in palau

1. Elilai Restaurant & Bar Perched atop a hill overlooking the pristine waters, Elilai Restaurant & Bar offers a blend of local and international flavors, making it a must-visit for those who appreciate a view with their meal. Their seafood, sourced directly from the local fishermen, presents a fresh and flavorful dining experience. Signature dishes like the grilled parrotfish enveloped in rich, local spices are a testament to the island’s culinary traditions.

2. Taj Palau For those craving flavors from afar, Taj Palau provides a delectable escape to the tastes of India. This restaurant is renowned for its authentic curries and tandoori dishes, which are meticulously prepared to ensure a genuine taste that appeals to both new and familiar palates. The friendly atmosphere and attentive service make it a perfect family dinner or casual business meeting spot.

3. Carp Restaurant Carp Restaurant, situated in the bustling heart of Koror, is a favorite among locals and tourists. It specializes in Japanese cuisine, offering an extensive menu that includes sushi, sashimi, and tempura. The minimalist decor and traditional Japanese seating area provide an authentic dining experience, complementing the exquisite food.

4. The Drop Off Bar & Grill Located conveniently at the Palau Royal Resort, The Drop Off Bar & Grill is ideal for those looking to relax after a day of exploring. With its casual beachfront setting, you can enjoy a panoramic ocean view while tasting their famous fish and chips or sipping on a refreshing tropical cocktail.

5. Kramer’s Cafe This quaint cafe is a hidden gem in Malakal, known for its cozy ambiance and excellent selection of Mediterranean dishes. Kramer’s Cafe is particularly popular for its evening settings, where diners can indulge in perfectly cooked pasta and homemade pizzas under the stars.

6. Umi Cafe Umi Cafe is the go-to place for a quick and satisfying meal in a laid-back environment. Known for its robust coffee and hearty breakfasts, it’s a popular morning spot for both early birds and late risers. Their sandwiches and wraps, made with freshly baked bread, are perfect for lunch on the go.

Savoring Palau’s Culinary Scene

Each restaurant in Palau offers a unique window into the region’s diverse culinary landscape, influenced by its rich cultural heritage and abundant natural resources. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, the flavors of Palau are sure to leave a lasting impression.

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Your Ultimate Guide to Traveling to Palau: Tips for a Seamless Journey

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Juan

Embarking on a journey to the enchanting archipelago of Palau can be the adventure of a lifetime. Nestled in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, Palau is a paradise for divers, nature lovers, and those seeking tranquility away from the bustling tourist spots. Here’s your comprehensive guide on how to get to Palau, including the best travel routes, tips for finding flights, and advice on entry requirements.

how to get to palau

Finding Your Flight to Palau

1. Major Airports and Airlines
The primary gateway to Palau is through the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport, located near the capital city of Koror. Major airlines that service this route include United Airlines, Asiana Airlines, and China Airlines, offering flights from several key transit hubs:

  • From the United States: The most common route is from Honolulu, Hawaii, which connects directly to Palau.
  • From Asia: Direct flights are available from Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and Taipei, Taiwan.

2. Booking Tips
To secure the best deals:

  • Plan Ahead: Booking your flight well in advance can help you snag lower prices.
  • Use Flight Comparison Tools: Websites like Skyscanner or Kayak allow you to compare prices across multiple airlines and choose the most economical option.
  • Consider Off-Peak Travel: Flying during the off-peak season can dramatically reduce costs and enhance your experience by avoiding the crowds.

Entry Requirements and Visas

1. Visa Policies
Palau welcomes tourists from many countries visa-free for stays up to 30 days, with possible extensions. It’s crucial to check the latest entry requirements based on your nationality before making travel plans.

2. COVID-19 Considerations
As travel norms continue to evolve due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensure to verify any health and safety protocols that might be in place. This might include vaccination requirements, testing, or quarantine measures.

Getting Around in Palau

Once you arrive, there are various transportation options available:

  • Car Rentals: Renting a car is a popular choice for flexibility and convenience.
  • Taxis and Shuttles: These are readily available at the airport and hotels.
  • Tour Services: Many visitors opt for guided tours, especially for activities like scuba diving and island hopping.

Tips for a Memorable Palau Visit

  • Respect Local Customs: Palauans are proud of their cultural heritage. Showing respect to local customs and traditions will enrich your experience.
  • Environment Conservation: Palau is renowned for its pristine natural environment and biodiversity. Participate in conservation efforts by respecting wildlife and natural habitats.
  • Explore Beyond the Beaten Path: While the Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake are must-sees, exploring lesser-known areas can provide unique experiences.

Conclusion

Visiting Palau offers an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the world’s most spectacular natural environments. By planning your trip carefully and respecting the local ecosystem, you can ensure a trip that’s as smooth as it is memorable. Safe travels!

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Lintaon Peak: A View Of Baybay City’s Captivating 16,000 Blossoms

Posted on August 5, 2022 by Juan

If you’re looking for a unique tourist experience, visit the beautiful 16,000 blossoms at Lintaon Park. Situated at Baybay City’s highest point, the peak is visited by many local and foreign tourists for its bed of white and red synthetic roses.

lintaon peak baybay leyte

For your next travel destination, you might want to head down the west coast of Leyte to a quaint city called Baybay. It faces Cebu’s Camotes Islands and is famous for its beaches. If you want to skip the sand and shore and prefer a good mountain view, Lintaon Peak is perfect for you.

Lintaon Peak is a popular tourist spot for those looking for a one-of-a-kind experience. Be surrounded with over 16,000 “blossoms” or LED-powered white and red roses that form the phrase “I Love Baybay.” It’s the perfect venue for a romantic getaway with your loved one or share the experience with your family and friends. The place is truly “Instagrammable” and great for photos!

What To Do

So you can truly enjoy the 16,000 blossoms, it’s best to visit Lintaon Park at night. The synthetic roses will light up and fill the place with a captivating bloom like no other. Even better, you can sleep amid the LED roses and inquire about overnight camping since the place is open 24 hours.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy the place even during the daytime. Since it’s situated atop a mountain, it’s a popular tourist spot to enjoy the fresh air and get a breathtaking panoramic view of the Leyte Cordillera and the vast mountainside of Baybay City. It’s great when you need a break and rest from a day of touring the city. Head down around late afternoon, and you can enjoy sunset watching on their viewing deck.

Another tourist attraction in Lintaon Peak is an 8-foot-tall statue of the Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion, the patroness of Baybay City.

How To Get There

To reach Lintaon Park in Baybay City, you must book a flight bound for Tacloban City. You can ride a public jeep from the airport to Tacloban’s downtown area. From there, take a bus or an air-conditioned van going to Baybay City. Travel time from Tacloban City to Baybay City may take around 2 to 2 and a half hours with a fare of P150.

Upon reaching Baybay Terminal, look for ‘habal-habal’ or motorycles bound for Lintaon Peak. Don’t worry because they’re easy to spot in the terminal area. Fare is around P50 with a travel time of 20-30 minutes.

So, what are you waiting for? Plan your next trip and head down the Lintaon Park, where the 16,000 blossoms await you!

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Explore Baybay Parish Church, A Must-See Religious & Tourist Spot in Baybay, Leyte

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Juan

As the country with the largest Catholic population in Asia, it’s no wonder the Philippines is home to many stunning church structures and religious hubs. Head down southwest in Baybay City, and you can visit the beautiful Immaculate Conception Parish Church, also known as Baybay Parish Church.

Church of Baybay Leyte

Joelaldor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Suroy Baybay” or visit Baybay, if you want to see tourist spots minus the big crowds and hustle bustles of big cities. If you’re unfamiliar with Baybay City, it’s located on the western coast of Leyte, fronting the Camotes Islands of Cebu. This quaint city attracts locals and foreign visitors for its popular tourist spots such as Lintaon Peak, Cave Mount Pangasugan, Baybay Parish Church, and more.

If you’re a pilgrim or a regular tourist appreciating historical architecture, a visit to the Baybay Parish Church is surely a must-do when you’re around Leyte. Its rich history and structure will surely captivate your interest. If you’re looking for a quick trip guide, we have you covered!

History

The Baybay Paris Church or the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Baybay dates back to 1852. A Spanish friar named Vicente Coronado initiated the baroque style that was popular in Catholic churches at that time.

The Baybay Parish was truly built by the hands of the people of Baybay. Under Father Coronado, workers gathered to work for free labor to build their church for 10 years. Soon, a “maestro” from Manila, Maestro Proceso was invited to finally finish the construction.

Unfortunately, a big fire engulfed the church in 1866. Luckily or probably “miraculously,” the Holy Cross Chapel was spared. It was Capitan Mateo Espinoso, a renowned sculptor and painter, who helped bring the finishing touches to life. The beautiful altar and rails we can see now are all his works.

What to do

The city of Baybay is popular for its beaches and also its faith tourism. It has been a popular tourist spot for pilgrims and religious people looking for churches and holy places.

When you decide to visit the Baybay Parish, you not only visit a historical church but also get treated down memory lane. The church walls are made of baked bricks and coral rocks with stunning Baroque-style architecture. Because different artists have constructed it through time, it represented Baybayanons’ rich history and European church design.

The Baybay Parish Church has a grand altar with four marble columns, representing Neoclassical design. The original antique image of the Immaculate Conception is made of wood and ivory. However, it isn’t always open to the public because it’s kept for preservation. A concrete image is currently displayed instead. It also has a huge bell inside a belfry that is more than 150 years old!

If you’re looking for grand church festivities, you can visit Baybay Church every December 27. It’s the annual pastoral feast of the church in honor of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of Baybay City. It’s also celebrated in time for the Binaybayon Festival, the city’s celebration of its cultural heritage.

However, the Baybay Parish is open for you any time of the year if you’re looking for a quiet and solemn time for prayer and reflection.

How to get there

To reach Baybay, you must first reach Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte. You can fly via local airlines directly to Tacloban City. From there, you can ride a bus or air-conditioned van to Baybay City. The Baybay Parish Church is around 107km from Tacloban City.

So, the next time you plan your Visita Iglesia or a trip around Leyte, include the Baybay Parish Church in your itinerary. It’ll definitely be worth your time and visit!

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The 4 Islands to Visit When in Hundred Islands

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Juan

With more than 100 islets scattered along the sea, there are more than a hundred things to do and visit in the Hundred Islands National Park of Alaminos, Pangasinan. Most of them are not yet developed, save from four major ones, which are the center of tourism activities on the island. However, seeing random islands appear one by one as you sail along the sea is such a fantastic experience. However, please don’t take our word for it. You’ve got to experience it.

Hundred_Island_National_Park,_Pangasinan

View from atop Martha Island 2: Elmer nev valenzuela [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Here are the four major islands in the Hundred Islands where you would be more likely to take a stop during your island hopping tour.

Quezon Island

The most developed among the islands, there are two covered dining areas, as well as nipa huts for guests to take a rest and eat while hopping from one island into another. Aside from a resting area, guests can also snorkel here, as the surrounding water is teeming with a diversity of marine life.

Governor’s Island

Aside from being the site of the Pinoy’s Big Brother house, the island has the highest elevation among all. Thus, a viewing deck was installed on this island so visitors can get a glimpse of how the entire marine park looks like from above. There is also a cove that is ideal for swimming, and a cave that people can pass by on their way down from the viewing deck.

Children’s Island

This one is the ideal island for the entire family to enjoy, especially the children; hence, the name Children’s Island. The surrounding beach is shallow enough for the kids to enjoy.

Marcos Island

Another island suitable for swimming, the Marcos Island also boasts of a cliff that serves the brave souls as they jump to the blue-green waters below. Helmet diving is another activity that one can do inside Marcos Island.

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6 Interesting Sites in Banaue You Should Visit

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Juan

What’s not to love about Banaue? The crisp air, the lush green surrounding, the warm people—not to mention the rich history and culture that you could not find elsewhere.

Hagdan-hagdang_Palayan_ng_Banawe_(Banaue_Rice_Terraces)

Built with the minimal use of equipment, the rice terraces in Banaue were carved on the mountains of Ifugao by Filipino indigenous people 2,000 years ago.: Athena Lei Bada [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Banaue is best known for its world-famous rice terraces. After all, it was hailed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, not only for its beauty but for what it represents, as well. However, several equally beautiful and exciting spots in Banaue is worth visiting, as well. Here are six of them:

The Villages of Tam-an, Bocos, and Poitan

Witness the rich everyday lives of the Ifugao in their respective communities. See how they weave and carve their crafts in the Poitan village while learning about how huts reflect one’s status in life by visiting the Bocos village. Meanwhile, head on to Tam-an village and pay homage to the Ifugao ancestors and see their bones wrapped in a colorful, woven blanket.

The Banaue Museum and the Museum of Cordillera Sculpture

Drink in the rich cultural heritage of the people of Banaue through these museums. The Banaue Museum features a collection of antiques and artifacts, including the collection of the Father of Philippine Anthropology, H. Otley Beyer. On the other hand, marvel at the collection of Ifugao woodcarvings, ritual objects, weaponry, and smoked human skulls at the Museum of Cordillera Sculpture.

Awan-Igid-Pula-Cambulo Hiking Trail

Every corner of Banaue has something worth seeing, so why not see all these attractions in a trek? Go on an all-day hike following the Awan-Igid-Pula-Cambulo hiking trail and enjoy the natural beauty of this place.

Tappiya Falls

Banaue has many surprises and seeing Tappiya Falls after two- to three-hour trek will, not only surprise but will amaze you, as well. Also, since you are already there, why don’t you take a dip, relax those muscles, and just commune with nature.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLy4X1LQnug

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