Archives: Destinations

Visit Kosrae for its ecotourism, culture, and history. Explore the ruins of Menke and Lelu for an amazing experience. Menke ruins consist of basalt walls and platforms for religious practices. It is the site of worship of the Goddess Singlaku. Lelu ruins are a remnant of Kosrae’s architectural prowess evident as early as the 15^th century.

Kids will love to hike the Mt. Finkol trail, which requires at least eight hours and a tour guide. See the mangroves in the James Palsis and the Utwe-Walung marine parks. Go to the Wiya Bird Cave to see the home of the swiftlets of the island. A visit to YELA Ka Forest is a must. It is the only island in the world with tree species of Terminalia Carolines. Other places of interest are the clam farm, the Sipyen waterfall and of course the beaches of Kosrae. The beaches are stretches of silver sand and offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

Throughout the Marshall Islands, there are many choices for hotel or bed and breakfast accommodations. On Majuro, you will discover a range of hotels with a variety of services and rooms.There are also many exciting opportunities to experience the outer islands and distant atolls and to meet the people of the Marshall Islands.

Air Marshall Islands (AMI), the national airline, provides transportation between the atolls and islands of the Marshall Islands.

Where to stay:

• Pacific International Apartments
• Marshall Islands Resort
• Hotel Robert Reimes 

Apart from exploring the spectacular geography and geology of the Marshall Islands and partaking in activities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing, there are several other activities to enjoy as well. Guided military and WWII tours will interest the war and history buffs. So will the Alele Museum and Public Library, which showcases the history of the Marshallese culture. The museum, which is located next to the courthouse in Uliga, has several well-preserved tools and artifacts depicting how the early islanders lived.

Another activity worth trying is shopping. Despite its small size and humble roots, Marshall Islands do not disappoint tourists who enjoy shopping during vacations. The island has several shops selling arts, crafts and souvenirs, which can be bought for fairly cheap rates. The specialty of the island is the local curios prepared by islanders. The special weaving patterns and boat-construction techniques are also a specialty and you can purchase miniature boats and canoes to take home.

Once known as one of the “fishiest” places in the world (“fishy” being a reference to the island’s overabundance of different varieties of fishes), the Marshall Islands continues to impress with its seafood-based cuisine to this day.

In addition to seafood, fresh fruits are another specialty of the Marshall Islands. Pandanus, breadfruit, cassava, gin, sweet potato, and lime as well as the traditional dishes prepared with them, are among the “must-haves” on the island.

You can enjoy fresh seasonal produce and a variety of traditional dishes from hawker stalls lining the road from Laura to Ajeltake. You will also find several eateries selling popular dishes from Chinese, Filipino, Japanese and other oriental cuisines. For more contemporary and International cuisines, head to restaurants such as the Tide Table (by Robert Reimers Enterprises) and Enra Restaurant (by the Marshall Islands Resorts).

The Majuro Atoll, comprising 53 islets, is the most beautiful and important (politically, economically and transport-wise) constituent of the Marshall Islands. It has been named the “Pearl of the Pacific” and offers several pristine white beaches (in Laura, the far west of the atoll) and several stunning landscapes and prolific deep-sea fishing activities (in Arno Atoll).

Kwajalein is one of the world’s largest atolls (as measured by lagoon size – 1722 sq km). Comprising 97 islands and islets, the southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island, which its majority English-speaking residents often refer to as ‘Kwaj’. The atoll is also used as a base for orbital rocket launches and on it is located one of the five ground stations used in controlling the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system. Furthermore, the atoll serves as a seaport, air stop and US navy base.

On the outer islands, you can find some great spots for fishing or diving. The locals of the outer islands use traditional korkor canoes and offer trips to uninhabited islands around. Those interested in the military history of the island during World War II will also find a lot to learn and explore on the outer islands.

The Northern Mariana Island contain a number of casinos to cater to foreign tourists. There is a major casino in the island of Tinian. There are also many poker houses that will appeal to westerners.

Nevertheless, snorkeling and scuba diving are still the top activity in the Northern Mariana Islands. The islands saw fierce fighting during the Second World war so many ship wrecks dot the ocean floor. Your hotel can help you arrange for a visit to one of these spots.

If you want to go shopping, there are many places in the capital Garappan (located on Saipan). Garapan street market, DFS Galleria (for duty free shopping), Star Sands Plaza (for souvenirs), Joeten, ABC stores are some famous shopping places. There are also many bars on the main land which have good ambiance such as Johnny’s Bar, Joe’s Bar, GIG Nightclub (shaped like a miniature pyramid), The Flair, Dionysis and more.

Accommodation is in both traditional Pohnpeian thatched roofed bungalows with garden showers, and Western-style hotels. There is no public transport, only taxis and rental cars, but most hotels offer shuttle services. Tourist facilities are clean and the service is friendly.

Where to Stay

Sea Breeze Hotel

Sea Breeze Hotel

Micronesia

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A visit to the Pohnpeian cultural centers is a must for anyone wishing to experience traditional Pohnpeian life. Each center has a distinctive program and performances include traditional dancing, singing, music, ceremonial sakau making, handicraft arts, and food preparation. The village shops specialize in handicrafts and popular items include carvings of sharks, fish, dolphins and canoes.

When it comes to relaxing, try sakau, the numbing local drink which is used in ceremonies and also sold in bars.

Nan Madol is reached by boat from the main town of Kolonia about 45 minutes away. It’s a full day boat tour which includes a visit to the spectacular Keprohi Waterfall and snorkeling in the lagoon.

A 20-minute ride out of Kolonia takes you to the Nanpil River where further along are the spectacular Liduduhniap Twin Waterfalls, complete with thatched huts where you can picnic in a jungle setting.

A day trip to privately owned Black Coral Island in the lagoon is the perfect way to safely snorkel the reef and, for a family day, visit Langer island with its simple cottages where visitors can stay overnight. In Kolonia, you can see the Spanish Wall, built in 1889 as a boundary for Fort Alphonso XII. Nearby is the Catholic Mission Bell Tower, all that remains of the old German church torn down by the Japanese during WWII.

Also, take a stroll into the Polynesian village and watch the craftsmen whittle ornaments from locally grown ivory seed. Most tours operate from Kolonia, and many of the waterfalls and areas of historical and ecological importance can only be reached by guided tour.