For most travelers, jellyfish are something to avoid. In a few isolated marine lakes, though, jellyfish evolved with stings so weak that you can snorkel through thousands of them. The most famous of these is Jellyfish Lake in Palau, and its status changes more often than most guides admit.
This guide starts with what matters right now: whether the lake is open, whether the jellyfish are there, and what permits cost. Then it covers the trip, the rules, and Indonesia’s jellyfish lakes.
Jellyfish Lake Status at a Glance (Checked October 2026)
| Item | Current status |
|---|---|
| Is the lake open? | Yes. Koror State allows visits with a Jellyfish Lake Permit. |
| Are the golden jellyfish there? | Yes. The Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) survey on September 16, 2026 put numbers in its top band (more than 100,000), with a green forecast. |
| Permit | Jellyfish Lake Permit US$100 per visitor aged 6 and up (Koror State) |
| How to visit | Snorkel only, on a boat tour from Koror |
| Scuba diving | Prohibited |
| Sunscreen | Reef-toxic sunscreens are banned in Palau; use a reef-safe mineral type or a rash guard |
Conditions can change within months, so check the CRRF conditions page and your operator the week you travel.
Is Palau’s Jellyfish Lake Open Right Now?
As of early October 2026, yes, and the jellyfish are back in good numbers. That has not always been true.
Jellyfish Lake, known locally as Ongeim’l Tketau, sits on Eil Malk (Mecherchar) in the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its golden jellyfish depend on lake temperature. When the water gets too warm, new jellyfish stop forming and the adults die off. The tiny polyps on the lake bed survive, so the population can rebuild once the lake cools.
- 1998: A strong El Nino wiped out the golden jellyfish for a time.
- 2016: Drought and heat crashed the population again. The lake closed to visitors and reopened in early 2019 after the jellies recovered.
- 2023 to 2025: Warm water pushed numbers down sharply, with reports of only a few thousand golden jellies in 2025. The lake stayed open, but many operators stopped going because visitors saw few or none.
- 2026: Numbers recovered. Some liveaboards put the lake back on their itineraries in March, CRRF recorded more than 100,000 golden jellies in July and again in September, and Koror tour company RITC announced its full-day Jellyfish Lake tour would return from October 1, 2026.
One caution: CRRF listed the current climate phase as El Nino in September 2026, and past El Nino years have been hard on the lake. Its forecast still favors jellyfish for the next three months, but recheck if your trip is further out.
Palau Permits, Fees, and Entry Rules
Every visitor to the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon needs a Koror State permit, and rangers check them at sea and at the lake. Operators sell it, usually on top of the tour price.
| Fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jellyfish Lake Permit | US$100 | Ages 6 and up. Covers Jellyfish Lake plus the Rock Islands tourist areas. |
| Rock Island Use Permit | US$50 | Ages 6 and up. Rock Islands only, not Jellyfish Lake. |
| Upgrade at the lake | US$75 extra | If you hold the US$50 permit and decide to add the lake, so decide up front. |
| Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee | US$100 | National fee, normally built into your international air ticket |
Permits are issued in your name and are not transferable. Koror State law sets validity at 10 days, but several Koror dive operators say validity was cut to 5 days from December 2024, so confirm when you buy, especially on a longer stay.
For entry to Palau itself:
- Passport: Valid for at least six months on arrival.
- Visa: US citizens do not need one, and many other nationalities get a 30-day visa on arrival. A few flagged nationalities need pre-clearance five days ahead. Check the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection site.
- Palau Entry Form: Complete it online within 72 hours before arrival and show the QR code at the airport.
- Palau Pledge: Every visitor signs this environmental promise, stamped into your passport on arrival.
How a Jellyfish Lake Trip Works
You visit Jellyfish Lake on a guided boat trip from Koror, usually as one stop on a full-day Rock Islands tour. Expect about 45 minutes by speedboat, then a short but steep trail over a limestone ridge to a floating dock. Wear water shoes and take the rocky stretches slowly; your knees will thank you on the way down.
Full-day tours combine the lake with spots like the Milky Way, Long Beach, and German Channel. As one example, RITC listed its full-day tour at US$155 for adults and US$104 for children (web early-booking price) for its October 2026 relaunch. Ask whether the permit, lunch, and gear are included.
Once in the water, you swim out from the dock to find the jellies. CRRF says the golden jellyfish follow the sun, swimming from west to east in the morning and turning back in the afternoon. On cloudy days they spread throughout the lake. The seasonal pattern also shifts:
- October to March: The migration runs closer to the south edge.
- May to August: Closer to the north edge.
- April and September: Toward the center.
From May to July, CRRF notes they are sometimes right by the dock around 3pm.
Jellyfish Lake Rules
- No scuba diving: The lake is stratified. Below about 12 m there is no oxygen and the water holds hydrogen sulfide, which is poisonous. Visitors must stay above 12 m, and snorkeling is the only way in.
- Reef-safe sunscreen only: Palau banned reef-toxic sunscreens in 2020, and products with banned ingredients can be confiscated on arrival. Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide formulas are the safe bet. CRRF asks you to apply it 30 minutes before you swim, or just wear a rash guard.
- Empty your pockets: Do not carry anything from the ocean into the lake, including shells and rocks.
- Swim gently: Slow, shallow kicks keep you from injuring the jellyfish. Never lift them out of the water.
Why Are These Jellyfish Harmless?
Jellyfish use stinging cells to catch prey and defend themselves. The golden jellyfish of Jellyfish Lake get much of their food from algae living in their tissue, which turn sunlight into energy, and they evolved in a lake with few predators. They still have stinging cells, but the sting is too weak for most people to feel. A few sensitive people report a faint tingle on the lips or face.
The lake also has moon jellyfish, which are mild too.
Best Time to Visit Jellyfish Lake
Palau is warm year-round, and you can visit the lake in any month. The drier, calmer stretch usually runs from about December to April, which means smoother boat rides and easier diving elsewhere. Jellyfish numbers matter more than season, though, so the CRRF forecast is your real planning tool.
Within a day, mornings and early afternoon on sunny days are best for seeing the jellies concentrated in one area.
Other Jellyfish Lakes: Indonesia Alternatives
Palau has dozens of marine lakes, but Jellyfish Lake is the only one open to visitors. Entry to the others is prohibited under Koror State law. Indonesia has the other well-known options, each with its own catch. For broader trip planning, see my Indonesia travel guide.
Kakaban Island, Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan
Kakaban’s inland lake is home to several stingless jellyfish species. After the jellyfish declined in late 2023, the island closed to visitors and reopened in 2025, but Indonesian media report that swimming in the lake is currently banned to support recovery. You can walk the boardwalk and view the lake from the decks. Do not plan around swimming here unless operators confirm the rule has changed.
Lenmakana Lake, Misool, Raja Ampat
In southern Misool, Lenmakana Lake is a community-managed site you can visit with a local guide or liveaboard. You pay a small local entry fee on top of the Raja Ampat marine park fee, which is sold online through the official Raja Ampat conservation area site. It is remote, so most visitors come by liveaboard or from a Misool resort.
Mariona Lake, Togean Islands, Central Sulawesi
The Togean Islands have a small jellyfish lake reached by boat trips from island resorts. It is smaller and quieter than Palau’s. Ask your resort about current conditions and swim without fins.
What Else to Do in Palau
Jellyfish Lake is usually one stop in a bigger Rock Islands trip, and the rest of the lagoon is spectacular even on a day when the jellies are scarce. My Rock Islands of Palau guide covers the highlights in more detail.
- Diving: Blue Corner and German Channel are among the best-known dive sites in the Pacific.
- Milky Way: A turquoise cove with white limestone mud that tours stop at for a swim.
If strange snorkels are your thing, my guide to snorkeling with salmon is a very different, very cold take on the idea.
Getting to Palau
Palau International Airport (ROR) is near Koror. In 2026, nonstop flights mainly connect through Guam, Manila, and Taipei, with frequencies that vary by season. Build in a buffer day before any connecting flight home. Palau uses the US dollar; cards work at most hotels and dive shops.
Routing through Manila makes it easy to pair Palau with the Philippines. My Tao Philippines expedition guide covers a multi-day island-hopping trip in Palawan. For booking, buffer, and backup-plan habits, see my flashpacker travel logistics hub.
Sample Three-Day Palau Plan
- Day 1: Arrive in Koror, buy your permit, and check lake conditions.
- Day 2: Full-day Rock Islands tour with Jellyfish Lake, the Milky Way, and a reef snorkel.
- Day 3: Dive or kayak, keeping this as a backup lake day if weather cancels day 2.
Final Thoughts
Snorkeling with jellyfish is one of the most peaceful things you can do underwater. Palau’s Jellyfish Lake is open and full of golden jellies again as of October 2026, but it is a living system that can change within a season. Check the CRRF forecast, buy the right permit, pack reef-safe sunscreen, and swim gently.
FAQs
Is Jellyfish Lake in Palau open?
Yes, as of October 2026. CRRF’s September 2026 survey counted more than 100,000 golden jellyfish with a favorable three-month forecast. Check the CRRF page before you go.
How much is the Jellyfish Lake permit?
US$100 per visitor aged 6 and up, from Koror State. It also covers the Rock Islands tourist areas. The cheaper US$50 Rock Island Use Permit does not include the lake.
Can you scuba dive in Jellyfish Lake?
No. Below about 12 m the lake has no oxygen and contains toxic hydrogen sulfide, so scuba is prohibited and visitors must stay near the surface.
Will the jellyfish sting me?
Most people feel nothing. The golden jellies have very weak stings, though sensitive skin may tingle. Swim gently and do not handle them.
Can you swim in Kakaban’s jellyfish lake?
Not right now, according to Indonesian media reports from 2026. The island has reopened, but visitors can only view the lake from the boardwalk. Confirm locally before you go.
