• Explore the capital, Koror, the busiest centre in the islands with many gift shops, restaurants and other resort facilities. While there, visit the Palau National Museum, where more than 1,000 relics of Palau's past are housed including shell money and traditional weapons.

• Roam around Babeldaob, Palau's biggest island at about 43km (27 miles) long and 24km (15 miles) across at its widest, and incorporating steep mountains, freshwater lakes and sand dunes.

• See the 37 stone monoliths known as Badrulchau, concrete examples of Babeldaob's early civilisation. Stone foundations, pillars and other remnants of Palau's history are also located at Imeungs in the island's southwest.

• Go snorkelling, sea kayaking, sailing and fishing around the beautiful Rock Islands.

• Swim in jellyfish-infested waters but don't get stung. Millions of jellyfish inhabit Jellyfish Lake, cut off from the rest of the ocean, and snorkellers can get up close as they no longer have their stings.

• Visit the island of Peleliu, which forms the southern boundary of the Rock Islands. In 1985 it was designated a US National Historic Landmark, owing to the part it played in WWII. Abandoned tanks, helmets and bomb casings are still dotted throughout the island.

• Enjoy Palau's excellent dive sites, including: Blue Corner; Ngemelis Wall, aka the Big Drop-off, and praised by Jacques Cousteau; the German Channel, known for its manta rays; Siaes Tunnel, an enormous underwater cavern where white-tip reef sharks are common; and Chandelier Cave, underwater chambers filled with stalactites.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.