Yap Island Micronesia Colonia FSM
Micronesia

2 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Ponant (2 Cruises)


Frequently Asked Questions

At the small quay in Colonia, in Tomil harbour. The channel through the barrier reef is barely wider than the ship, and sea conditions sometimes force a captain to cancel the call.
The rai: large stone discs pierced through the centre, some weighing several tonnes, brought from Palau by canoe generations ago. They still hold exchange value and rest along the paths, leaned against trees or lined up in front of the community houses.
Without moving an inch. The pieces change owner at marriages or agreements, and the whole village knows who owns what. A disc's value depends less on its size than on the story of its voyage, shipwrecks and feats included.
The Yap Living History Museum, within walking distance of the quay, then a guided excursion to the villages and their stone banks. Divers head out to see the manta rays in the reef channels.
A group of traditional thatched houses rebuilt using old techniques without a single nail, within walking distance of the quay. Craftspeople sometimes work wood or fibre there, and dances are performed when ships call.
No, a guided excursion is required: the land belongs to families and custom governs every movement. Guides lead you along old stone-paved paths beneath a canopy of kapok trees and coconut palms.
No: always ask permission before photographing people and places. The advice matters more here than almost anywhere, because Yap quietly chooses what it shares.
Yes, year-round. Yap's reef channels serve as cleaning stations for manta rays, which has given the island a global reputation among divers. Local dive centres run trips sized to fit a cruise call.
Yes, the nearby reefs suit mask and snorkel well, among hard corals and clouds of fish. The mantas, though, are mostly seen on scuba dives in the channels.
A few streets following the bay: simple shops, a market, schools, and outrigger canoes moored among the mangroves along the waterfront. It is a state capital with no monuments and no large hotels, and it makes no apology for it.