While boating in and out of Palau’s 300+ islets in search of the best snorkeling spots, we had found some spectacular sites loaded with colorful fish, gigantic clams, white tip sharks and intricate coral. All pretty much expected from notably one of the world’s best places to scuba dive. But, there was something very unexpected…
A natural mud bath in the most brilliant blue waters of Palau, the Milky Way.
The Milky Way, located in the rock islands of this Micronesian country, is known for its therapeutic properties. Locals claim that bathing in the white limestone mud found on the waters floor will make you look ten years younger.
Lather me up, this is one theory I am happy to test. Get me some mud. Pronto.
We anchored our boat in the center of the Milky Way and our trusty Sam Tour’s guide jumped into the shallow waters. He skillfully dove to the bottom of the ocean floor and scooped up the muddy clay, putting it into a plastic bucket. The ease of holding his breath indicated that he may have done this once or twice before.
We all playfully coated ourselves with this muck that was the consistency of smooth, wet cement. I made sure to not miss an inch of exposed skin, making certain that each spot would have potential of being a decade younger.
Even in between my toes now had a shot at being more youthful.
We waited about twenty minutes for it to completely dry, as this would give maximum benefit.
After my clay turned chalky and started cracking from the heat, I jumped into the 82 degree milky water to rinse off my limestone mud. It mostly disintegrated with the waters touch, but the remainder easily disappeared with a few quick rubs of the skin.
Though my skin did feel smoother at the moment, the chances of an entire ten years disappearing may have been slim, none of which mattered, because now I can officially check get a mud bath off my bucket list.
This post was provided in a partnership with Palau Visitors Center and Sam Tours. All opinions my own. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my links, I earn a commission that helps to keep this blog running—at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.
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Looks like you’ve had an amazing time. I’ve never seen natural water so blue in my entire life! So many experiences I am yet to have!
Not only was it blue, but it was really warm! My two favorite things when it comes to water :)
That’s the whitest mud I’ve ever seen! And also the most stunningly beautiful location for a mud bath ever. If you get to Cartagena in Colombia, check out the mud volcano nearby. It’s so much fun!
Thanks for giving me one more place to add to my bucket list!
I’d love to go to Palau! Look at how beautiful the water looks :-) Thanks for always helping me add to my list :-)
If you loved Hawaii, you will definitely LOVE Palau. Maybe on your wedding anniversary :)
The shade of blue/green water is beautiful against that lush forest, and the therapeutic mud. What a special place!
That’s the perfect word to describe it…special :)
This reminds me of my own travel experience, to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland: My friends and I had heard of the clay masques in the lagoon, and decided to find the place where the mud was. After walking around in the warm water, we stepped in squishy mud. This must be it! we thought. However, the mud was dirty and full of hair and gross stuff. We decided this wasn’t worth it and washed it off pretty quickly. Then, an hour or so later, we found this area with BUCKETS of mud. Turns out, you’re supposed to use CLEAN mud to make a masque, then wash it off. The mud on the bottom of the pool we’d found was just built up, used mud. GROSS.
That sounds gross! The mud at the Milky Way was clean and smooth.
We had the chance to go to Palau in the spring but didn’t take it. Now I am kicking myself! This looks so fun!
Don’t pass up the chance a second time, it is really amazing.
Ohh! Looks like heavenly messy messy fun! Did you skin feel very nice afterwards?
My skin did feel a little bit smoother!
Oh wow, the colour of that water is incredible! I regret not hopping over to Palau when I was in The Philippines — I had just assumed it was only for divers and that I’d be bored. Always regretted it!
As a non-diver I will confirm that there is plenty to do. Hopefully, you will make it there one day :)
As kids, we used to do this with the clay in the river behind our house. Maybe that’s why we stayed so youthful! Then we became adults and… I love the color of the water.
Ha! I wish I had a river like that behind my house right now ;)
I have shuddered at the thought of a mud bath in the past, but this one in my number one bucket list location now sounds worth getting a tad dirty. :-)