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.
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
. . . Read More . . .
Swim in Jellyfish Lake in Palau, Micronesia
Palau Bucket List: 25 Things to do on the Micronesian Island
Micronesia & Palau Travel Guide
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. :-)