However, for most visitors, Yap's major attraction is
the Manta Ray activity. Yap is the world's foremost destination
for experiencing these magnificent creatures up close and
personal. There are very few other places on earth where
they can be seen on such a consistent basis all year round.
Below the waterline, Yap is also famous for its clear waters
where schools of tuna, dolphins and reef fish are found
in abundance along with the pristine coral reefs.
How To Get There
Yap is located 1200km (750 miles) north of Papua New Guinea
and 9600km (6,000 miles) southwest of Los Angeles.
Yap has 130 outer islands stretching nearly 600 miles east
of Yap Island. Most of the outer islands are coral atolls
and are sparsely populated by a people different from the
Yapese in culture and language.
Colonia is the main town and administrative centre, located
on the island of Yap proper.
Part of the Federated States of Micronesia, the state of
Yap is situated in the Western Carolines, between Guam and
Palau. It is off the main tourist route and is made up of
four main islands - Yap Proper, Tomil-Gagil, Map, and Rumung,
plus ten small islands, all within the boundaries of a beautiful
coral reef.
Continental Micronesia operates services from Guam to Yap
& Palau. This makes it the ideal destination to also
incorporate with a visit to Palau.
Guam is served with regular flights from/to USA, Cairns
in Australia, Tokyo & Manila.
Climate
Yap has a warm, tropical climate. The dry season (the best
time to travel) is between December and April; the rainy
season, April to December, with the greatest falls between
July and October. The rain is rarely heavy, however, and
there is still a lot of sunshine.
Temperatures average between 78-90 degrees Fahrenheit (26-32
degrees Celsius), with the water temperature sitting on
a comfortable year-round 82-84 Fahrenheit (28-29 degrees
Celsius).
Culture
Because of its remote geographical position, Yap was minimally
affected when the Spanish colonized Micronesia in the 1500s,
and again during German occupation from the end of the 1800s
to the end of World War I.
The same occurred during the Japanese occupation, so by
Micronesian standards, Yap remains relatively unaffected
by modern society.
Yap is generally considered to be the most traditional
of Micronesian islands. This traditional life carries into
the villages where fishing, sailing and weaving are still
important parts of everyday life. Grass skirts for the women
and "thu'us", a type of loincloth for the men,
are the basic form of dress in the small towns that sit
in tranquil settings around the island.
Although Yap is 200 miles from Palau, Yapese warriors sailed
there hundreds of years ago, despite great danger and hardship,
to quarry the giant Yapese stone money. These large circular
stones, carved symmetrically and holed in the centre for
transportation, can be greater in diameter than a man's
height. Most of the stone money is stored in a canal known
as the money bank, though some still rest outside the men's
thatched family huts to denote wealth and status.
The stone money of Yap, though not legal tender in the
international currency market, is still used as legal tender
on the island. The value of these limestone, donut-shaped
coins varies, though not according to size. Today the money
is still owned but not moved, even though ownership may
change.
Diving
Yap is world famous for its large population of resident
manta rays. On Yap a manta dive does not mean diving hoping
for a manta encounter, it means diving to see the mantas.
Although the mantaray dives in Yap's channels are the
main reason to visit the island as diver, there is also
some reef diving around the islands.
Yap's outer reefs abound with species of tropical reef fishes,
invertebrates and hard corals. When coupled with the abundance
of larger species like mantas, sharks, and turtles, Yap
is a paradise for the underwater photographer or videographer.
Other Activities
For the active person, there's plenty to do on land and
in the ocean. Visitors can expect to go mountain biking,
hike on an ancient stone path or try some deep sea fishing,
or, just take a nap under a coconut tree on one of Yap's
many unspoilt beaches.
The people of Yap are shy but warm. They don't mind visitors
who are respectful and appreciative of their lifestyle.
With a little coaxing, the visitor may soon find his or
herself helping with a chore, like launching a canoe or
weaving a basket to carry coconuts. This special kind of
island encounter is not unusual on Yap and is part of the
Yapese spirit that makes the island so enticing and enchanting.
Yap
is one of the most intriguing & traditional islands in
Micronesia, just over an hour's flight from Guam or Palau,
but worlds away in terms of culture.
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