Peleliu is a small island in the southern part of Palau, best known for one of the most brutal battles of the Pacific War. In September 1944, US Marines and Army troops fought a month-long battle against a deeply entrenched Japanese garrison. The battle cost over 10,000 Allied casualties and nearly the entire Japanese force of 11,000 men. The island remains one of the most poignant WWII battlefield sites in the Pacific.
Much of the jungle-covered interior is still off-limits due to unexploded ordnance. What can be visited includes the ruins of Japanese command centres, gun emplacements, and the infamous Bloody Nose Ridge. The island's beaches are beautiful and largely undisturbed, and the surrounding reefs offer excellent diving. Getting to Peleliu requires a boat from Koror, the main island of Palau, which takes around 45 minutes.