Federated State of Micronesia

It's hard to categorize the Federated States of Micronesia, given that it consists of four very distinct island states: Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei. Chuuk has hot-blooded locals and Chuuk Lagoon, with some of the world's premier wreck diving: WWII-era planes, cruisers, submarines, tankers, cargo ships. Yap also has excellent diving, especially the manta-ray channels that afford divers the chance to get close to these bizarre creatures. As the FSM's most traditional island, Yap has a lot to offer on land, too. The culture is alive: this is a place where women still walk around topless and men wear loincloths, and everyone chews betel nut, ...

It's hard to categorize the Federated States of Micronesia, given that it consists of four very distinct island states: Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei. Chuuk has hot-blooded locals and Chuuk Lagoon, with some of the world's premier wreck diving: WWII-era planes, cruisers, submarines, tankers, cargo ships. Yap also has excellent diving, especially the manta-ray channels that afford divers the chance to get close to these bizarre creatures. As the FSM's most traditional island, Yap has a lot to offer on land, too. The culture is alive: this is a place where women still walk around topless and men wear loincloths, and everyone chews betel nut, the intoxicating seed of the areca palm that turns teeth and saliva blood red. God-fearing Kosrae is the prettiest FSM island, green and lush, with mangrove swamps and rainforests. There's good wreck diving and snorkeling here, and some well-preserved ancient ruins. Pohnpei is known for the stone-city ruins of Nan Madol, which inspired the writer H.P. Lovecraft among others, and is gaining acclaim as a surfing destination. It's also the home of sakau, the kava-like drink that tastes like mud and will knock your head off.

About the Expert

Simon Sellars is coauthor of or contributor to many Lonely Planet books, including Micronations, South Pacific and Micronesia.