Palau Conservation Society - Learn about where Survivor Palau was filmed

CBS’s hit television show Survivor: Palau filmed its 10th season, starting in February 2005, in the spectacular Rock Islands of Palau. Survivor: Palau filmed in Palau in late 2004. Learn more about some of the locations where Survivor: Palau filmed.

The show was filmed in Palau’s spectacular Rock Islands, a complex of gem-like raised limestone islands. The Rock Islands are managed by Koror State under a comprehensive management system. Some Rock Islands are restricted use areas, and are either closed to tourists or closed to the public in general. All tourist visitors to the Rock Islands must purchase a Rock Island Entry Permit from Koror State. Survivor: Palau received special permission to film in several restricted entry locations. In addition, five traditional leaders worked with the production crew to monitor the filming and to ensure that the filming locations were used in an environmentally and culturally appropriate manner.

The Ulong Island complex is an isolated set of islands on the western side of the Southern Lagoon. Ulong Island was the site of the 1783 shipwreck of the Antelope, carrying English Captain Henry Wilson. It was after this shipwreck that significant contact between Palau and the Western Hemisphere began. Many also believe that Palau’s first settlers may have first lived on Ulong Island. Ulong Island itself is a tropical paradise with a long stretch of beach, ancient cave paintings, the remains of an ancient village (as evidenced by stone platforms, paths, and structures), and an extensive taro patch. Nearby islands offer underwater tunnels leading to hidden lakes, and there are even abandoned pieces of Yapese Stone Money, quarried from these islands, hidden in the jungle. Many Survivor: Palau contestants lived on Ulong Island.

The Survivor: Palau filming crew obtained permission from the Koror State Government to film in the Ngerukuid Islands Wildlife Preserve, also known as the “70 Islands.” This isolated set of islands has been protected since 1956, making this area the first conservation area in Micronesia. The Preserve is a no-entry, no-disturbance, and no-take conservation area that harbors much of Palau’s marine and rock island forest biodiversity. The Survivor: Palau film crew was supervised by the Koror State Rangers, who manage and enforce the regulations of Koror’s Southern Lagoon.

Survivor: Palau also filmed on Ngeremdiu, a tree-lined beach on the large Rock Island of Ngeruktabl. This site is another camping site used by Palauans during weekend getaways, and features an extensive beach. Ngeruktabl Island features one of Palau’s most interesting endemic and globally threatened bird species, the Giant White-Eye. This loud, active bird is found only in Palau, and only on the islands of Ngeruktabl and Peleliu, several miles to the South. The lack of this bird on other islands is one of Palau’s many mysteries.

Also on the island of Ngeruktabl, the Ngeremediu Todai Trail leads to a lighthouse erected by the German engineers in the early part of the century. This trail was later used by the Japanese military, who built a dock and road leading to the top of the island. The trail now features the remains of a command center and village built by the Japanese in preparation for World War II, as well as a number of cannons.

The Survivor: Palau crew filmed largely in the Rock Islands, which are a fragile, sensitive ecosystem. Forests on the islands thrive with very little soil, but are slow to regenate if removed. Forests are also home to endemic species such as the Rock Island Palm Tree, found solely on the Rock Islands and nowhere else on earth. The reefs surrounding the Rock Islands are in places thousands of years old, and are an extremely important food source of fish and invertebrates. Reefs are easily damaged from such things as boat anchors, sedimentation, pollution, and poor practices such as walking on the reef.

Koror State’s Department of Conservation and Enforcement monitoring the production of Survivor: Palau both during and after completion of the program. The Department found no significant environmental impact. PCS has not directly observed any major environmental damage. PCS is more concerned with potential impacts from increased tourism and tourism-associated development. PCS has several programs dedicated to preventing or minimizing these impacts. One such program is the Tour Guide Training Program, conducted in partnership with Koror State, which seeks to ensure that all tourism is conducted in an environmentally friendly manner. PCS is also implementing a Community Visioning project to lay the foundation for sustainable Land Use Planning. Click here to learn more about PCS’s programs.