© Traders' Ridge Resort
Yap State is located in the Western Pacific stretching from 6 to 10 degrees North Latitude and 137 to 148 degrees West Longitude in the Western Caroline Islands. Yap is one of four States that make up the Federated States of Micronesia and is some 450 miles southwest of Guam and 360 miles northeast of Palau. [view map]
Continental Micronesia operates flights to Yap on Wednesdays, Thursdays Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. You can connect from either Guam or Palau. Consult your travel agent, dive tour operator, or email us at resv@tradersridge.com for more information.
Travel light. It never gets cold in Yap, so only lightweight clothing should be brought. Attire is very casual and formal wear is considered unnecessary and impractical. (A former Governor once proposed establishing a law forbidding the wearing of ties in Yap!) Men will find slacks and a Hawaiian style shirt appropriate for the most formal occasion in Yap. A cap, shorts, light pants, sport shirts and a T-shirt or two make a good basic wardrobe. Flip-flops (Zorries) are acceptable footwear anyplace on the island. Lightweight cotton dresses blouses and skirts that cover down to the knees make the best island wear for women. In Yap, toplessness is common and socially acceptable, but it is considered highly offensive for women to bare their thighs in public. Short shorts, bikinis and miniskirts are a definite no-no. These dress restrictions don't apply to women when diving or sunbathing on some private beaches, but bring a wraparound with you for when you get out of the water or leave the beach. Longer shorts, lavalavas and slacks that cover down to the knees are also acceptable attire on most parts of the island.
Yap uses United States standard 110 volt ecectricity.
The water temperature remains a constant 81° Fahrenheit (27° Celcius) all year.
Visibility often exceeds 150 feet (50 meters) and can run to 200 feet on the reefs. In the channels where you will do your manta dives it runs from 30 feet (10 meters) to 100 feet (30 meters).
Yap is on island time but internationally speaking it is (GMT + 10) - the same time zone as Sydney, Australia, and one hour earlier than Tokyo, Japan. Yap is on the other side of the international date line from the United States on the same time zone as Guam where "America’s Day Begins."
Temperatures in Yap are moderate and fairly constant. Average temperature during the spring and summer months are 82 Fahrenheit (28 Celcius) and 80 Fahrenheit (26 Celcius) during the fall and winter. Relative humidity ranges from 65 to 100 percent, with an annual average of 83 percent. Rainfall averages 120 inches a year, buy is seasonal. The heaviest rains tend to occur in the summer months while the winter and spring trade wind season (marked by strong east to northeast winds) is relatively dry and often marked by drought. The transitional months of May, June and November are considered peak typhoon season. The average number of typhoons is three a year and severe storms can wreak massive devastation in the Outer Islands. The most damaging parts of storms tend to miss Yap proper, a fact which many people still attribute to the island’ strong "magic."
There are four indigenous languages in Yap: Yapese, Ulithian, Woleian and Satawalese. English is the official language of the FSM and is commonly spoken and understood. Many elderly Yapese are fluent in Japanese.
International telephone calls to anywhere in the world can be made from Yap. IDD is offered at some hotels and the telecommunications office, which is open 24 hours a day and provides telephone, fax, e-mail and telex services. The Yap Post Office is located in Colonia, is a branch of the FSM Postal System, which is a part of the US Post Office System. Yap State issues its own postage stamps adorned with rich cultural representations and colorful floral designs which have made many first editions much sought after collector’s items.
Visas are not required for tourists of 30 days or less. You must have a valid Passport or documentation of Citizenship. All visitors must have an onward or return ticket. Entry authorization for longer than 30 days must be obtained in advance via post from Immigration and Labor, FSM National Government, Colonia, Pohnpei, FSM 96941 or online at http://www.visit-fsm.org/visitors/entry.html.
No immunizations are required unless coming from an infected area.
Prohibited are certain plants, fruits, animals, narcotics, weapons. Two bottles of liquor may be brought in duty free.
The official currency in Yap is the US Dollar. Yap is famous for its Stone Money which is still in use for traditional exchanges such as the purchase of land or in village ceremonies.
There is only one commercial bank in Yap, the Bank of the FSM. US currency is used. Traders' Ridge Resort is one of the few businesses that accepts Credit cards. There is no ATM on the island. The resort will do small cash advances for our customers only. Travelers checks are recommended for purchases at restaurants and for shopping.
Yap Day - Observed in first week of March Annually
FSM Constitution Day - May 16
UN Day - October 24
FSM Independence Day - November 3
Yap State Constitution Day - December 24
Yap State Government operates a 150 bed hospital that is well stocked and professionally staffed. There is a decompression chamber on the island in the event of decompression sickness. Intensive care and treatment of serious injuries must be conducted off island. Med-I-Vac services are available to Guam or Manila.
