It’s getting easier to experience the local culture – new tours and excursions are being developed.
A personal village walk with a local guide and local food lunch at a beach house is a new addition that really demonstrates a typical Yapese day.
See a village, hear stories, local lore, historic accounts and take a look at how a modern Yapese family lives a traditional village life.
After diving, there are several two-hour cultural excursions that can be arranged for small groups.
Stone money banks, men’s houses, a village community center, local canoe house, ancient stone paths and a little bit of local flavor await.
Local attire is a Yap visitor’s highlight, hibiscus grass skirts and the men’s “thu” are still a part of everybody’s life here.
Villages are connected by stone paths and trails that meander through the forest lined in community and family gardens – going on a local village walk will bring up a story with every step.
There’s a new village dance and culture tour in the works, a traditional sailing canoe excursion as well as a couple of small group options to see a village.
Everyday there’s an opportunity to get into the island, meet some people, see some sights and settle any curiosity.
Traditional sustenance living is the most common lifestyle in Yap, people here are still integrated with nature.
Local medicine is still practiced and stories of “magic” and medicine people who have spiritual powers are told frequently.
Step across the street and step back in time to when people lived in harmony with their environment.
Village time is rich with interesting and engaging talk.
We stayed at the hotel and dove with Manta Ray divers in early December 2017. The hotel is very comfortable, well run and staffed with wonderful employees. During our visit my wife came down with an illness and the consideration and support from the hotel and dive staff could not have been better.read more
The best place to stay in Yap. The resort is really nice and clean, the scuba diving is great, and the docked ship that houses the bar, restaurant, and movie screen is very cool. I really enjoyed my stay here.read more
The whole place centers around the scuba diving operation. Probably better to find somewhere else if you're not a diver.
The dive operation was generally good, but a little too laid back - schedules weren't always clear, and sometimes would change without any notice. Sometimes it was hard to tell if this was really because of changing tides/weather or because of the island pace of life.
Pizza is a surprisingly good option at the restaurant.read more
We were from 11.08 to 18.08 at the Manta Ray Bay resort and had unforgettable days there 😍In total we made 12 dives with wonderful encounters. Highlights were, of course, the manta rays in the Goofnuw Channel and many white tip reef sharks in the Shark City 🦈 But also we saw eagle rays, turtles 🐢 and buffalo head parrotfish. The hotel is beautiful and the whole team does a great job there. The food on the ship Mnuw, as well as the home-brewed beer are excellent. Thank you again to the whole team of Manta Ray Bay Resort and Yap Divers 👏🏼We also did a one-day land tour to explore the many beautiful places of this unique island. The beach is like in paradise🏝, stone money and relics from the second world war very worth to see! You find there also culturally typical houses with different meaning and use! It would be nice if more visitors would come to this great island and appreciate the great work that is done there!
Anyway, we really enjoyed it and would come back anytime 🙏🏻✌🏼read more
Bill and his family run a great dive resort, rooms are spacious and comfortable. Restaurant and bar provide good range of food and drink. Bill and his dive guides know the reef intimately and the diving is spectacular. Bill and his family make for a very friendly and rewarding experience in Yap.read more
The highest level of dive service ever experienced! Fabulous dive operation from crew, boats, snacks, hot tea and water, warm towels etc. etc. and of course the Manta Rays!! Thank you for making my 100th dive so memorable. Accommodations 5 star! Food was fabulous! Can't say enough about this beautiful Island and it's people. Loved Yap! Deb & Glenn, London, Ontarioread more
MantaRayBay Resort, is THE dive resort. It is so obvious that this place was designed for divers, BY divers. The concept that all of the guests are part of the resort family seems to be the cornerstone of MRB Resort. The dive service is top notch; the wait staff spot-on, the resort staff super friendly and attentive. The dive sites are great, especially the southern walls, and of course the cleaning stations visited so often by the Manta Rays. I have gone scuba diving all over western Asia and the Caribbean, and MRB Resort is at the top!read more
New Culture Experiences
It’s getting easier to experience the local culture – new tours and excursions are being developed.
A personal village walk with a local guide and local food lunch at a beach house is a new addition that really demonstrates a typical Yapese day.
See a village, hear stories, local lore, historic accounts and take a look at how a modern Yapese family lives a traditional village life.
After diving, there are several two-hour cultural excursions that can be arranged for small groups.
Stone money banks, men’s houses, a village community center, local canoe house, ancient stone paths and a little bit of local flavor await.
Local attire is a Yap visitor’s highlight, hibiscus grass skirts and the men’s “thu” are still a part of everybody’s life here.
Villages are connected by stone paths and trails that meander through the forest lined in community and family gardens – going on a local village walk will bring up a story with every step.
There’s a new village dance and culture tour in the works, a traditional sailing canoe excursion as well as a couple of small group options to see a village.
Everyday there’s an opportunity to get into the island, meet some people, see some sights and settle any curiosity.
Traditional sustenance living is the most common lifestyle in Yap, people here are still integrated with nature.
Local medicine is still practiced and stories of “magic” and medicine people who have spiritual powers are told frequently.
Step across the street and step back in time to when people lived in harmony with their environment.
Village time is rich with interesting and engaging talk.
The top things to see during your stay: