Cheap Flights to Micronesia

Discover Micronesia

With more or less 600 islands over an area of 2,900 kilometres or 1,800 miles, or a total land area of an estimated 700 square kilometres or 270 square miles, the Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an island nation close to New Guinea, Guam, Marianas, Nauru, Palau, and the Philippines. The entirety of the Federated States of Micronesia can be divided into the four states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. The island nation serves as home to multiple ethnic groups including Chuukese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Yapese, and Polynesian to name a few. When within the islands, the official language is English, in addition to recognised regional languages such as Chuukese, Kosraen, and Woleaian. Micronesia’s capital is Palikir and its largest city is Weno.

What to see & do

When entering the Federated States of Micronesia, be sure to visit Nan Madol, Leluh Ruins, Catholic Belltower, Spanish Wall, Liduduhniap Twin Waterfalls, Black Coral Island, and Truk Lagoon Underwater Fleet, to name a few. The Leluh Ruins or Leluh archaeological site is a major prehistoric and historic archaeological site covering an area of around 170 acres or 70 hectares. Within Leluh, there are numerous sacred spaces in addition to royal tombs. As of the early 1980s, the site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places within the United States. Another notable destination within the Federated States of Micronesia is the Catholic Belltower, or the Cathedral of Ponape Belltower and Ponape Belltower. The belltower was built in 1909 and can be found at the Catholic Mission on Pohnpei Island. Being listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, the belltower with the masonry apse adjoined to it are what remain of the church that was built by German Capuchin missionaries but destroyed during the WWII. Standing at around 4.8 metres or 16 feet, the tower has a basalt rock and lime mortar foundation, and is mainly made out of concrete bricks. The apse on the other hand is around 10 metres or 33 feet in height.

How to get around within Micronesia

Within the Federated States of Micronesia, transportation options include going by air, bus, along with taxi and car hire. Travelling from one island to another, it is best to go via ‘Island Hopper’ operated by United Airlines. This air service takes its travellers to and from Guam, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. Entering Yap from the other islands of the Federated States of Micronesia would require going through Guam first since there are no direct flights going to Yap from within FSM. When planning to go by land, please be advised that there is no scheduled bus service within the island. The only bus service available is bus for hire or charter, although when within Yap, there is a school bus service that operates two times a day, going from Colonia to the villages. Additional land transportations are by car hire and taxi. With the intention of driving around, there are cars hires available within the major towns of the island. The self-driven cars can be hired, although drivers are required to have a National Driver’s Licence or an International Driving Permit before being allowed to drive around. Going by taxi, FSM’s taxi service is available throughout the islands of the country. These are readily available on the road and are considerably affordable.

How to get there

Pohnpei International Airport is located on Pohnpei Island near the capital Palikir. Due to small population and tourist traffic, commercial air service is limited and the only scheduled passenger services that are currently available at Pohnpei International Airport is operated by United Airlines “Island Hopper”. The airport receives flights from Guam, Honolulu, Kwajalein, and Majuro. Other international airports in the Federated States of Micronesia are Chuuk International Airport, Kosrae International Airport, and Yap International Airport.