๐ Quick Facts About the Federated States of Micronesia ๐ซ๐ฒ
The Federated States of Micronesia should not be confused with the wider region of Micronesia. The region includes several Pacific island countries, while the Federated States of Micronesia is one independent country with four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.
I visited Pohnpei, the island where the capital Palikir is located. It is lush, extremely green, very rainy, and one of the most relaxed places I visited in the Pacific.
- ๐๏ธ CapitalPalikir
- ๐ต CurrencyUS dollar (USD)
- ๐ฃ๏ธ LanguageEnglish and local Micronesian languages
- ๐ก๏ธ ClimateTropical and very rainy
- ๐ Plug typeType A/B ยท *Anker Universal Travel Adapter
- ๐บ RegionMicronesia, Oceania
โ๏ธ Arriving on the United Island Hopper
I arrived aboard one of the most famous flights in the Pacific: United Airlines' Island Hopper.
The route starts in Hawaii and then hops across the Pacific, stopping in Majuro, Kwajalein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, and finally Guam. Even the flight itself feels like an adventure and gives you a glimpse into some of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth.
I traveled with one of my best friends, Philip, and our friend Mo from Egypt.
๐ฌ Arriving on Pohnpei With No Plan
When we landed on Pohnpei, we had absolutely no plan. No hotel. No itinerary. No idea what we were doing.
Our first task was simply finding a place to stay. Accommodation on Pohnpei can be surprisingly expensive. The first hotel we checked quoted us around $164 per night, which was far beyond our budget.
We continued walking around Colonia, the island's main town, until we found the Hideaway Hotel Bar & Grill. This turned out to be a fantastic find.
For $75 per night, the three of us stayed in a traditional-fale-style Pacific island house.
Split three ways, it worked out to only $25 per person, which felt like a bargain. The
staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere immediately gave us a
sense of what Pohnpei is all about.
The hotel itself is at the edge of town, close to the green vegetation. You have a great view from the houses themselves. Wifi was pretty good, too!
๐ฟ Pohnpei: Green, Rainy and Incredibly Laid-Back
Micronesia is not a wealthy country. Life feels simple, rural, and very laid-back. At the same time, the locals were among the friendliest people I met during my Pacific journey.
Everywhere we went, people would stop to ask where we were from and what had brought us all the way to their island. Tourism exists, but compared to destinations like Palau, Fiji, or even Vanuatu, relatively few travelers make it to Pohnpei.
One of my strongest memories from the island is simply the atmosphere. Pohnpei is unbelievably green. The island receives enormous amounts of rainfall and is covered in lush tropical vegetation.
During the evenings, the bays around Colonia became especially beautiful. I still remember one sunset that turned the entire sky a deep purple. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I saw anywhere in the world. I filmed the juggling video for Juggling in Every Country there.
๐ Local Food on Pohnpei
Naturally, we spent plenty of time trying local food. Micronesian cuisine varies greatly between islands, but rice plays an important role, often served with fish, breadfruit, taro, coconut, and local vegetables. It is pretty vegetarian and vegan friendly.
We tried several local dishes, like Uht Sukusuk (mashed bananas in coconut cream). Others were rice-based dishes with coconut flavors, or incorporating taro and breadfruit, staples throughout the Pacific.
The food itself was simple but filling.
๐ช Japanese Tank Graveyard in Colonia
One of the main attractions in Colonia is the Japanese Tank Graveyard. Like many Pacific islands, Pohnpei played a role during the Second World War.
Throughout the island, you find reminders of that period, but the tank graveyard is probably the easiest site to visit. Several Japanese tanks remain on display, slowly being reclaimed by nature.
The contrast between the peaceful island atmosphere and the tanks of war is striking.
๐๏ธ Palikir and Our Failed Presidential Interview Attempt
We also spent time walking around Colonia itself. The town is small enough to explore comfortably on foot. The main street, known as Kaselehlie Street, takes its name from "Kaselehlie," the traditional Pohnpeian greeting that roughly means "hello" or "welcome."
One morning, we decided to visit Palikir, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia. Many travelers are surprised to learn that Colonia is not the capital. Palikir holds that distinction, despite being little more than a government district surrounded by jungle-covered hills.
If you visit expecting a traditional capital city, you will be disappointed. There is no bustling downtown, no skyscrapers, and hardly any population. The main reason to visit is simply to see the government buildings and say you have been to the capital.
Of course, we had a slightly more ambitious plan: we wanted to meet the president. As travel creators, we thought it would be fun to try and arrange an interview.
So we walked into the government complex and spoke with the president's secretary. Unfortunately, she was not nearly as enthusiastic about the idea as we were. We quickly learned that randomly showing up and asking to interview a head of state is not always the best strategy.
The answer was a firm no. Shortly afterward, security also asked us to stop filming around some of the government buildings. I mean, I get the point. But also, most president's in Oceania are down to Earth people, pretty chill, and about as famous as my local mayor back home. Giving them an opportunity to speak to an audience of +3 million people on Tiktok, I didn't feel like I was being rude.
๐ฟ The Big Thing I Missed: Nan Madol
One place I unfortunately missed on Pohnpei was Nan Madol, the famous ancient ruins built on small artificial islets off the coast. It's a bit of a drive from Kolonia.
We simply did not have enough time to go there during our short visit.
If I ever return to Pohnpei, Nan Madol would be one of the first places I would want to check out properly. Probably renting a car makes sense then.
๐งบ Taro and Leaving Pohnpei
After our failed presidential interview attempt, we returned to Colonia and continued exploring the island. I spent more time interacting with locals.
The entire island has a relaxed atmosphere that encourages you to slow down. Nobody seems to be in a hurry. Nobody is rushing anywhere. People simply enjoy life.
Before leaving, I picked up some taro wrapped in palm leaves and brought it to the airport. We ended up having an improvised picnic while waiting for our flight.
It felt like the perfect ending to our time on Pohnpei. Shortly afterward, we boarded the Island Hopper once again and continued our Pacific adventure toward the Marshall Islands.
๐ญ Final Thoughts on Visiting Micronesia
We only spent a short time in Micronesia, but it left a strong impression on me. It is not a luxury destination. It is not filled with major attractions. What makes it special is its authenticity.
The people are friendly, the landscapes are beautiful, and life moves at a pace that feels increasingly rare in today's world.
For travelers looking for raw, genuine Pacific island life, Micronesia is a destination well worth considering.