Majuro

The capital atoll of the Marshall Islands, where narrow islets link Laura Beach and lagoon islands — go diving and learn about nuclear testing and Micronesian navigation.

Majuro is the atoll that holds the capital of the Pacific nation of the Marshall Islands, about 7 degrees north of the equator. More than sixty narrow islets ring a large lagoon; the land is only a few hundred meters wide at its widest, with an average elevation of about 3 m. The capital area is Delap-Uliga-Djarrit (DUD) at the atoll's eastern end, and a road about 50 km long runs along the islets to Laura at the far western end, with the lagoon on one side and the open ocean on the other. Highlights include swimming and picnicking at Laura Beach, taking a boat to uninhabited islets such as Eneko to snorkel and stay overnight, learning about stick-chart navigation and the history of nuclear testing at the Alele Museum, watching the sunset from the Majuro Bridge, diving WWII wrecks in the lagoon, and boating to nearby Arno Atoll to fish. Wreck diving at Bikini Atoll requires a dedicated liveaboard and is about 800 km away, so it is not covered here. The climate is hot and humid year-round; the Dec–Apr northeast trade-wind season is relatively dry and cool, while summer and autumn are rainier. Getting there: fly into Marshall Islands International Airport via Guam, Honolulu, Fiji or Nauru; on the island, get around by flag-down shared taxis or a rental car. Plan on 3–4 days. Note: the US dollar is used; flights are few and schedules often change, so build in a buffer. Facilities on the outer islands are basic, so bring your own water and food. Local culture is conservative, and women are advised to swim in shorts and a T-shirt.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries