Yap is a land steeped in ancient traditions, fascinating legends, and peopled by one of the most distinctive cultures in the Pacific. Attractions like a handmade seaside men's house, cultural village tours, huge, ancient stone money discs and stone money banks, dancing, handicraft making, marine life and mangrove forests highlight a visit to this unique outpost.

People
The people of Yap are shy but warm. They don't mind visitors who are respectful and appreciative of their lifestyle. With a little coaxing, the visitor may soon find his or herself helping with a chore, like launching a canoe or weaving a basket to carry coconuts. This special kind of island encounter is not unusual on Yap and is part of the Yapese spirit that makes the island so enticing and enchanting.

Yapese Dances
Dance is an art form in Yap. Through dance, legends are passed down, history is recorded and entertainment is created. Men and women both start at an early age to learn this special Yap tradition. Dressed in colourful traditional costumes the dancers of Yap perform to the chants of folklore. There are three different categories of dances or ‘Churuu’ as they are called in the local language. The “Gamelee” is a stick dance where the performers, armed with lengths of bamboo, put on a show more liken to a martial arts display. The ‘Parngabut’ is a sitting dance which involves a lot of hand movements. The last dance style is called the ‘Gaslaw’ and is performed solely by male dancers. For guests visiting Yap at the beginning of March a visit to the Yap Day celebrations is a must. This is a three day festival celebrating the culture of the island - a superb opportunity to see the dancers in all their finery.

Stone Money
Possibly the most unique aspect of the Yapese culture are the large circular pieces of stone money, or ‘Rai’ as they are called in the Yapese language, that litter the island. Though not legal tender in the international currency market, it is still used as legal tender on the island. The large circular stones, carved symmetrically and holed in the center for transportation, can be greater in diameter than a man's height. The value of these lime stones varies, though not according to size, but in the hardships encountered during their individual voyage to Yap. Today the money is still owned but not moved. Most of it is stored in a canal known as the money bank, though some still rests outside the thatched men's hut and family huts to denote wealth and status. Visitors should respect the stones, and not lean on or rest feet on them.

Mens’ Houses
At one time or another during their stay visitors to Yap will come across impressive hand built constructions known as Mens’ Houses. These “Faluw” are, as their name suggests, buildings occupied solely by the male members of the differing villages. Almost every village on the island has its own mens’ house.  Elaborately built using local materials the houses serve as a meeting point where the men gather to tell their stories. Tradition also dictates that any male member of the village due to go fishing should spend the night beforehand alone on the mens house. The houses also serve as a place of learning. The village elders pass on their knowledge and skills and train the younger boys in the arts of fishing, sailing and local crafts.

Betel Nut
One of the first things many visitors to the island notice about the Yapese is that they seem to be constantly chewing. Betel Nut is a small nut derived from a skinny version of a coconut tree. Growing on clusters they are collected by the more agile of family members. The preparation of the nut is simple. Firstly a choice nut is selected and then cracked open. A dubious white powder, in fact coral lime from harvested staghorn coral, is then liberally sprinkled onto the nut. Wrepped in a pepper leaf the nut is ready for chewing. It’s a chemical reaction between the three main ingredients that causes the trademark reddened smiles of the Yapese people.