Ngiwal

Ngiwal is a small coastal state on the east side of Babeldaob, Palau's largest island. Its administrative centre, Ngerkeai, is part of a quiet rural landscape of mangroves, shallow bays, beaches and low forested hills, giving the area a much slower and more community-focused character than Koror.

The state's identity is closely tied to the sea and the land. Fishing, taro cultivation and the use of local plants remain part of daily life, while the Ngemai Conservation Area protects an inner reef flat and Ngerbekuu Nature Reserve safeguards forest around the Oselkesol Waterfall. A mangrove ecotour now lets visitors travel by boat through the mangroves and hike to the waterfall.

Ngiwal also carries a long history. Traditional village sites and later Japanese-era features, including a causeway across Ngemai Bay that the Compact Road follows today, show how different periods have shaped Babeldaob's east coast.

For travellers, Ngiwal is best approached as a nature and culture excursion rather than an urban destination. It is suited to kayaking, birdwatching, waterfall hikes and learning about community-led conservation, with most visitors arriving by road from Koror.

While it is not a business or nightlife centre, Ngiwal offers a genuine look at rural Palau and its protected landscapes, making it relevant for ecotourism, research and travellers seeking a less developed side of the country.