Babeldaob is the biggest island of Palau. The area of Babeldaob makes up over 70% of the land area of the entire Republic of Palau. It has about 30% of the country's population, with about 6,000 people living on it. The central forested Middle Ridge of Babeldaob has been designated an Important Bird Area because it supports populations of most of Palau’s endemic birds.

Understand

Babeldaob is one of the most underdeveloped populated islands in the Pacific Ocean. The village of Ngerulmud on the island has served as Palau's capital city since 2006, despite there being only about 320 people (2020) in the state. It is the smallest national capital in the world by population.

The island has fresh water in Lakes Ngardok and other watersheds which provide the country with drinking water. Ngardok Nature Reserve was established to protect the water quality.

Unlike most of the islands of Palau, Babeldaob is mountainous. It contains Palau's highest point, the 242-m-tall (794 ft) Mount Ngerchelchuus. Babeldaob's eastern coast has many sandy beaches, in particular north from Melekeok to Ngaraard, and the island's western coast has a shoreline with many mangrove forests.

Get in

• 1 Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR  ^IATA) (in the south of the island). The main gateway to Palau.  

From Koror you can cross over the Koror-Babeldaob bridge by car, bus or taxi.

Get around

Driving is the best option for getting around this sparsely populated area. The roads here tend to be in very good condition and the traffic very light.

See

Melekeok

• 1 Palau's capitol complex. The State of Melekeok is home to Palau's capital complex, though the village of Ngerulmud houses the complex. However the complex is the only thing in Ngerulmud. The picturesque capitol grounds include the judicial, legislative and executive buildings for the national government. The capitol complex remains controversial to many locals, given its expansive size and cost relative to the country's tiny population. (updated Jan 2020)

• Did el Bad er a Beriber. Ancient Dock's stone bridge. (updated Jan 2020)

• 2 Ngermecheluch Site. (updated Jan 2020)

• Lomech er Ngii el mora (Ngeremecheluch). Ancient stone path. (updated Jan 2020)

Elsewhere

• 3 Odalmelech. Ngermelech Gods carved from stone. (updated Jan 2020)

• Meteu el Klechem (Ngermelech Village). (updated Jan 2020);

• 4 Bai el Melekeong/Euang el Chades (Ngerang). Melekeok's Bai and its platform of four. (updated Jan 2020)

• 5 Badrulchau Stone Monoliths. Possibly Palau's largest archaeological site with a collection of 52 ancient stone monoliths. 

Sleep

• 1 Airai Water Paradise Hotel & Spa (southern end of Babeldaob), ☏ +680-587-3530. The hotel has three of the largest things of Palau—the largest storyboard full of Palau history, the largest water park with two water slides, and the largest olympic-sized swimming pool. Standard rooms, honeymoon suites, and ocean view suites are available. 

Go next

• Koror