My Life on the Bus: Merit Mangrove Forest

A few weeks ago, my friend and I visited Mangrove Forest located at Pantai Indah Kapuk - North Jakarta. There is no easy way to get there unless you take a cab. But if you decided to have an adventure then get ready...

First go to the train station or busway station located at old city of Jakarta : Stasiun Kota

If you have exited the station then go across the street to Museum of Bank Indonesia

Then choose public transportation : KOPAMI JAYA 02 (blue kopami) going to Muara Karang. Ask to be dropped off at Muara Karang's bridge (said in Indonesian: Jembatan Muara Karang)

Arrived already? Nooo... Please continue with red KWK B01 going to Muara Angke. But ask to be dropped off at the gate of Pantai Indah Kapuk (In Indonesian: gerbang Pantai Indah Kapuk).

And finally, continue with red KWK U11 and ask to be dropped off at Txu Chi's school. After that, just follow the sign to Mangrove Forest.

Confuse? Better ask your Indonesian friend to take you there...

Tzu Chi School

IThe entrance fee will cost 250,000.00 Rupiahs for foreigner. Don't throw away the ticket as there will be checking post. Note, if you wish to bring DSLR cameras or any other photography equipments then the fee is 1,000,000.00 Rupiahs max for 7 persons. Don't try to bring it anyway because once you get caught, you will be fined 1,000,000.00 Rupiahs. And no pet allowed so don't bother bring one. However, they will allow you to bring mineral water and probably a bit of snack. Just show it to the officer in charge at the checking post. If he says you can't bring it then best to leave it ....

If you want to have a better look but too lazy to walk then you can try these :
Rp. 250.000,- for 6 persons, riding on a boat
Rp. 350.000,- for 8 persons, riding on a boat
Rp. 100.000/45 minutes for taking a canoe

You may also ask around about camping trip here in mangrove forest, while you are still at the checking post. They will be more than happy to give you the brochure to give you more information.

After passing the checking post, we saw a sign directing people to canteen. We thought, well we just got there so why on earth we want to eat or resting? So we keep on walking and when we found the sign : Jembatan Besar (as shown on the above photo) we went straight ahead, passing the bridge (in Indonesian: Jembatan). So there you go, mangrove forest is right ahead.

My opinion? Well, since this is my first time visiting here, I would say is okay if you wish to get another experience in Jakarta. It's a beautiful place, if you have eyes and heart to look carefully. Unfortunatelly, there are so many garbages lying around and is going to make your eyes sore. Especially around the area near the beach.

And when I say a beach, don't let your imagination running wild. Thinking there will be white sands, listening to the sound of the wave. Nope. No such thing.

A little bit of tips :

1. Best time to visit here is early in the morning... Though not soo early..., mind you. And afternoon or near the right time to watch sunset. Not a lot of people in the morning. And naturally, people rush to go home
after around 3-4 PM.
Since the sun is unbearable during the day, don't forget to wear sunblock.


Want to try to planting the mangrove? There is a package for that. It will cost Rp 150.000,- per person . And to add a sign with your name on it, will cost Rp. 500.000,- per person.

2. Use shoes with thick soles. You will hurt your feet if you just use sandal or something like that. And please throw away that high heels. Notes that most of the bridge made from bamboo.

3. Bring yoruself a plastic bag or something to put away your garbages. Though there are many trash can there, still we can see many garbages lying around...

4. Bring anykind of tissue as the toilet down there doesn't provide it any.

5. I heard, there are only instant noodle sold here at the canteen. I was too tired to ask around when we got there.

And by the way, my friend and I has entered the mangrove forest from the wrong entrance. If you saw the below sign, directing you to the canteen area then yes, you should walk from there.