Mangrove Echo Park at PIK, Jakarta (Taman Eko-wisata Mangrove Kapuk)

Sunday, Augusst 2, 2015

Me and a few friends (Farra, Steve, & Kiky) wanted an escape from Jakarta’s rush. We chose Mangrove Echo Park which located at the north of Jakarta. It’s a government program for city forest and I read a lot of good things in websites who wrote about it.
It’s said the entrance fee was not much. It’s 25k rupiah or around USD 1.90, but you’ll get natural views all around. I saw the picture that they’ve taken in other websites and yes, it’s a pretty nice place. So, we decided to go there.

We arrived there at about 4 pm (the park closed at 6 pm) so we have 2 hours to enjoy the view in the park. We looked at a board that’s written for entrance fee. Yes, 25k for locals but 250k rupiah (almost around USD 2) for foreigners. Oh boy, that’s so expensive. Actually, Farra brought her colleagues here and in the end they left when they find out about the entrance fee since they’re all foreigners.

Steve, Farra’s boyfriend, who also a foreigner, had to pay the fee then we all finally go inside wondering how’s the view inside.
We walked along the stone bricks road heading to where everyone’s headed lol….

An empty drink machine

There were signs to go to the beach. So, we followed the signs.

Direction to the beach

A little bit to go there. Meanwhile we were walking, we passed  little houses to rent if you want to spend a night in the park. I don’t know how much it is.

 

Accommodation to rent if you want to say for the night

Accommodation

Wood Bridge, where people taking selfies 

There was a lake, where you can rent a canoe or a boat. The canoe was 100k rupiah (around USD 9.5) for 1 or 2 hours while a single engine boat was up to 400k rupiah (around USD 29.5) also for 1 or 2 hours ride. The boat can fit 6-10 people while the canoe i think only fit 2 people. But we skipped the ride since it was already running late.

The lake where you can ride a canoe or a small boat

We saw the green around then lots of mangrove tree. As we kept going to the beach, the view was not as pleasant as we thought. There were garbage almost everywhere.

The path headed to the beach

Finally, we reach the beach and this is what we got.

The end of the road. The beach

The beach

We were a little bit disappointed, I think especially Steve, even he didn’t say anything about it. It’s not worthed at all for foreigner with 250k rupiah just to find this craps.

Leaking water supply. Such a waste.

I suggest the park management could improve the park’s environment for the garbage issues and can review the entrance fee for foreigner so you can get more visitors.

Before the park take some improvement, I do not recommend to visit the park. So,if you’re a foreigner in Jakarta, there are another good places for greenery to visit.