It was low tide when we reached the mangroves and the boat could not dock. We had to be transferred one by one into a small rowing boat to get to the riverbank.
When we got to the bank, the mud was like quicksand. My legs sank up to calves’ high. A friend's legs sank knee high! We also had to walk barefoot because the mud was too slippery and soft.
While watching the birds, the caretaker served us with fresh coconuts.
After bird-watching, we were expecting that it would be high tide so we wouldn't have to walk the muddy path again but unfortunately, it was still low tide! Worse, no one had a flashlight. We retraced not just the muddy path but also the boat ride going back to the town with only lighters as our source of light (in pitch black darkness!).
As a finale, we had to hire a trike to bring us back to our Donsol resort because the last jeepney trip leaves Pilar at 430pm and we reached the town at 630pm. Since we all couldn't fit inside the trike, I volunteered to make sabit at the back of the driver (which I usually do and enjoy) - except that this one was a 40-min trike ride in a steep road with lots of sharp curves!
What an adventure! But we had fun. We decided to make the most out of the ordeal and just laugh at our mud-smeared legs and faces.
For those planning to visit the sanctuary in the future, don't worry, they're building a bamboo bridge already so you don't have to take the muddy path when it's low tide:)
BTW, you might be wondering how to get there. Here's how we got there - we took a trike going to the downtown of Donsol. Then we took a jeepney going to Daraga and we got off at the downtown of Pilar. The municipal office was closed because it was a weekend but someone gave us the phone number of the tourism rep office so we called. The rep said he could connect us to people who can guide us so we agreed to meet. An ambulance driver brought us to the house of the tourism rep officer and there he introduced us to the person who'll bring us to the sanctuary. What an adventure! Haha...
