ACCESS:
The nearest access point for the park is the small village of Bilar, which is located halfway between the small town of Lobok and the famous Chocolate Hills. There is a regular bus service between the two every 15 to 20 minutes during daylight hours.
The best advise is to be at Bilar no later than 9:30am, as, with a slow walking pace, you will need about 4 to 5 hours to complete your excursion. You should aim to be back at Bilar by 2:30 at the latest. If something happens to you while in the jungle, the penetration of sunlight through the high and thick vegetation and foliage is minimal, and any assistance team will struggle to get to you before dark.
The road to the park is very misleading. It is wide enough for two cars and covered with cement (see photo 1) almost up to the tourist information centre and reduced to a narrow slippery path once you enter the rain forest.
REQUIREMENTS AND PREPARATION:
1. A good map of the park is a sine qua non. This can be obtained by Rita or Chris at Nuts Huts (read my journal: Nuts Huts in Bohol). Without it, it is guaranteed you will get lost, as there are a lot of T junctions on the footpath once in the forest
2. A minimum level of physical fitness is also must. You should be able to walk for 4 to 5 hours in hot conditions and a couple of those miles on footpaths.
3. It is strongly advised to have another friend/companion with you, as, in case of an accident, he/she will summon help. Visitors are not all that common in the park, and sometimes it could be several days before another naturalist would pass you on the same footpath.
4. A back-up plan is also a good idea. Someone should know your whereabouts and check whether you returned at a prearranged point a certain time.
5. Wear trainers or boots and below-the-knee trousers. You are less exposed to insect bites, leaches, etc., and closed shoes will minimise the impact of reptile bites. Sandals and flip-flops are no-no’s. The ground in the park is very slippery, and regardless of weather conditions, there are always millions of wet leaves on the ground.
6. Make sure you have some first aid and 1 litre of water, and do NOT forget your camera.
7. When you walk on the footpaths, focus as much as possible on the ground to avoid stepping accidentally on a snake.
8. Do not get intimidated by the sounds of animals all around you. Nothing will attack you unless you attack first.