I wish I could say I enjoyed swimming with the Oslob whale sharks last week, but truth is, I didn’t. I am happy for Oslob, these gentle giants locally called tuki caused a huge buzz in the Philippines which is a big help to the tourism revenue of the once sleepy town. But I am saddened by what I saw; the chaos of tourists which could scare away or harm the poor whale sharks and even fellow whale shark watchers; stubborn tourists touching the whale sharks, snorkelers’ fins almost hitting my face, scuba divers suddenly surfacing from down under and paddle boats almost running over my head.
Nevertheless, I will still promote the whale shark of Oslob and encourage people to visit because the good people of Brgy. Tan-awan,Oslob deserves the blessing that they are getting now.
I love the genuine hospitality shown to us by the locals. I am deeply moved by their simple way of life; I see families happily eating together over humble meals, weary fishermen in green uniforms taking care of tourists, officers constantly checking with visitors if they enjoyed the whale shark encounter and a humble home embracing us. I saw the joy in their eyes, taking pride in the attention that their drowsy town Oslob is getting.
But I hope in the coming days, more tourists would respect the whale shark guidelines and realize the harm that they could do to them. The tourism officers and the fishermen are really trying hard to implement the rules and organize the whale watching activity, but the number of tourists should really be controlled and sadly,some tourists are just really stubborn!
Whale shark watching in the Philippines is on the bucket list of most tourists. Who wouldn’t? At a reasonable price, you’re getting one heck of a travel adventure! Another famous site for swimming with the whale sharks in the Philippines is Donsol, Sorsogon , the “Whale Shark Capital of the World” where unlike in Oslob, no hand-feeding and no touching of whale sharks. In Oslob, there’s a boat called “whale shark feeder” that the tuki follows while the boatman feeds them.
Here is my Oslob whale shark travel guide for your disposal:
How to Get to Oslob, Cebu for the whale shark :
–> From Cebu City, ride a bus going to Oslob at the South Bus Terminal. Tell the conductor or driver to drop you off at Brgy. Tan-awan in Oslob for the whale shark. It’s roughly a 3-hour ride from Cebu. Bus Fare (air-con) is Php 156.
—> Look for the signs that says ‘Whale Shark Watching’ beside the road.
—> Go inside the resort, the officers will lead you to the tent where tourists will pay fees.
* Swimming with the Oslob whale shark fees (fees tourists need to pay for the whale shark encounter in Oslob, Cebu):
whale watching – P300 (1 boat can accommodate up to 4-6 people)
snorkeling fee – P20
camera fee – P100
life vest – P50
resort/shower area/locker – P50 (we only paid Php 10 for the shower, and Php 5 for toilet use. We left our bags in a fisherman’s shack.)
other Oslob expenses:
Air conditioned bus Fare from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Tan-awan, Oslob: Php 156
Snorkeling Gear with Life vest: Php 110
Bus back to Cebu City: Php 156
Motorcycle to the Falls : Php 100
—> Get your assigned number and your receipt.
—> You will be instructed to head to the briefing area.
—> Wait by the shore until your number is called for your turn to swim with the whale sharks. You will be given 30 minutes for this unique experience.
Travel Tips:
Best to do this on weekdays when there’s not much crowd. Come early to avoid long lines. Our group left Cebu City at around 3am (Oslob bus runs 24/7 at South Bus terminal). Coming from our trip in Malapascua, we just stayed at a coffee shop in Cebu IT Park while waiting for 3am.
For those who want to stay overnight in Oslob, there are 2 humble resorts in the area:
Oslob Resort:
Contact Person: Manolito “Dodong” Munoz
Cellphone number: 0932-7733-438 / 0923-2841-008
usual room rates for Oslob Resort:
Family room (6-7pax) – Php 1,500
Double room – Php 800
Single room –Php 350
Other tourists attractions in Oslob, Cebu :
Sumilon Island:
![DSC_0411[1]](http://i2.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6840842076_3d7239d6e4_o.jpg?resize=655%2C448)
An island close to the whale watching area in Oslob famous for its major dive sites : Garden Eel Plaza, Nikki’s Wall, Coral Landscape and Julie’s Rock. It is the first marine protected area in the Philippines. The locals offered us Php 2,000 for a boat to cross to the island which is pretty expensive, but I learned from other tourists that usually its only Php 800. We didn’t go to Sumilon Island but the locals advised us of a falls near their barangay.
Tumalog Falls : This is a stunning falls that can be reached by riding a habal-habal (motorcycle) for Php 100 per pax. We enjoyed taking a dip in its cool waters!
St. Joseph Church – Nueva Caceres
Mainit hot springs
1788 church belfry
Spanish-era gazebo
Nigad tree – centuries-old legendary tree
Suggested Side Trips to Oslob:
*Boljoon*
Patrocinio de Maria Church Complex – Old Colonial church with separate belfry declared as one of the 34 churches of National Cultural Treasures and submitted in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tentative List.
Eli – natural barrier against Moro raids, watchtowers
*Alcoy*
Tingko Beach
*Dalaguete*
San Guillermo de Aquitania Church – a Rococo-inspired old colonial church and a National Historical Landmark. Do check out the Heritage Well and the Cannon in the complex as well.
Mantalongon Market
Osmeña Peak
*Carcar*
Balay na Tisa
Old Colonial Houses
The Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria
Villadolid watchtowers
Monument of Leon Kilat
*San Fernando*
Church of San Isidro Labrador
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Related posts about Cebu:
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About the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina solo adventurer, a dream chaser and a student of life. Her (mis) adventures are documented in this blog. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
For advertisement, partnerships and sponsorship, click here. or email me at thepinaysolobackpacker(at)yahoo(dot)com.
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I am happy for the town to getting some ecotourism-driven revenue. But I do hope that they learn that whale sharks MUST be protected if they want that revenue to be sustainable long-term. Doesn’t sound like a very good environment for the whale sharks, but with a few regulations I’m sure it could be a great responsible travel destination.
I hope they all find an amicable way to generate income and also to keep the whale sharks in a safe environment.
Great photos!
I would love to explore more in Cebu come last week of march, but the itinerary given to us by the Foundation would not warrant. I would just make use of my time like revisiting the magellan’s cross and other nearby heritage sites.
great shot on that tumalog falls!
looks so inviting! summer pa naman dyan ngayon (dito kasi summer everyday, you know! haha)
It’s not about a mere traveling but how you take good care of the things around you while enjoying the good views. Protecting these species also contributes to a thriving, healthy planet for people’s health and well-being. We should protect them para maabutan pa sila ng next generation. Wanna experience that!! Have you visit Malapascua?
since this is supported by DOT, i heard malapit na sila dalin sa donsol to watch and observe yung right way to treat these giants. in time, magiging organize din yan.
a dozen of oslobanons went there on may 2012 upon an invitation…hope it helped them
I agree with you, and I hope that soon both tourists and fishermen will strictly enforce and follow the agreed guidelines, to make it both beneficial to the community and these gentle giants of the sea. Everybody happy, and hope next time we bring an underwater camera that is sealed properly haha
i wanna try donsol, pero saka na pag my underwater cam na! haha
nice! when i went to donsol, i only saw one whale shark at murky pa ng water.
i’m a backpacker too!
one lang din yung andun, tsaka maliit. hand-fed kaya d umaalis, in fairness, malinis ang water dun.
thanks for dropping by andy! 
Ack! marami talagang turistang makukulit at hindi sumusunod sa guidelines. Kung sila kaya ang ‘tuki’ at hawak-hawakan sila ng maraming turista… Hopefully, maging maayos na ang implementation ng rules and guidelines. Thanks Gael for sharing the information pati yung mga sidetrips. Ang ganda nung falls!
Hey, this is actually my first concern when going there. Part of me is guilty because whale sharks should be living diversely away from humans but they are just too beautiful to see up close and we just have to keep in mind those rules and Snorkeling fins should be prohibited!!
when exactly did you go to Oslob? actually, I went there last week. March 12 to be exact.. I’ve noticed that there were some backpackers in the area and it’s easy to tell and recognized them.
haha yeah, there’s a lot out there. it was sunday – march 11.
Hope they [authorities] can give solution to these problems ate Gael, such as seminars for tourists and to the community before interacting with the whale sharks. But it could have been better if visitors become responsible tourists themselves and the community people should have the discipline not to abuse what blessings they are receiving right now
By the way, ang rami ring attractions near Oslob ha, sulit din po.
in addition to Tumalog Falls meron din silang Sulfuric Spring water sa Brgy. Mainit.
may medicinal value po ang tubig na to lalo na sa balat ng tao. limang piso lang ang entrance fee at pwede ka nang maligo sa pool na continuous ang daloy ng tubig so napakalinis talaga.
wow, I didn’t know they also had whale sharks over there. Usually kasi, pag whale sharks, ang maiiisip ng tao, sorsogon. may facilities din pala sa cebu to swim with them. Thanks for sharing!
It’s autumn in your site – ang cute ng falling leaves!
Pano ba yan – who should be responsible for these whale sharks? Kelan pa kaya maging disciplined ang mga Pinoys to deserve this up-close-and-personal experience with whale sharks. tsk tsk
Ang dami biglang fees!
Sana when we go there mas organized na ang tour. I feel bad for those whale sharks dahil hindi natural ang habitat nila ngayon and I do wish na matuloy yung sabi ni Chyng na ilipat sila sa Donsol. Although baka mahirapan din sila bigla dun dahil nasanay sa spoonfeeding environment.
Sana maabutan pa namin yan next week!
robbie,
dapat mong malaman at sa mga nagbabasa rito na ang ibang fees dyan ay gawa gawa na lang ng mga resort owners. wala pong bayad ang camera kung sarili mo ito. sa 300 na bayad mo sa whaleshark watching libre na ang gamit ng life vest…ito po ay handog ng municipal government. wala ka na ring babayarang banca kasama na yan sa 300.
dumeretso na kayo sa briefing area, ito ay nasa resort ng butihing alkalde ng boljoon. walang entrance fee di katulad ng ibang resort na nanghihingi ng 100P as entrance fee. kung may sasakyan ka may parking fee lang na 20P.
ganda ng kuha.. gusto ko ung second pic at ung experience sa tumalog falls.. mapuntahan nga..
Nice… we are planning to go to the southern towns of Cebu this summer. This travel guide really helps.
Namiss q tuloy ang working place q gael sa post na to, ive stayed in oslob for more than 1 year indi pa patok ang whale watching nun,,, 4hun pesos mga 5 persons na un… Wid side trip pa sa palibot ng sumilon,,, last feb ngpunta kmi dito and good to know na may do and donts na pero may matitigas pa rn ang ulo,,,
after reading chyng’s comment i feel a lot better. i just been to costa rica where the locals have been trained and educated on the value of environment and its protection.
i am saddened that there are many of us pinoys who are not heeding the rules. i also hope that implementation of the rules and guidelines would be strictly followed and certain penalties diligently meted out to rule breakers.
nagandahan din ako sa tumalog falls. di namin napuntahan yan. sana maayos na nila yan with wwf group yung sa whale shark.
dapat may fine yung mga turista na di sumusunod sa patakaran.
i wanna swim with the whale sharks too!
thank you so much for this informative post! truly,it’s more fun in the Philippines <3
daming fees. kumikitang kabuhayan!
bakit kaya hindi nalang nila pagisahin yung bayaran pala hindi naman mukhang nakakaloko pag kung anu ano pa sisingilin sayo
tsk tsk tsk meron at meron talagang mga pasaway. sana nga matuloy na yung sabi ni Chyng para mas maging organize na sila. Kawawa naman yung mga tuki. Eh kung sila kaya ang hawak-hawakan ng maraming tao?
Hopefully, by the time na pumunta kami dyan sa august eh medyo organize na sila.
i have yet to experience swimming with the whale sharks. i hope i could tick this off my bucket list this year
is it 24 hours to see the whale sharks?
Hi is there a season that the whale sharks are there? i plan to go last week may… will i see them?? thanks.. you really have a wonderful site, take care always in your travels!!
because they are hand-fed they’re always there.
thank you very much, and as suggested in your amazing site, I booked at Boljoon at the Granada Resort and will hopefully see my most dreamed of Butanding!!! thanks and take care always on your trips!
hi gail. i agree one can never be really happy if ganyan pala ang attitude ng marami sa mga turista dyan. figured its the picture of tourists riding these whale sharks in oslob thats controversially makin rounds in the internet lately.
just a question..to save money in lodging, is camping allowed in oslob? planning to go there this march…
ay april na pala lol. sorry bout that
i don’t think so. madame kase bahay sa my shore at ginagawang daungan xa ng mga boats, so wala tlga space for camping.
I’m quite torn if I should go to Oslob for their whale watching when I go to Cebu next next week. Part of me doesn’t want to be part of the exploitation, and yet the other part of me wants to help the local economy. And also gusto ko rin makakita talaga ng butanding hehe.
Sana nga maayos nila yung sistema nila. Para sa kanila rin, sa mga butanding at sa mga tourists tulad natin.
Hello Gael,
Been frequenting your site since I saw your link from James´ blog.:) I like reading your travel stories, and just like the other travel bloggers, you inspire me to travel more.
God bless and keep safe on your travels.
Never seen a whale of that species before. Nice article and well written
Kawawang mga tuki…
Keep on promoting responsible tourism Gael!
I’m a supporter.
hi gael. happy to find you here. so this is where life has taken you after kalai?
i left my email add. would love to hear from you.
Pano bumalik sa Cebu city from Oslob? San kami sasakay and gaani katagal byahe pabalik Cebu city?
sa highway lang, kung saan kayo bumababa po. a few meters lng xa. 4 hrs din.
Thanks! I noticed there’s 100 pesos camera fee, will they charge you for bringing your own camera or they have underwater camera you could rent for 100 pesos?
i know, confusing. but unfortunately, they charge you for the camera fee if you bring a camera sa boat. walang for rent na camera.
last may lang po at may underwater camera for rent po doon, napakamahal ang renta 500 pesos! may dala akong compact camera hindi naman po ako siningil ng bayad sa camera ko.
Do u need to be able to swim well to go snorkeling with the whale sharks? Do they give you life jackets to wear?
yes, my life jacket. d naman, my life jacket naman so ok lang kahet d ka ganun kagaleng lumangoy, actually i can;t swim. haha
waaaaaaaaaaaaaw…this is amazing… all the info’s i need’s in here!!!!
makes mooooooore excited to go!!!!!!!!
gOod job ^_^
Hi Gael, thanks for this! I’m off to Oslob in a few hours. Hope to see the tukis but also want to advocate proper whale shark tourism procedures. I will be on the lookout for guidelines etc
must be nice to see whale up close and personal. but poor whale.. it’s just being used for monetary gain..
Hindi din ganyan ka organized sa Donsol- it’s just as messy, especially when the whale sharks are nowhere to be found. There can be up to 10 boats= 60 pax to one whale with the spectacle being the people elbowing one another in the water as they race toward the whale sharks. The boats are also motorized and extremely loud- which I can’t imagine would be pleasant to the fish. I dunno, feeding them sounds a lot better than harassing them with very loud motorized boats and boatloads of tourists.
Hi, Daniel Here, I am interested to visit the whale sharks in coming Oct, would like to find out any under water camera are available to rent over there ? Thanks
Racism is alive and well in the Philippines!
If you are “WHITE” you will pay 3x more than anyone else for whale shark watching in Oslob.
Today I went with a group of 6 people and we all agreed that after the lady and gent admitted that they are racist that we will not go! I told them that I am a travel agent of more than 30 years, and that I was here in answer to a request by the Philippine Government to bring tourists to this country, they did not care either! Well I am now going to do my utmost to ensure that I stop as many “WHITE” people from coming here as tourists….so that these people can continue to live like sewer rats and enjoy their poverty…
I’m sorry you feel that way. But if you are a travel agent for 30 years I am sure you are aware that even other countries have the same policy,not only in the Philippines. Locals pay less than foreigners. I’ve been to a few countries in SE Asia and even if I am not “white”, because I am a Filipino, I am still a foreign tourist and I pay the foreigners’rate. Locals and students always get the discounted rate.
Hi Charles, Sorry about your experience with the whale watching fees. I guess another way to look at it is you were given the basic rate while locals were given a resident discount. It’s pretty much the same as reduced college fees for California residents… Locals pay taxes, and since the government (local or national) subsidizes some of these tourism operators, they give a portion of it back to tax payers as a form of discount. Hope this explains.
Hey Gael,
Thanks for the info on Oslob. You’re awesome!
Me and my bf are about to do a whale shark trip this January and deciding on the best location for it. Online information is overwhelming and we’d appreciate quality recommendation as to where to go: Donsol, Oslob, or Leyte?
What do you say?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
hi, never tried the donsol and leyte yet so i really can’t compare po. though i heard na mas malake ang chance to see the whalesharks in donsol kase nga handfed sila.
Thanks for a good informative write up. Really made me want to visit.
Just a small correction, I am pretty sure that there is no church in Cebu inscribed as a UNESCO heritage site. The only 4 UNESCO churches in the country are in Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Iloilo.
hi Paulo, thanks for the correction,my bad forgot to use “Tentative List”. Boljoon is submitted in UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tentative List. thank you for dropping by. happy travels!