Cebu Island, Philippines: Swim with Whale Sharks and Enjoy Island Hopping
📍Location: Cebu Island, Philippines 🇵🇭
1. Oslob Whale Shark Watching (Whale Shark Tour)
📍Address: F97H+9W, Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Oslob, 6023 Cebu, Philippines
💵 Cash Only: 2000~3000 yen/person
【Good Points 👍】
- You can swim up close with whale sharks‼️
- Delicious food at nearby restaurants 🤤
- Cheaper if you book on the day in Oslob 🙌
【Bad Points 👎】
- Whale sharks are only present early in the morning, so you need to wake up very early
- Jellyfish may appear depending on the season (rash guards recommended)
- The number of whale sharks varies by day, so it's a matter of luck
✏️ Rating: 9/10
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🗺️ How to Get There from Mactan Island
🚩 Tour
The easiest option. Book through a tour site (e.g., GetYourGuide) and get picked up from your hotel.
【Good Points 👍】
- Easiest method
- Comfortable transportation
【Bad Points 👎】
- Expensive
🚕 Taxi
Negotiate with local taxi drivers or book a ride via a taxi app (e.g., Grab).
【Good Points 👍】
- High flexibility
- Comfortable as there are no other passengers
- Can stop at tourist spots along the way
【Bad Points 👎】
- Expensive
- Negotiation can be challenging
🚎 Bus
Take a taxi to South Bus Terminal (CSBT, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu, Philippines) and then board a bus.
💵 Cash Only
【Good Points 👍】
- Very cheap bus fare (round trip: 1500 yen)
【Bad Points 👎】
- Buses with air conditioning can be extremely cold, while non-air-conditioned buses can be very hot
- Public buses can be crowded depending on the time
For the trip there, buy a ticket at the counter and show it to the staff at the terminal for guidance. For the return trip, ask the whale shark tour staff about the bus stop, and flag down the bus when it arrives. Once onboard, inform the driver of your destination (South Bus Terminal) and pay the fare. (Note: If the windows are open, it's a non-air-conditioned bus. Confirm with the driver.)
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2. Tumalog Falls
📍Address: Brgy Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Oslob, Cebu, Philippines
💵 Cash Only: 500 yen/person (round trip by motorbike)
【Good Points 👍】
- Crystal-clear water and stunning waterfall
- Only 5 minutes by motorbike from the whale shark tour site
【Bad Points 👎】
- Many motorbike taxi touts
✏️ Rating: 8/10 - Worth visiting if you have extra time!
3. TakiTaki Marine Sports
📍Address: Karancho Maribago Beach Resort, M.L. Quezon National Highway, Lapu-Lapu, 6015 Cebu, Philippines
💵 Cash Only: Island Hopping - 10,000 yen/person; Parasailing - 5,000 yen/person
【Good Points 👍】
- Affordable prices for marine sports and island hopping compared to other places 🤗
- Japanese owner, making price negotiations possible 🙆♀️
- Private boat for each group
- In addition to the standard island hopping itinerary, you can visit other islands for an extra fee‼️
【Bad Points 👎】
- Located at the back of Karancho Beach House, making it hard to find
- Hotel staff may recommend overpriced tours run by locals
※ There’s a large sign, so don’t hesitate to enter 🫡
※ Island hopping incurs entry fees for each island.
✏️ Rating: 8/10