Donsol Whale Shark Interaction
Donsol Whale Shark Interaction
Donsol Whale Shark Interaction
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Donsol Whale Shark Interaction
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
436 reviews
Excellent
253
Very good
80
Average
45
Poor
29
Terrible
29
John M
Sydney, Australia7 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
What a great experience! Can't say enough about the crews we went out twice on different days. The first day we swam with 2 Butanding and the second day with one. To see them up close was something you will not forget.
Written 25 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Florence M
Philippines1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Family
We were in hype while preparing to interact with one of the most amazing creature. We are amazed not just because of the whaleshark interaction but also the hospitality and friendliness of the locals of Donsol. From the ice cream vendor, to our BIO and the boatmen. We really had a wonderful time chit chatting with them, sharing colorful stories behind this magnificent creature that we are about to meet. They did their very best for us to have our very own moment with the famous Butanding. Thank you so much Donsol! We will surely come back here.
Written 14 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lara Osgood
Dartmouth, UK621 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
We had an amazing trip and we’re fortunate to see and swim with the whale sharks. It’s true that a few boats go out at the same time and when there’s a spot it can get a bit busy with more than one boat but also the boats do give each other space in order to ensure that guests get the opportunity. At the end of the day it’s not like the whale shark is held captive nor do they get fed by the guides / BIO. So you are dealing with an animal in its natural habitat and there’s no guarantee that you will see it. We are very grateful to have had this opportunity and thank the lovely people in Donsol for their warm and friendly hospitality.
Written 17 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denis85_9
Cheffois, France162 contributions
Dec 2022
No comment from the staff managing this encounter and the attraction itself which is sustainable and at least more respectful than other places.
I saw 3 whale sharks during my interaction for a couple of seconds each time which remain a magical !
Then you will have some people that may complain about seeing or not seeing the animal, and the way sometimes the boats turn all around a shark when they see one, but myself I appreciate the tour.
I saw 3 whale sharks during my interaction for a couple of seconds each time which remain a magical !
Then you will have some people that may complain about seeing or not seeing the animal, and the way sometimes the boats turn all around a shark when they see one, but myself I appreciate the tour.
Written 15 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grant Cox
Luton, UK144 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Just got back from a trip to donsol today. Firstly they have no up to date website with prices or even if they're open, thanks to giddys resort who took the time to reply to me question regarding it being open.
We were a group of mixed adults and kids, the youngest being six. We only wanted one boat as some had been before, they will not allow more than 6 bodies no matter what age they are even a 6 yr old. 5k for the boat and 100 per person environmental fee (300 if you're foreign).
They had 5 crew members on the boat which was too many, perhaps one or two less allowing for more passengers.
AND TO TO IT OFF MY GROUP WERE OUT FOR 3 HOURS AND DIDN'T SEE AND WHALE SHARKS AT ALL. Total waste of a day
We were a group of mixed adults and kids, the youngest being six. We only wanted one boat as some had been before, they will not allow more than 6 bodies no matter what age they are even a 6 yr old. 5k for the boat and 100 per person environmental fee (300 if you're foreign).
They had 5 crew members on the boat which was too many, perhaps one or two less allowing for more passengers.
AND TO TO IT OFF MY GROUP WERE OUT FOR 3 HOURS AND DIDN'T SEE AND WHALE SHARKS AT ALL. Total waste of a day
Written 31 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah H
3 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
It is still a great experience and we did see 3 whalesharks. One of them super close. It was amazing. I just wanted to let you all know that the prices got up. The boot is no longer 3500PHP but 5000PHP. Plus 300PHP for environment fee per Person. The boot can be shared by 6 people. But if you are a couple and unlucky you have to pay the 5000 all by yourself. We did find a group of 4 others to share so in the end it was all good. I can still recommend it but you should know about the price.
Written 23 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grass_Hut_Girl
Niceville, FL31 contributions
Feb 2020
I left Bicol long before the butandings showed up in Donsol. It was my bucket list to see them when I finally returned 41 years after leaving. The crew was so pleasant and attentive. When we thought we would not see the butandings after 2 hours of searching, the crew made a stop for us to do some snorkeling. Then, they tried one more time and it was a success! We sighted the same small butanding twice in 30 mins. I got to swim above it. Thank you so much!
Written 28 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SamuelHarvey
Manila, Philippines293 contributions
Feb 2020
My wife and I reside in Manila. We did the whale-shark interaction in Oslob 8 years ago, well before it became the unethical circus it is now.
We received very good comments from the Donsol-version, hence after doing 3 dives in Manta Bowl and haven't spotted any, we decided to opt for the snorkeling interaction.
It is better than Oslob. They do not feed them. They to do not keep them between giant nets at both ends of the straight. They (try) to be careful etc. etc.
But, the whole process is quite ridiculous. You could be anywhere between 10-50 snorkelers at the same time in the water trying to 'chase' the whale-shark, duck-diving to get their idiotic selfies, then surfacing in your face while not being cautious with their fins and/or selfie sticks.
Note that the entry/exit in the water can be challenging if there are numerous boats as all boatman try to get as close as possible to the poor creature to satisfy their photo-opt-eager-clients.
Again, it is not as bad as Oslob, but the line between both is getting thinner.
We received very good comments from the Donsol-version, hence after doing 3 dives in Manta Bowl and haven't spotted any, we decided to opt for the snorkeling interaction.
It is better than Oslob. They do not feed them. They to do not keep them between giant nets at both ends of the straight. They (try) to be careful etc. etc.
But, the whole process is quite ridiculous. You could be anywhere between 10-50 snorkelers at the same time in the water trying to 'chase' the whale-shark, duck-diving to get their idiotic selfies, then surfacing in your face while not being cautious with their fins and/or selfie sticks.
Note that the entry/exit in the water can be challenging if there are numerous boats as all boatman try to get as close as possible to the poor creature to satisfy their photo-opt-eager-clients.
Again, it is not as bad as Oslob, but the line between both is getting thinner.
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivan K
Neuchâtel, Switzerland11 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
We were very lucky to get 8 sightings and 4 close encounters with Whalesharks, since it was only the second day of the season (13 Dec) where Whalesharks had been spotted in the area. The snorkeling experience was breathtaking. It’s hard to describe the feeling of swimming next to such large and graceful creatures.
Positive points:
- The whole crew looked out tirelessly in order to spot whalesharks, which is really not easy with the waves and light reflection. When they did spot one, they became as excited as we. Well done!
To be improved:
- Due to a power outage (after Typhoon), there wasn’t any video to show. Instead, a very quick briefing on the boat, where the only rule was: « Do not swim too close » but also « If visibility is too low, you can go closer but don’t touch ». Nothing was mentioned about their habitat, feeding and breeding, migration patterns, behavior, etc.
- We were the only boat that day, therefore « only » 6 people per whaleshark (2 guides plus the 4 of us). Upon jumping into the water, the guide would bring us exactly on the trajectory of the whaleshark so that we’d pass right above it’s head. Then, we’d turn around as fast as possible and try to follow the whaleshark for a few minutes, before we lost it and climbed back on the boat. I found this approach efficient (given the low visibility), but quite hectic and not respectful enough, since we came way too close (one of us even got touched by the whaleshark’s fin). As result, during 2 out of 4 encounters, the whaleshark escaped after a few seconds only. This clearly makes me think we are actually scaring them.
To summarize, on one hand the encounters were something unique and magical. On the other hand, the professionalism of the tours could be greatly improved (stricter rules enforcement and information about the animals).
The risk is that Donsol’s eco-touristic and sustainable reputation (as opposed to Oslob, Cebu) could start to decline if actions are not taken.
Positive points:
- The whole crew looked out tirelessly in order to spot whalesharks, which is really not easy with the waves and light reflection. When they did spot one, they became as excited as we. Well done!
To be improved:
- Due to a power outage (after Typhoon), there wasn’t any video to show. Instead, a very quick briefing on the boat, where the only rule was: « Do not swim too close » but also « If visibility is too low, you can go closer but don’t touch ». Nothing was mentioned about their habitat, feeding and breeding, migration patterns, behavior, etc.
- We were the only boat that day, therefore « only » 6 people per whaleshark (2 guides plus the 4 of us). Upon jumping into the water, the guide would bring us exactly on the trajectory of the whaleshark so that we’d pass right above it’s head. Then, we’d turn around as fast as possible and try to follow the whaleshark for a few minutes, before we lost it and climbed back on the boat. I found this approach efficient (given the low visibility), but quite hectic and not respectful enough, since we came way too close (one of us even got touched by the whaleshark’s fin). As result, during 2 out of 4 encounters, the whaleshark escaped after a few seconds only. This clearly makes me think we are actually scaring them.
To summarize, on one hand the encounters were something unique and magical. On the other hand, the professionalism of the tours could be greatly improved (stricter rules enforcement and information about the animals).
The risk is that Donsol’s eco-touristic and sustainable reputation (as opposed to Oslob, Cebu) could start to decline if actions are not taken.
Written 23 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rowan H
Cairns, Australia1,353 contributions
May 2019
My wife and I recently spent a month in the Philippines and really wanted to see whales sharks without resorting to the current circus that exists in Oslob. We decided to do this in Donsol, but given the best way to get here was via the airport located in Legazpi, we based ourselves there and visited donsol as a day trip in order to save time.
Firstly, in terms of logistics. as has already been stated the way it works in Donsol is that you go to the Butanding (Butading = Whale shark) visitors centre and register there. The cost to register is 300PP. You will be made to watch a educational video, which talks about the rules of the interaction, including staying a certain distance away from the whale sharks, not touching, etc. There are three spotting sessions a day - 0730, 1100 and 1400. If there are not enough tourists they may cancel the 1400 tour. The cost of the boat is 3500PP and this can be split between as many as 6 people. Tourists can pay the whole thing if they want a private boat, or they can group up with strangers to reduce cost. Each boat has a captain, spotter and Butading Interaction officer onboard. You can purchase fins and a snorkelling set for 300PP, as there are stores next to the centre that provide this.
As mentioned above we travelled to Donsol from legazpi as a day trip. Logistically this was difficult. There are vans that travel between legazpi and donsol at a trivial cost of only 80PP per person. However, they sit in the stations until the vans fill up with enough people so the actual time of departure is not reliable. To avoid this and ensure we were there before the 0730 departure we got a private transfer for 1500PP one-way from legazpi. Getting back, after the whale shark interaction was over we got a tricycle to the bus station (50PP for the tricycle) and paid the 80PP each for a trip in a shared van, as we were not time pressured on the return trip. Total cost of travel back was 210PP for two.
Our experience on the boats was fantastic. As mentioned above this occurred on the 16th of May and we had 6 whale encounters in our 3 hour slot. I agree with others that this was pretty chaotic. I don't think the boats always respected the 1 boat to whale policy they preached and there were often boats dropping in on others (usually by dropping their swimmers in front of the line the whale shark was travelling on). The interactions were often short, as the whales would frequently dive down. The sharks were also quick through the water and my main piece of advice to those considering coming here would be that if you aren't a good/strong swimmer there is no point in trying to see the whale sharks this way, as you won't be able to keep up with them. I had an amazing experience where I was able to swim alongside one for 3 minutes, but the rest of my group dropped off as they couldn't keep up. We had a Chinese bloke who wasn't a great swimmer who could just never get to the shark before it went down and I don't think he had the best day.
Overall this was a great experience and semi-ethical way to see whale sharks in the wild.
Firstly, in terms of logistics. as has already been stated the way it works in Donsol is that you go to the Butanding (Butading = Whale shark) visitors centre and register there. The cost to register is 300PP. You will be made to watch a educational video, which talks about the rules of the interaction, including staying a certain distance away from the whale sharks, not touching, etc. There are three spotting sessions a day - 0730, 1100 and 1400. If there are not enough tourists they may cancel the 1400 tour. The cost of the boat is 3500PP and this can be split between as many as 6 people. Tourists can pay the whole thing if they want a private boat, or they can group up with strangers to reduce cost. Each boat has a captain, spotter and Butading Interaction officer onboard. You can purchase fins and a snorkelling set for 300PP, as there are stores next to the centre that provide this.
As mentioned above we travelled to Donsol from legazpi as a day trip. Logistically this was difficult. There are vans that travel between legazpi and donsol at a trivial cost of only 80PP per person. However, they sit in the stations until the vans fill up with enough people so the actual time of departure is not reliable. To avoid this and ensure we were there before the 0730 departure we got a private transfer for 1500PP one-way from legazpi. Getting back, after the whale shark interaction was over we got a tricycle to the bus station (50PP for the tricycle) and paid the 80PP each for a trip in a shared van, as we were not time pressured on the return trip. Total cost of travel back was 210PP for two.
Our experience on the boats was fantastic. As mentioned above this occurred on the 16th of May and we had 6 whale encounters in our 3 hour slot. I agree with others that this was pretty chaotic. I don't think the boats always respected the 1 boat to whale policy they preached and there were often boats dropping in on others (usually by dropping their swimmers in front of the line the whale shark was travelling on). The interactions were often short, as the whales would frequently dive down. The sharks were also quick through the water and my main piece of advice to those considering coming here would be that if you aren't a good/strong swimmer there is no point in trying to see the whale sharks this way, as you won't be able to keep up with them. I had an amazing experience where I was able to swim alongside one for 3 minutes, but the rest of my group dropped off as they couldn't keep up. We had a Chinese bloke who wasn't a great swimmer who could just never get to the shark before it went down and I don't think he had the best day.
Overall this was a great experience and semi-ethical way to see whale sharks in the wild.
Written 18 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andre Cecéu
Vitoria de Santo Antao, PE1 contribution
is it possible to swim with whales in November?
Does it cost 3,500 pesos for a private boat with guides?
Do most people go out in the early morning? Would it be correct to assume that there are less people in the water in the late morning or early afternoon?
Toni Mae V
Taguig City, Philippines
What is the best way to do WSI in donsol without getting with tourist agencies? Is there any walk in option?
旅行者百科
San Francisco, Philippines10 contributions
早上七点半到达wsi就可以了，自行填表交钱。我住在城镇里，打车去40p.
Ganda
46 contributions
Are kids (ages 8-10 yrs old) allowed to swim with the whale sharks?
Maria H
49 contributions
I don’t believe there are age restrictions but best to email the BIO center. If it’s Donsol, the swimming/jumping off the boat maybe too advance for kids if they are not good swimmers. Physically- it is pretty advanced.
spankmybum
Auckland, New Zealand10 contributions
Hey guys, looking to visit donsol to swim with whale sharks in late may/early june and wondering if there is still whale sharks at this time. Never been to phillipines and having trouble finding accurate info about the timing and likelihood of swimming with the whale sharks. Price? Also interested in swimming with manta Ray's, are there tours for this? Price Thanks for the replies.
Shirley W
4 contributions
Hi. We just finished our tour today. 3 hrs with 8 encounters. Off season is june to october/november. We booked with Whaleshark Adventure & tours. We paid total of Php 3430 (1 local and 1 foreigner). We flew from Manila to Legaspi then hired a guide, van to Donsol, Bong +639666527371
Hi, what’s the minimum age for Children? Are kids 3yo below allowed and safe?
emoorhouse123770
Cranbrook, UK35 contributions
I'm not sure about any specific minimum age, but I don't think that this would be really suitable for a 3 year old. The encounters are a bit chaotic with the boats getting in front of the whale and everyone jumping in a hoping that it swims past them or trying to swim towards it. I think that it would be better to find a good snorkelling site with plenty of colourful fish for a child of this age.
We will stay in Legazpi and plan to come to Donsol for just one day. How can we book whale shark snorkeling in advance?
Maria H
49 contributions
For Donsol, no advanced booking is necessary. Typically - you just walk up and there are boats lined up. The best time is morning according to them because when the water gets too warm, they dive further down to feed. We came for just one day and we were there around 9:30. We were lucky to interact with 2 whale sharks around 1.5 into circling around. You have 3 hours on the boat. If unluckily unable to see a whale shark, they will take to a place for snorkeling.
Elin E
2 contributions
What time do you start your day snorkelling? Could we arrive in Donsol at 9/10am and go for the day straight or are we too late?
Mark Orland Granada
Las Pinas, Philippines55 contributions
we recommended much earlier on 9am Like 6am on wards.
Maria H
49 contributions
Hello - do they provide the snorkel gear and life vest or do we have to bring it or rent it? Thank you.
Marifa Bautista
Donsol, Philippines1 contribution
The gears are not included on the prices,but you have an option it’s either you bring or rent gears from here,thanks