Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island
Traveler rating
4.3/5
Based on 4 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island worth booking?
Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island is a 12-hour experience in Cebu, Philippines, from $120 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.3/5 rating across 4 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- 4.3/5 (4)
- Duration
- 12 hours
- From
- $120 per person
The Beauty of Cebu strengthens when one municipality in the South captures the interest of one’s extraordinary adventure from the pristine white sandbar in Sumilon Island and to an ultimate experience of swimming with the Gentle Giants, “The Whale Sharks”or “Butanding” what locals called. Get on a close encounter and swim with the gentle giants. Enjoy and get mesmerized by the beauty of Tumalog Falls and fall inlove by Oslob's history as you see Baluarte de Oslob and Oslob Cuartel. A sidetrip to Sumilon White Sand bar will surely complete your day.
What you get
About this experience
The Beauty of Cebu strengthens when one municipality in the South captures the interest of one’s extraordinary adventure from the pristine white sandbar in Sumilon Island and to an ultimate experience of swimming with the Gentle Giants, “The Whale Sharks”or “Butanding” what locals called. Get on a close encounter and swim with the gentle giants. Enjoy and get mesmerized by the beauty of Tumalog Falls and fall inlove by Oslob's history as you see Baluarte de Oslob and Oslob Cuartel. A sidetrip to Sumilon White Sand bar will surely complete your day.
What's included
Included
- Airconditioned Transportation
- Banca (boat) with steward
- Whaleshark Encounter Briefing & Permit
- Pick up & Drop off (Cebu City & Mactan Hotel)
- Tour Coordinator
- Whaleshark Encounter
- Snacks upon arrival in Oslob
- Lunch at a local restaurant with one round of softdrinks
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
A drive to the south of Cebu will bring you to the town of Oslob for an exciting experience with the whale sharks. For a close encounter you may swim with them or just stay on the boat.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Sumilon Island
A 30 minutes motor boat ride will take you to Sumilon Sand Bar. One of the best sand bars in the Philippines with white sand and crystal turquoise waters. Enjoy swimming or just sun bathing on the sandbars.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Tumalog Falls
Take a dip on the cool and refreshing waterfalls and enjoy the view around you.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Options you can book
Shared Tour
Joiner Tour Pickup included
Private Tour
Private Tour Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Cebu Trip Tours
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
The guide
1 mentionTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
1 mentionThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
1 mentionPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Food and drink
1 mentionThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Physical effort
1 mentionExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Traveler reviews
4 verified traveler reviews for Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Unspoilt beauty of nature
We did Oslob Whaleshark and Sumilon island tours and all 10 of us (different ages) had a grand time experiencing God's beautiful gifts. Sumilon Island is exquisite and the Butandings are truly magnificent. I just hope they minimize the number of boats that set out at a time so that it doesn't look very crowded from the shore and the whalesharks can swim more freely.
via Tripadvisor
Great way to spend they day
I was in Cebu for work from late April to Mid-May. I took a one day trip to Oslob and Sumilon. I booked the tour with Southwind Travel and Tours. They pick up at hotel and bring you back. I was the only one on the trip so i had the guide, Rachel and the driver all to myself! They were both awesome. Cebu to Oslob is about 2.5 hours in the morning. You get there around 7am. Put on the life jacket and away you go. Six tourists to a boat. Two guides. They paddle you out to the Whaleshark feeding area, where a 'feeder' is throwing food over the sides of his canoe. The Whaleshark comes up, opens its huge mouth and inhales. You have stairs off the small boat to ease yourself into the water and you can swim right up to the Whaleshark, you cannot, or SHOULD NOT touch them. You can get pretty close as they just ignore you. It is an impressive creature! Good experience. Great for all ages. But keep in mind, "Whaleshark Tourism" is big business and there can be lots of people, I was lucky on the day i was there, it was only half packed i was told. Still when you look underwater you see scuba divers swimming around along with some pretty colorful fish. The whole experience last about 30 minutes. Water looks like its 30-40 feet deep and you are 50 yards from shore. There can be 10 or so people with you in the water at any given time. No everyone jumps in. You can take off the life jacket if you want. Then its onto Sumilon Island. Small Island, ten minute drive from Oslob. There is a small pier with a Tourist station (with bathroom) owned by the Bluewater Resort on Sumilon. Southwind Travel has an agreement with them to use the facilities. Its a 15 minutes boat ride to the Island. Great place. On the south side of the Island you have a sand bar with very gentle waves and very shallow water. Great for all ages. That is where most people hang out. I stayed practically all day on the north side where there is a marine preserve. Very nice snorkeling, lots of very colorful fish (some huge ones and some eel fish too) and sea life, including the odd 2.5 foot shark. The waves can be rough on this side. Lots of bolders, rocks. The tour included lunch at the Resort. It was a very good buffet I might add. The snorkeling beach has little tiki huts with elevated floors (no sand on your towels!!!!) and hammocks. You spend four hours or so there. Its not too busy, so you can just relax. Around 1:30 pm we headed home. Took the boat to shore. The ride home was close to 4 hours. All in all, a very great day trip and I could see myself staying a couple of days at the Bluewater Resort as it looked very nice.
via Tripadvisor
Bucket List Experience!
In May 2018, a group of us went to the Philippines on a scuba trip. On one of our days in country, we opted for the Cebu Whale Shark excursion to knock off a bucket list item. When we arrived, there were so many people there (it was a Sunday), so we got slightly worried about the chaos. However, everything was very well organized and set up. Our wait time was not unreasonable at all, and they had a very systematic program that kept the boats rotating. Once out on the boat, we were able to hop in the water while the middle boat fed the whale sharks to bring them close to us. We were able to take amazing photos and videos of these incredible creatures. They gave us a full 30 minutes in the water so everyone was able to capture the pictures that they wanted. I would recommend bringing some soap/shampoo/etc with you for afterwards, as you will smell like dead shrimp. They do have showers available for use. We were VERY pleased with the set up and execution of Cebu Tours and would recommend this excursion to everyone!
Response from the operator: Hello Lanzen, thanks for the detailed and wonderful review! Our team is happy to know you are VERY pleased with our service. Congratulations on knocking off a bucket list!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $120 to $293
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Cebu Trip Tours, who run 12 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.0.
See everything Cebu Trip Tours runsWhy this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cebu.
How much does Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island cost?
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Prices start at $120 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cebu usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island take?
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Plan for about 12 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cebu is not rushed.
Is Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.3/5 across 4 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Cebu, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 12-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cebu can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cebu and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cebu within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cebu?
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On Outty we rank every Cebu experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Whale Watching in Sumilon Island with Ocean View Resort Tour, Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Sandbar & Pescador Island with Sardines, From Cebu: Oslob Whale Shark Swimming & Moalboal Sardine Run Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cebu?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cebu?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island?
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Included: Airconditioned Transportation; Banca (boat) with steward; Whaleshark Encounter Briefing & Permit; Pick up & Drop off (Cebu City & Mactan Hotel); and Tour Coordinator. Not included: Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 96 listed pickup locations in and around Cebu. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Cebu. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island?
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Across 4 reviews averaging 4.3 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, photo opportunities, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
What booking options are available for Oslob Whaleshark with Sumilon Island?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Shared Tour, Private Tour. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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