Central Visayas

A truly worthwhile and unforgettable experience; despite the distance, it's well worth the trip.

Good tour transfer to attractions. Be prepaid to pay extra entrance fees. Driver picked up and a dropped us off. Great service!

I was picked up in Cebu City at 3:30am. It’s a long drive, so try to sleep — the sunrise on the way is beautiful. We arrived around 6am but our whale shark slot was 7:30, so the driver took us to the waterfalls first. It was cold that early, but the waterfall was stunning. Then we changed into swimwear and went out by boat for the whale sharks. They come so close and you can even hear them underwater — an unforgettable 30-minute experience, even for non-swimmers. The guides are lovely and very helpful. Traffic back took 4–4.5 hours, so starting early helps. I also had a flight the same evening and the agency kindly stored my luggage on the car and dropped me at the airport. Tips: wear swimwear under your clothes, bring a change, don’t expect super clean changing rooms, and water shoes help, eye mask if light disturbs you and want to sleep. A must-do experience!

I was debating between a shared boat and a private charter, but considering that the shared boat costs the same for adults and children, chartering ended up being significantly cheaper. The shuttle arrived on time, and upon arrival at the port, a member of the association guided us to the boat. We also paid a port tax (10 pesos per person). The weather was unfortunate when we set sail, and no one wanted to snorkel at Hilutungan, so we headed to Pandanon. On the other hand, everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves at Pandanon, and they still wanted to snorkel, so we asked the captain and he kindly returned us to Hilutungan. I think the freedom of a private charter is a plus. As for meals, the bungalows are given priority, so we had to eat on board, but that was also a great experience. The sea is somewhat controversial due to the amount of seaweed growing, but I personally think it's the most beautiful beach I've ever been to, second only to Shell Beach in Australia.

I really like Cebu Zoo. They take great care of the animals, and even in the open environment, there are no unpleasant smells. I highly recommend visiting.