【Tour Highlights】
・ Depart in the early morning to meet the whale sharks in the clear blue sea before anyone else.
・ Experience the grandeur of Tumalog Falls, a natural paradise home to native doctor fish.
・ Depart from either Cebu Mactan Airport or your hotel, traveling in a modern 12-seater van.
【Tour Introduction】
A must-do experience in Cebu! Join the Oslob Whale Shark Tour and visit Tumalog Falls. There are only two places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks, and Oslob is the only one where you can see them in their true natural habitat.
After being picked up from Cebu Airport or your hotel in the early morning, you will head to Oslob. You will wait comfortably at an Oslob resort until your guide calls you. When it is time to depart, you will take a 2-minute drive to the Oslob Whale Shark Center. After receiving your life jacket and snorkeling gear, the whale shark tour officially begins. Enjoy a wonderful time swimming alongside these gentle giants.
Once your time with the whale sharks concludes, you will return to the resort to shower and have breakfast. A Filipino-style barbecue grilled over charcoal will be served, along with fresh mangoes for you to enjoy.
Next, you will head to your second destination, Tumalog Falls. To reach the falls, you will take an exciting motorcycle ride over the hills. Feel the magnificent and mystical atmosphere of Tumalog Falls and enjoy the refreshing water. You can swim here, taste fresh coconut, and create wonderful memories. The tour concludes here, and you will be driven back to Cebu.
【Tour Information】
・ Meeting Time: 02:30am–03:00am (Cebu Airport and Mactan Hotels) / 03:00am–03:30am (Cebu City Hotels)
・ Meeting Point
- Airport: The large pillar in front of the cafeteria called Camen Food, located outside the airport terminal.
- Hotel: Mactan Hotels and Cebu City Hotels
・ Total Duration: Approximately 11 hours and 30 minutes
・ Drop-off Location: Cebu Hotel
Did you think all Oslob Whale Shark Tours were the same?
When whale shark tours were first introduced, there were few options due to the long distance to Oslob and low awareness.
However, today, countless companies operate various whale shark tours.
So, what we are about to introduce is,
the story of what makes the 'Original Oslob Whale Shark Tour' by Travel Forest different.
If you are considering a whale shark tour, please be sure to check the points below.
It will make your trip much more comfortable and satisfying.
Travel Forest Whale Shark Comparison Points
① Early Morning Airport or Hotel Departure
Travel Forest's whale shark tour is an authentic early morning tour that has been operating for a long time,
departing between 02:30 and 03:30 in the early morning.
Pick-ups are conducted in the order of Airport → Mactan Hotels → Cebu City Hotels, and the pick-up times by area are as follows:
Airport and Mactan Area Hotels: 02:30–03:00
Cebu City Hotels: 03:00–03:30
The exact pick-up time will be provided by a local manager via KakaoTalk the day before the tour.
Whether you are arriving at the airport in the early morning or staying at a hotel in Cebu City or Mactan, it is convenient for everyone,
and airport pick-up customers can bring their luggage in the vehicle, so you can join the tour without any worries.
② Why the pick-up time is early
As the whale shark tour has gained word-of-mouth popularity, it has attracted many travelers,
and it has become such a popular tour that there is now talk of limiting the number of daily visitors.
As the number of tour participants has increased, locals have started using shrimp paste to attract the whale sharks,
and over time, this has occasionally led to unpleasant odors in the water.
To ensure you can meet the whale sharks in a more pleasant environment, Travel Forest departs early in the morning
to conduct the tour during the early morning hours when whale sharks are actively feeding.
Experience the most vivid encounter with whale sharks in clearer, cleaner water.
③ The transport vehicles are different.
Some local operators or low-cost travel agencies gather large groups at low prices,
often resulting in uncomfortable 3–4 hour one-way (6–8 hour round-trip) journeys in crowded vans.
Especially for an early morning departure tour, the comfort of the vehicle is crucial.
Travel Forest promises a more comfortable journey by assigning dedicated vehicles based on the number of passengers.
2–3 people: Dedicated sedan / 4 people: 7-seater van / 5 or more people: 12-seater vehicle
※ Vehicle assignments may vary depending on the number of passengers and local conditions.
For a whale shark tour that requires long travel times, consider not just the price, but the 'quality' of the journey.
④ We head to a private resort instead of the Oslob Center.
While most Oslob whale shark tours head directly to the public whale shark center to cut costs,
this place is often crowded with many travelers, leading to long wait times and a lack of comfortable resting areas.
Travel Forest guides you to a small resort (guesthouse level) near the Oslob Center so you can prepare for your tour in a more pleasant environment.
Here, a dedicated Travel Forest helper will handle all registration and application procedures on your behalf,
allowing you to relax in a comfortable space while waiting for your turn.
Start your whale shark tour with more ease in a comfortable waiting area.
⑤ Shower facilities / GoPro rental / Breakfast all taken care of
Travel Forest has arranged for you to use the essential amenities needed for the whale shark tour within a guesthouse (resort) near Oslob.
Please note that due to the nature of local guesthouse facilities, they are not at the level of luxury resorts, and water usage is limited due to environmental protection policies in the area.
Shower facilities: A better environment than the Oslob Center, where you can rinse off seawater using pre-stored water.
GoPro rental: Available for rent on-site, and you can download your recorded footage to your phone or a USB drive.
Simple breakfast: A light meal provided along with fresh mango (complimentary).
Beverages available: Coffee, juice, and other drinks can be ordered on-site. Take care of everything you need before and after the tour in one convenient place.
We have prepared this so you can enjoy the wonders of the sea more comfortably.
⑥ A slightly more flexible small-group tour
Travel Forest's whale shark tour is conducted in small groups, making it feel like a private tour.
Because of this, the schedule is not rigid, and a certain degree of flexibility is allowed.
If your group agrees, simple schedule adjustments such as taking photos during transit or visiting a local market are possible.
A more relaxed and flexible trip—this is the Travel Forest Oslob Whale Shark Tour.