Bohol To Oslob Whale Shark Watching Tour Review & Booking Guide
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This is a detailed review and booking guide on the Bohol to Oslob whale shark watching tour.
I had hesitated a lot on whether to take the whale shark watching tour during my last visit to Bohol. Before my trip, I had searched extensively online and found that most tours depart from Cebu, not Bohol.
However, that would mean ~ 3 hours and 20 minutes car drive to the whale shark watching point and another 3 hours and 20 minutes back to Cebu city center. The 7-hour travel would not only take up a whole day of my itinerary in Cebu, but it would also make it harder for me to plan my stay on Bohol Island.
Also, the join-in tour from Cebu, which is usually cheaper, has a departure time ranging from 1 am to 3 am. Or unless you pay the premium to join a private tour than you can start at 5 am. One way or another, this is too exhausting for a short vacation.
Luckily, during my last stay in Bohol Panglao, I found that Oslob whale shark watching tours are prevalent. I found multiple local tour operators offering Bohol – Oslob whale shark watching tour at a price of ~ 3,500 PHP (~ 63 USD). Even better, I found that KKday offers a cheaper price for the same package at (~53 USD).
I am very grateful for taking the tour, first-time encountering the whale shark, and at the same time ensuring sufficient time on Bohol. Thus, I am writing this to share my experience with you.
🐋 Book Your Once-In-A-Lifetime Whale Shark Experience Here!
Oslob Whale Shark Watching Tour From Bohol Island
After my extensive research, pre-booking of the Bohol to Oslob whale shark watching tour is only available on KKday. If you are looking for a vacation on the island, this is the best choice you can have. The price is cheaper with more accountability than local vendors.
Is Oslob Whale Shark Watching Worth Going?
Deciding whether Oslob whale shark watching is worth it wasn’t easy for me. I struggled a lot with the decision. On one hand, during my pre-trip preparation, I know that tours from Cebu often require a 3 a.m. start. That would mean sacrificing a night’s sleep.
Also, as I am only staying in the Philippines for 9 days (taking 5 days’ annual leave), spending a whole day on the tour means a day less in Cebu or Bohol. Worse, the reviews of Oslob whale shark watching are very confusing. I highly doubted whether it would be worth sacrificing sleep, itinerary disruption, and long travel for ~ 30 minutes swimming with a whale shark.
For that, I did not even book any whale shark tour before my trip. Luckily, I later found out that going to Oslob from Bohol is possible. Plus, the boat ride is only around 2 hours one way with a beautiful view, and I even spotted dolphins jumping on my way return.
Despite the ~ 30 minutes swimming time with the whale shark, I got sufficient time to take lots of great photos with the whale shark and was totally amazed. If you haven’t ticked your bucket list for whale shark yet, I totally recommend that you do so.
Oslob is one of the few places in the world that for sure you will definitely encounter whale sharks. I did a whale shark tour for over 100 USD in the Maldives and saw nothing in the past.
Booking Your Bohol To Oslob Whale Shark Watching Tour
Booking an Oslob whale shark tour took more effort than I expected. I spent hours researching, only to find that most platforms like Klook and Viator focus on departures from Cebu. If you’re like me and spending most of your trip in Bohol, this is a great pain. The idea of trekking to Cebu just to catch a tour felt exhausting and inefficient, unless you want to wake up at 1 am and return to Cebu at ~ 5 pm.
After some persistence, I discovered that only a few options cater to departures from Bohol. You can either book locally through small operators or use Kkday, which offers a structured Bohol to Oslob whale shark tour. I went with Kkday because it provides more accountability—clear itineraries, confirmed bookings, and customer support if something goes awry. Local bookings can work, but they often lack the reliability I wanted for such a big experience. For peace of mind, Kkday is the way to go. All you need to do is just to choose the day of departure. The platform also offers a partial refund in case of late cancellation.
🐋 Oslob Whale Shark Watching From Bohol – Book Here!
Depature From Bohol Versus Cebu
Departing from Bohol to Oslob would mean less travel time. You’ve got to enjoy the scenic ocean view on the ferry rather than the bumpy road by land. You can wake up a bit later and also be back to Bohol Panglao before 2 pm, leaving you a whole day for great food, massage, and even other tours.
Oslob Whale Shark Watching Review
Still hesitating whether to take the tour or not? No worries, I was in the exact same situation. Let me show you the rundown of my Oslob whale shark experience step by step.
1. Morning Departure to Momo Beach – Panglao
The day begins with a 5 a.m. pickup from McDonald’s in Panglao, where a free shuttle whisks you to Momo Beach. It’s an early start, but manageable, especially compared to the 3 a.m. wake-up calls from Cebu. Alternatively, you can go to Momo Beach by yourself, but make sure you arrive at 6 am to allow time for registration.
2. Ferry from Momo Beach to Oslob Port
The ferry ride from Momo Beach to Oslob Port takes around 2 hours. It’s a decent vessel with clean toilets and a deck where you can stretch out and enjoy the sea breeze. It can get a bit crowded, though, so don’t expect too much personal space.
There’s no free food or drink available onboard, so pack a snack and water. The route passes through Pamilican Island, so you may encounter bottlenose dolphins or even whales.
3. Pick-up via Tricycle to Oslob Whale Watching Spot
Once you dock at Oslob Port, a tuk-tuk or tricycle waits to take you to the Oslob Whale Shark Watching Spot. It’s a quick, bumpy ride that offers a taste of local life for around 10 minutes. Your tour guide handles the logistics, so you can sit back and soak it in while taking photos from the back.
🐋 Oslob Whale Shark Watching From Bohol – Book Here!
Fitting Your Itinerary
By departing around 5 and returning before 2 pm. You still have the whole afternoon and night session in Bohol. You can make the most of the day for joining short activities like the sardine run at Napaling or firefly watching at night.
4. Arrival Of The Conservation Center
At the center, your guide takes charge of getting your tickets. There’s a bit of waiting involved as they manage the crowds for briefing, but it’s well-organized. You’ll sit through a briefing on the Oslob whale shark swimming rules—no touching, keep your distance, etc.
After that, you will need to wait for the boat to the whale shark area according to your number. I waited around for 40 minutes last time. While waiting, I grabbed the time to change and also wandered the souvenir shops nearby. The area has the cheapest and best magnets compared to Bohol and Cebu.
The areas are crowded with shops and restaurants, so the waiting time is somehow enjoyable. However, you should keep checking the number from time to time to avoid missing your boat.
The center offers free storage room, a toilet, and a shower. If you didn’t bring a GoPro, you can rent one here at 550PHP (~ 5 USD).
5. Let’s Swim With Whale Sharks
Finally, it is the best part of the tour – to swim with whale sharks. Once it’s your turn, you will be guided to a small boat where life vests and goggles will be provided onboard. If you are a good swimmer, you can take off the life vest at the swimming site.
Upon arrival at the conservation site, the fishermen will allow you to jump out of the boats. At the same time, there will be several feeding boats, attracting 1 or 2 whale sharks nearby. Although it is relatively crowded, you will have enough chances for photos, and the whale sharks will keep passing around you.
Originally, I thought 30 minutes was enough, but it turned out its more than enough. For exactly how it feels, check out my video below.
6. Return To Bohol
After the bucket-list ticking encounter, you have time for changes and a shower. After that, the local guide will take you back to Oslob port for the boat at ~ 11:30 am to Bohol. After another scenic ferry ride, you shall arrive at Momo beach before 2 pm, followed by a shuttle back to McDonald’s.
This marks the end of the tour, and you still have a whole day for other activities in Bohol. If you want to stretch your itinerary, you can even do a sardine snorkel or dive at Napaling (which closes at 4 pm).
I Felt Lucky To Take The Tour
I hesitated on whether to go for the whale shark watching. I was so discouraged by waking at ~ 3 am, a long drive, a lack of Bohol-Oslob information online, and the need to sacrifice a day of Bohol for my short vacation.
However, I felt very lucky that I found out about the Bohol to Oslob shark tours and decided to take them. It is probably one of the most affordable places that you can tick off “swimming with whale sharks” from your list.
The experience was wonderful beyond description. Departing Bohol replaces a 3 hours + bumpy car ride with scenic boat rides. It allowed me to wake up later and have a full day for other activities even after the tour. I highly recommend that you take the tour!
🐋 Oslob Whale Shark Watching From Bohol – Book Here!
The Tour Will Impress You
I felt very lucky and grateful that I ended up taking the tour. This is the first time for me to swim with the whale sharks. The giant majestic creature did impress me. I love the experience, it’s one of the best moments I’ve had during my last Philippines vacation. I highly recommend this to you.
Frequently Asked Questions For Oslob Whale Shark Watching From Bohol
1. Can I watch/swim with whale sharks in Bohol instead?
Yes, whale sharks exist in popular diving islands such as Pamilacan in Bohol. However, the chance of encounter is very low. I have had more than 10 dives in Bohol and never seen one before.
2. Can I go whale shark watching in Oslob from Bohol by myself instead of on a tour?
Yes, it can be done. Round trip ticket from Bohol to Oslob and back is around USD 32. Snorkeling / watching environmental fee (entrance fee) is 1,000 PHP at the site (~ 18 USD). Also, you will need to hail a tuk-tuk from Oslob port. So the price could be more expensive than taking the tour at ~ 53 USD.
3. Can I depart from Bohol, then stay at Oslob, or head to Cebu after the tour?
Yes, it can be done, but the price would be the same. Or else, referring to point 2, you can just buy a way ticket and pay for the whale shark watching fee.
4. Should / Can I rent a GoPro there?
Yes, you should. It costs only 550 PHP to record your once-in-a-lifetime experience.
5. Can kids swim with a whale shark?
Yes. There were lots of kids there during my last visit, and they all had fun. There is no age limit for the activities.
6. Is whale shark watching safe?
It is safe as long as you follow the safety guide. Also, if you are not a good swimmer, then you should keep your life vest on.
7. What is the best time for Oslob whale shark watching?
December to July are the best times, but it is basically year-round, as the whale sharks there get used to feeding time/
8. Is Oslob whale shark watching ethical?
It is a controversial topic and involves valued judgment. From my personal experience, the center did stress the conservation side, like on sunscreen, distance with whale sharks and etc.
Also, they attract the whale sharks by feeding, which seems to be fair (give/take), rather than trapping them in an area like a zoo. So I felt okay by my standards.
