Looking for the best place to swim with the whale sharks? Then, come visit Donsol, Philippines! Dubbed as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”, Donsol is the perfect place to meet these massive gentle-moving creatures.

While its rival destination Oslob appears to be the more popular, the more instagrammable, or a better “hit” in whale shark tourism, there are many aspects that make Oslob undeserving of this attention. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, then, going to Oslob is never a good idea. We will tell you why.

On this blog, we highlighted insightful information that can help future travelers get a heads up about what to expect in both destinations. This way, you’ll have an informed decision as to why it’s more likely that you will go for Donsol in Sorsogon.

Whale Shark Philippines: Butanding

The local name for whale shark is “Butanding”. They are described to be slow-moving “gentle giants” that allow humans to swim along with them.

Butanding are migratory species that temporarily stay in coastal areas where there is a high density of planktons which is their main food. Thankfully, the Philippines hosts an ideal ecosystem that attracts whale shark visitation.

A photo of a whale shark locally known as Butanding | Photo by Mark Lehmkuhler | License CC BY-ND 2.0

To learn more interesting facts about the Butanding and other endemic wildlife in the Philippines (e.g. tarsier, tamaraw, etc), you may check out this blog.

Donsol, Philippines: The Best Place for Animal Encounter

In 2004, Time Magazine recognized Donsol as the “Best Place for Animal Encounter” thus, making it one of the most successful and applauded ecotourism sites not only in the Philippines but of the world. Through time, this humble town has become a magnet not only for the whale sharks but also for conservationists, environmental advocates, wildlife enthusiasts, ecotourists and the like.

Thus, if you’re looking for an unforgettable, guilt-free and ecological animal encounter, then Donsol, Sorsogon is the place to be.

How the Whale Shark Activity at Donsol Started

Donsol started to gain attention when a large concentration of whale sharks were spotted in 1998.

In that year, a group of divers led by David Duran noted frequent sightings of whale sharks in the area. This peculiar incident attracted the attention of a group of American scientists and the World Wildlife Fund(WWF) which was also conducting a marine study in the Visayas at that time.

After a preliminary investigation was conducted during the first quarter of 1998, marine biologists were convinced that Donsol could possibly host the highest concentration of whale sharks in the world.

Capitalizing on this potential, WWF together with the local community developed whale shark conservation in the area and later on organized a community-based ecotourism program.

Then, on March 9, 1998, by virtue of Municipal Ordinance No.12, Donsol became the first and only municipal whale shark sanctuary in the Philippines.

In June 1998 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) approved a 6-month grant to further improve the Butanding Ecotourism Development Project at Donsol. | Source: wwf.org.ph

The Success Story of Donsol, Philippines

Donsol is a laid-back coastal village located in the northwestern part of Sorsogon in Bicol region. It has close proximity to Albay which is the home of the world-renowned Mayon Volcano (could be the perfect side trip to your whale shark tour).

A picturesque view of the Mayon Volcano, the world’s most perfect cone | Photo by Tom Falcon | License CC BY-2.0

Before the popularity of whale sharks, Donsol’s main source of livelihood was fishing. Life then was poor, difficult and slow. The area received little attention with almost non-existent development projects.

The coming of whale sharks in 1998 has forever changed Donsol’s direction. At the end of that year, Donsol recorded 800 registered visitors yielding Php 454,875 annual income. Then, 12 years after, there were more than 25,172 tourists contributing to hundreds of jobs and generating over Php 6 million to the local economy.  | Source: sorsogoncity.wordpress.com

Thanks to tourism – Donsol’s economy drastically improved. The local community flourished. There were a number development projects that were initiated for instance, road improvements and creating a good source of drinking water. Tourism created more jobs for the residents – as tour guides, Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO), hotel staff, restaurant crews, transportation drivers and more. The locals saw the value of protecting the wildlife. By doing so, it helped them attain long-term and community-wide success.

Protecting the whale sharks and co-existing with the environment is the classic formula that Donsol adopted. It is a beautiful example that if you take care of something, it will come back to you tenfold in unexpected ways. That’s what happened in Donsol.

Donsol Whale Shark Philippines Tour: What to Expect

Here, the Municipal Tourism Office operates and manages the whale shark activity. This is how it works:

1) Upon arrival, tourists are asked to register at the tourism center and pay the tourism fees

Guests’ registration at Donsol Tourism Office

2) All guests are required to attend a 10-15 minutes orientation about the do’s and don’ts of responsible whale shark interaction

The following details are emphasized:

• A carrying capacity of 7 pax per boat is strictly observed. There is also a limit of 25 boats per day to avoid overcrowding
• Each group will be accompanied by local crews including 1 boatman, 1 whale shark spotter and 1 to 2 Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO). BIOs are trained local guides and expert swimmers that act as facilitators of the whale shark activity
• Don’t touch or feed the whale shark
• Don’t restrict the movement of the whale shark
• Ideally, a 3-meter distance between humans and whale shark must be observed
• Flash photography is not allowed
• No SCUBA, scooters or jetski are allowed
• Interaction boats must not have propeller guards to minimize potential injury to the whale shark. The boat’s engine shall also be turned off as you approach the whale shark. In this case, your reliable BIOs will then guide you to swim a short distance towards the whale shark.

Guests attending the brief orientation at Donsol

3) After the orientation, guests will be ushered to the boat and will be provided with a life vest. Flippers and snorkeling equipment can also be rented at a nearby local shop

4) Meet the local boat crew

Each group is accompanied by local crews including 1 boatman, 1 whale shark spotter and 1 to 2 Butanding Interaction Officer/s (BIO). BIOs are trained local guides and expert swimmers that act as facilitators of the whale shark activity. They are dedicated local guides with great stories to tell – you’ll many interesting facts and trivia about the whale shark.

Upon boarding the boat, the BIO will introduce himself and the rest of the boat crew. He will also orient you on the proper way to plunge into the water to avoid shocking the whale shark.

The Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO) showing us the proper way of jumping to the water

5) Off you go to meet the gentle giants

Together with your team of reliable boat crew, you are on your greatest adventure of finding the whale sharks in the wild – done the natural way with no feeding involved. The whale shark expedition adds up to the overall excitement of finally meeting the gentle giants.

Happy tourists waiting for another round of whale shark interaction

At Donsol, whale sharks are not exploited. Tourism activity is regulated. The carrying capacity is observed. Ecotourism guidelines are strictly implemented. Locals act as protectors of the environment. Tourism activity complements the conservation of Butanding.

At the end of the day, you will have peace of mind knowing that you were able to tick-off an amazing wildlife encounter and did the right and eco-friendly way.

Whale Shark Season Philippines: Best Time to Swim with Whale Sharks

According to the Department of Tourism of Bicol, the whale shark season is generally between April to May. Sometimes, it can extend until June and can begin as early as January.

Keeping in mind that whale sharks at Donsol are freely living in the wild, their frequency may vary. But in general, locals say that an average of 1-5 whale sharks can be seen when you come during the whale shark season.

Donsol Vs. Oslob: Why Donsol is a Better than Oslob, Cebu

For people Googling for whale sharks in the Philippines, you probably have encountered the place called Oslob, Cebu – the most photographed, most controversial and most disrespectful whale shark watching attraction in the Philippines.

Like what most blogs and ads would show, Oslob guarantees good sightings of whale sharks all year-round. You can swim and take excellent selfies with the whale shark, in a convenient and impulsive manner. However, what most published photos are unable to capture is the UNETHICAL conduct of animal encounter that is operated here:

1) Oslob continues to violate the “No Feeding of Wildlife” principle.

Boatmen continuously feed the whale sharks from 5:00 AM to 12:00 NN or until there are paid tourists who want to see the whale sharks. By doing so, whale sharks stay near the shore which guarantees up-close encounters that you see on beautifully photographed pictures all over the internet.

What people neglect to realize is that this feeding activity alters the natural behavior of the whale shark – it affects the wildlife’s movement and diet. While they are supposed to be “migratory” in search of food and breeding purposes, whale sharks at Oslob never leave the area because the feeding continues.

Boatman feeding the whale shark at Oslob for tourism | Photo by: Vassamon Anansukkasem | Shutterstock Photo ID: 650847139

2) The whale shark distance safety parameter is totally disregarded

At Oslob, you will see countless tourists touching the whale sharks, swimming right beside them and totally disrespecting animal guidelines – all for the love of taking that “ultimate selfie” with the whale shark. Nobody is stopping these clueless tourists. Boatmen and operators also show no care at all. Nobody is regulating this supposedly responsible wildlife activity.

In fact, there are many instances when the boats would bump into the whale sharks causing them cuts, scars and injury but nobody seems to care. It’s truly painful to see this!

People from Oslob should’ve been the protectors of this great tourism asset, for, without these whale sharks, Oslob will never be on the travel map. It’s actually the Butanding that draws tourists to their place. When these creatures die, tourism in the place dies too.

A whale shark in close proximity with tourist boats

3) Carrying capacity is not observed – there are just too many tourists  everywhere!

The everyday scenario at Oslob with countless boats and tourists

4) Tourists are not properly oriented about the do’s and don’ts and operators are not good implementers of the guidelines

5) Ultimately, Oslob is overcommercialized with no signs of animal sensitivity and sustainable practices

It’s sad that despite the many criticisms , Oslob continues to operate the irresponsible whale shark activity in exchange of short-term profit. Adventure blogger Mandy Mill also shared her sentiments when she outlined 5 Reasons Why You Should Not Swim with the Whale Sharks in Oslob on her blog.

Wildlife Adventure Tour in the Philippines

If you want to experience a responsible whale shark encounter, then please feel free to get in touch with us. Let’s put a stop to irresponsible and commercialized wildlife tours.

We love the Philippines and we want to take an active part in protecting it. With this, we only offer tours that respect our environment. We want to help educate potential visitors to please go for the better and sustainable option. 

Here is our sample Philippine Wildlife Tour that will allow you to swim with the whale sharks at Donsol, meet the charming Tarsiers of Bohol, watch the happy dolphins in Pamilacan and swim with countless giant sea turtles in Apo Island. If you’re into birdwatching, we can also highly recommend Olango Island in Cebu.

There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing the wildlife in their true home – happy, unexploited and free.

Swim with Whale Sharks in the Philippines

What are your thoughts about Donsol? Or Oslob? Is swimming with whale sharks part of your bucket list too? Have you been to any of these 2 places? We’d love to know what you think. Feel free to comment down below 🙂