Whale Watching · CEBU

15 Cebu Whale Watching Tours Worth the Early Start

49 tours  ·  from $94 a head

Whales do not run to a timetable, but the boats do. These 15 Cebu whale watching tours are priced and timed so you can pick one in a couple of minutes and go and pack a coat.

Cebu City: Whale Shark Swimming & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering - The pre-dawn drive to Oslob
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Cebu City: Whale Shark Swimming & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

1.Cebu City: Whale Shark Swimming & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 665 reviews · 16 hours · from $124Our pick

Start before dawn for a whale shark swim in Oslob, then continue to Badian for lunch and three hours of canyoneering. Guides such as Ray, Jordon, Marcelo, and Ronaldo are praised for safety and photos, while the long drive and possible two to three hour wait require patience.

“Had a phenomenal time Canyoneering, my guide Johnrey, did an amazing job helping me through the canyon, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, cliffs and trails. I had so much fun and he took some great photos! Zip lining was a blast! Felt like I was flying’s highly recommend. Whale shark swimming was fun, but there were a lot of people. The boatmen were very helpful and took some nice photos. Driver was good, but transportation was rough, especially sitting in the back of the van. Be ready for a long car ride - bring snacks, a book, music, portable charger, bug spray.”

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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls & Sardine Snorkeling - The 2:00 AM pickup and the road to Oslob
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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls & Sardine Snorkeling

2.Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls & Sardine Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 343 reviews · 10 hours · from $106Best value

Leave Cebu around 2:00 to 3:00 AM for Oslob’s whale shark encounter, Tumalog Falls, and Moalboal’s sardine run and turtle snorkeling. Breakfast, lunch, gear, entrance fees, and hotel transfers are included. Private tours make good sense for groups of four or more.

“The best tour guide ever. Rudeal Yab is kind, patient and went out of his way for us. We did the whale shark, Waterfall and sardine run tour he was on time to pick us up at 2 am and we were dropped off at 8:30 pm.. he was happy for us to take our time and guided us where we needed to go throughout the day. He’s a great communicator and was quick to respond when I messaged him on WhatsApp. I highly recommend Rudeal for your Philippines excursions.”

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Cebu: Whale Shark Swim and Kawasan Canyoneering Tour - Oslob at sunrise: whale sharks and a difficult ethical question
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Cebu: Whale Shark Swim and Kawasan Canyoneering Tour

3.Cebu: Whale Shark Swim and Kawasan Canyoneering Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 318 reviews · 1 day · from $106

Start with a 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. pickup, reach Oslob for a guided whale shark swim, then head to Badian for 3.5 hours of river trekking, swimming, slides, and optional jumps. Local guides such as Arnel, Norbert, and Oslan help with safety and photos. Lunch and hotel transfers are included.

“It’s a lot of driving and a lot of waiting around but it’s so worth it. The whale sharks are amazing and the canyoning was the scariest and best experience of my life. If you don’t like heights, it won’t be for you. It’s very challenging physically but it was worth it!”

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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Moalboal Sardine Run & Turtles - Before sunrise: the ride to Oslob
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Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Moalboal Sardine Run & Turtles

4.Cebu: Oslob Whale Sharks, Moalboal Sardine Run & Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 266 reviews · 10 - 14 hours · from $113

Start before dawn with a guide such as Mae, Ken, or Norvina, then meet whale sharks in Oslob and snorkel with turtles and sardines in Moalboal. Transport, equipment, fees, towels, showers, and water are included. Expect a 10 to 14-hour day with plenty of road time.

“Wow. Genuinely what an amazing day. The biggest thanks to Mae and Glenn for an experience I will truly never forget. They were the kindest and made sure the whole day was run smoothly, start to finish! I’ll be in awe of this for a very long time to come 🥹💛”

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Cebu: Whale Shark, Monkey Sanctuary, & Moalboal Turtles Tour - Oslob whale sharks: thrilling, structured, and busy
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Cebu: Whale Shark, Monkey Sanctuary, & Moalboal Turtles Tour

5.Cebu: Whale Shark, Monkey Sanctuary, & Moalboal Turtles Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 234 reviews · 10 hours · from $127

Join a small group of up to six for a very early Cebu pickup, then visit Oslob’s whale sharks and monkey sanctuary before snorkeling with Moalboal’s sardines and sea turtles. Guides such as Eller, Paul, and Rex handle transport, safety, and GoPro photos. Expect a memorable day, but also a long ride.

“Eller was a kind and hospitable driver, he was very good on time and always kept his clients in mind. The rest of the team were all very supportive as well - always offered to help us when needed. This was an incredible experience and worth all the wait!”

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Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Sandbar & Pescador Island with Sardines - Tumalog Falls and the short climb down
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Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Sandbar & Pescador Island with Sardines

6.Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Sandbar & Pescador Island with Sardines

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 223 reviews · from $164

Start before dawn with whale sharks in Oslob, then visit Tumalog Falls and Sumilon Sandbar before snorkeling around Pescador Island and Moalboal. Private transport, meals, towels, guides, and boat trips are included. Guides such as Paula, Lindy, Wilson, and Melchor have earned special praise for keeping the day moving.

“Long day but well worth it! Lots of activities and destinations and a great way to do lots of things all in one day. The tour was very convenient and well organised from start to finish. Special mention to my guide Kim and my drive Melchor who were both absolutely amazing - kind, polite and really made the day smooth and enjoyable!”

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Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls - Oslob whale sharks for 30 minutes
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Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls

7.Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 175 reviews · from $200

This private Cebu day trip starts around 4 a.m. with whale shark viewing in Oslob, then visits Tumalog Falls, Sumilon Island, and Kawasan Falls. Your driver and local guides handle transfers and timing. Breakfast, lunch, towels, entrance fees, and private transport are included, but expect long drives and busy public sites.

“We had a fantastic time despite the long car ride home! Our guide Glaiza was amazing and really managed our time, made great suggestions and was really accommodating with our kids! The sharks were beautiful and calm definitely a trip to remember! Highly recommend!”

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Oslob Whale Shark Watching - The 4 a.m. departure from Cebu City
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Oslob Whale Shark Watching

8.Oslob Whale Shark Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 150 reviews · from $120

Start around 4 a.m. from Cebu City for a private, driver-led trip to Oslob. Swim beside whale sharks for about 30 minutes, or watch from the boat, then visit Tumalog Falls if conditions and timing allow. Guides such as Maria, Gene, and Danika have earned praise for personal care.

“Very pleasant tour. Both driver and your guide were very friendly and answered any questions that I had. Swimming with the whale sharks was an unforgettable experience.”

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Oslob Whale Sharks and Moalboal Sardine Run, Sea Turtles Tour - Oslob’s whale sharks: thrilling, brief, and complicated
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Oslob Whale Sharks and Moalboal Sardine Run, Sea Turtles Tour

9.Oslob Whale Sharks and Moalboal Sardine Run, Sea Turtles Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · from $113

Start before dawn for Oslob whale shark snorkeling, then continue to Moalboal for its famous sardine school and sea turtles. Guides such as Mae, May, Norvina, and Farrah help manage the long day, with transport, equipment, towels, water, insurance, and hotel pickup included.

“The tour guide Norvina and driver were excellent. She explained everything in detail, including why the early start was necessary, to queue in Oslob before 6am. We had plenty of breaks during the long drives, the van was comfortable, and Read more”

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Whale Watching in Sumilon Island with Ocean View Resort and Lunch - Swimming near Oslob’s whale sharks
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Whale Watching in Sumilon Island with Ocean View Resort and Lunch

10.Whale Watching in Sumilon Island with Ocean View Resort and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · from $124Top rated

You’ll leave Cebu before dawn for Oslob, swim near whale sharks with a boat photographer, then visit Sumilon Island’s white-sand beach and clear water. Japanese-speaking guides such as Jun and Robin may lead the day. Breakfast, gear, water, and photo data are included, while lunch costs about 500 to 600 PHP.

“Whale sharks are so big I didn't expect to see them so close!!”

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Oslob Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering - Tumalog Falls adds a quiet half hour
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Oslob Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

11.Oslob Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · from $197

Start before dawn with a private ride to Oslob for a whale shark swim, then visit Tumalog Falls and tackle a four-hour Badian canyoneering route ending at Kawasan Falls. Guides such as Jayson, Sam2x, and Ramel add humor, safety help, and photo support.

“Wow what an experience! The whale shark experience seems very chaotic at first but Marlita was very informative and explained the whole process very well. She is very friendly and helpful. Josef picked me up from Shangri-La Mactan at 3:30 am and dropped me off by 7:00pm. It was a lot of driving and fun talking with him. Ramel was my guide during the canyoneering and zip line experience. My friend canceled last minute and he made the trip fun and took a bunch of pictures of me during hike. I definitely recommend this trip.”

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Cebu: Whale Shark, Monkey Sanctuary, & Moalboal Snorkel Tour - The 4 a.m. reality and the ride south
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Cebu: Whale Shark, Monkey Sanctuary, & Moalboal Snorkel Tour

12.Cebu: Whale Shark, Monkey Sanctuary, & Moalboal Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 82 reviews · from $117

This small-group Cebu day tour links Oslob’s whale sharks and monkey sanctuary with Moalboal’s sardine run and sea turtles. Expect a very early pickup, long road transfers, certified guides, hotel transport, fresh coconut, and free GoPro rental with an underwater photographer when available.

“I went to see the whale sharks, the falls and the monkey. The guide was brilliant and the transport was amazing: while the guide was guiding us, the driver was waiting on the van so at every stop we could be very close to the place we wanted to visit and also we could live the stuff we didn't need”

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Oslob Whale Shark Snorkeling & Pescador & Sardine Run & Turtle - The 3:30 a.m. pickup and long road south
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Oslob Whale Shark Snorkeling & Pescador & Sardine Run & Turtle

13.Oslob Whale Shark Snorkeling & Pescador & Sardine Run & Turtle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 65 reviews · from $150

Start around 3:30 a.m. for a private drive from Cebu City or Mactan to Oslob, then continue to Tumalog Falls and Moalboal. Swim near whale sharks, sardines, and turtles with local guides such as Abam, Robbie, Ray, and Noel. Breakfast, lunch, gear, boat trips, and hotel pickup are included.

“We had an amazing time on this tour. All staff were attentive and helpful. Joesifpus, our driver, was the best; super informative and friendly. It was incredible swimming with all the different sea creatures and the whale sharks were so surreal to be with. Thanks so much for a great day! Side note: we hired GoPros at the two locations and it was the best decision as the crew made amazing videos for us.”

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Cebu: Oslob Whale Shark Swimming and Kawasan Falls Canyoneering - Meeting the whale sharks in Oslob
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Cebu: Oslob Whale Shark Swimming and Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

14.Cebu: Oslob Whale Shark Swimming and Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · from $119

Start before dawn with a guaranteed Oslob whale shark swim, then head to Badian for three hours of canyoning through clear pools, jumps, and Kawasan Falls. Your day includes transfers, guides, lunch, and safety gear. Private pickup is available in several Cebu areas, while the Oslob boat is shared.

“The actual whale shark swim was an unbelievable experience. But we were told to wait for pick up at Cebu hotel at 2:10 am, arriving at the venue at 5:30am. We then waiting in line with about 1500 people (not exaggerating), got a number for Read more”

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Oslob Whale Shark & Tumalog Waterfalls & Sumilon Sandbar - Tumalog Falls for a Cool Reset
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Oslob Whale Shark & Tumalog Waterfalls & Sumilon Sandbar

15.Oslob Whale Shark & Tumalog Waterfalls & Sumilon Sandbar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · from $115

Leave Cebu or Mactan at 3 a.m. for Oslob’s whale shark encounter, Tumalog Falls, and Sumilon Island. The small-group tour includes transport, gear, fees, water, towel rental, and a GoPro on request. Guide and driver Reggie is known for keeping the long day running smoothly.

“Overall we had a great experience. All three activities were fantastic and we really enjoyed them all. Our guide and driver Reggie was very helpful and all staff were friendly. We particularly enjoyed Sumilon island and was better than we expected.”

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