Cébu: Nage Requins-Baleines, Sumilon & Canyoning – L'Ultime Journée!

The entire experience! We did a private tour so it was just my husband and I in our group. We were picked up at 330am in cebu. The drive takes 3-3.5 hours. The car we drove in had no shocks/ suspension so it was pretty impossible to rest at all. The roads headed there are horrific and have so many pot holes and turns. You have to remember it’s not the USA or Europe. We stopped first to get a ticket for the whale shark, it’s a first come basis. We arrived at 630am and we got ticket number 183. So what they do is call you group number and you go when you number is called. There were soo many people it was chaotic but you just follow your guide. So in the mean time we had “ breakfast” 1 egg, toast and banana) not the best. we left and went and viewed the water fall and took some photos. ( we did not swim water is quite cold) Everything is very crowded so be prepared for lots of people. There are 2 options you can walk over a mile to get there or pay 50 pesos ( round trip) to ride on a back of motor bike there and back to get to location. ( we both did the motor bikes as getting there is super steep and would be a massive climb on the way back) We opted out of the sand bar as it was super cloudy and 730amand being from Florida we had no interest in doing that. We then got back to the place for the whale sharks and waited around for probably 45 minutes for our number to be called. ( the guide stays with you the whole time). You have to pay for a snorkel (150) pesos if you want one and you can rent a go pro which about is 550 pesos. They provide life jackets and goggles for free. You board a row boat with about 12 other people and they take you out about 100 yards. They feed the whale sharks there so there are a bunch swimming around. When you get out there, there is probably close to 40 boats out at one time. You jump in the water and stay right near you boat and you will 100 percent see them. I had rented a go pro and one of the guys in the boat filmed me the whole time so I got some awesome videos and photos. Highly recommend this. You get 30 minutes in the water with them. The experience was amazing and probably one of the coolest things I have done, however be mindful that starting March and through the summer there is “ sea lice”. Basically larvae that are from jelly fish but you can’t see them. Needless say after my experience I had hives/ red bumps covering my body which did not appear till the next morning. I even had rinsed off after my experience and it didn’t help. My husband did not have any issues only me. We then got served lunch around 10am and it was OK. Dark chicken, rice, noodles, noodle soup, veggies, and some watermelon. After the whale sharks your guide that you had for the morning says goodbye and you continue with the driver to go “ canyoneering” this drive is about 1 hour and 15min from the whale shark experience. Once you arrive they put you or you and your spouse on back of a motorbike and you ride about 5-10min to the canyoneering check in site. ( motor bike is free of charge) When you arrive to canyoneering location they have you sign a waiver and then fit you for life jacket, helmet, and ( provide free water type shoes) if you forgot yours. I used theirs ( which was fine) but bring ankle socks as the shoe did rub against my ankle. They provide you with a granola bar and water to put in your front zipper. My husband and I were only people in our group with our guide however there are soooo many groups of people so you really don’t end up being alone. The canyoneering invloves lots of walking, going down/up steep steps, jumping off rocks, swimming, and maneuvering through rocks. It’s definitely for people who are able to perform moderate exercise. Anyone with trouble climbing or walking through water with rocks I would not recommend this at all. Our guide took my husband’s phone which was in a “ waterproof” clear holder that went around his neck. ( we bought one at the whale sharks encounter for like 100 pesos). 100 percent recommended doing this as the guide held onto the phone entire time and got some really amazing videos/ photos of us. The canyoneering can take up to 4 hours if you decide to stop and take pictures/ swim at every single waterfall/ rock/ swimming. My husband and I took about 2 hours as we skipped through a lot of the “ places to swim” and opted out most the time from the jumping off rocks. This was overall and amazing experience and we had a great time. The guide brought us back and we had a shower and changed into our clothes and said goodbye to our guide. The drive back to cebu is about 4 hours. The roads are horrific and traffic was very busy so just prepare for that. Things you will want to bring with you. About 2000 in pesos for tips. Water shoes Change of clothes Bag for your wet clothes Snacks and water Go pro Camera/ phone but have a clear case that goes around neck. ( they provide towel for you)

Whale shark view and Canyoning were really awesome 👌 All our guides were special, very kind and they took care of all of us all day long (Noel was super!!).

This trip is not just about the experience offered, it's also an opportunity to have a view of the way people leave on the island. You can enjoy all the amazing adventures offered, like close encounters with whale sharks at just centimeter distance, spend time on an amazing relaxing sandbar and chill in the waters of a waterfall before jumping in the thrill of a one of a kind memorable canyoneering experience surrounded by the beautiful nature of the island. My driver Abam was not only fun to talk to during the trip, but also the best personal driver I ever had in my life. We were discussing about Filipino culture, habits, and was amazing to see the daily life of people in the different villages we visited while traveling. Definitely the highlight of my trip so far and if only I had time I would book it again for tomorrow

This ended up being a private tour. The price was high, about 2x what I could have paid if I'd booked it after arriving in Cebu, but I think it was 100% worth it. I was happy to have the security of a plan, the guides I had were incredible, and I had private transport to and from Moalboal (which was especially wonderful at the end of the day when I was beat). This experience was overall magical. The whale sharks were majestic and the canyoneering was so much fun (though MUCH harder and longer than I anticipated... more on that below). An overview, with some details to help you enjoy your experience: Whale Sharks: 1. They provided me with 2 (thin) towels, which was really nice. I do wish I'd brought a sarong or some kind of wrap though. 2. Upon arrival in Oslob at the Whale Shark Facility: you'll meet your guide and they'll check you in, get your group number (like at the DMV), and you'll watch a quick safety presentation. Note you can't wear any lotions, sunscreens, etc. while you're in the water with the whale sharks. After that, my guide took me back up the street to a little restaurant where I had a delicious light breakfast (see photo). By the time I finished eating, we went back to the Whale Shark facility and it was pretty much time for me to get in the boat. 3. Lifejackets are required while you're on the boat heading to the whale shark area, but not once you're in the water. They have masks on the boat - but I wish I had asked for a snorkel. Or, even better, bring your own. If you have free diving experience, you might even want to bring your own fins. 4. I was solo, and had been told that the workers on the boat would help me with photos but that didn't happen. Once you get out there, there's no signal really, you can just get in the water. Most people on my boat actually didn't get in to the water, which surprised me. I spent nearly 30 minutes, with whale sharks coming within 2 feet of me! It was really hard to get a nice selfie with them, so if you're solo maybe try to find a buddy? I also wish I'd brought a gopro instead of just my phone in a waterproof bag. I got ok quality pics/videos but I know it could have been better. 5. You can rinse off after, then we went back to the same little restaurant for a very early lunch. Note that this was in the back of a lorry, instead of in the car. It made for a little bit more adventure. :) Lunch was SO MUCH food, and all of it was delicious (see photo). The chicken adobo, soup, and sesame noodles were lovely. It broke my heart to see all the dogs around, begging for food. If you're a sucker like I am, you might end up feeding them. Sandbar 6. After lunch, the guide will walk you over to the "port" for the boats that take you out to the sandbar. To be honest, I could have skipped this whole part. It didn't add much, and I only ended up spending about 30 minutes out there. It was nice to have a chance to buy a beer and a snack from the shop, and I enjoyed my beer in the water. But we left whenever I was ready. 7. At this point, we left the guide to drive about an hour back north to the starting point for the Kawasan Canyoneering. I wish I'd rinsed more before that drive. Canyoneering 8. When you get out of the car, that's the last you'll see of your stuff so really think about what you might want to bring with you on the canyoneering (though you have to carry everything you bring). I wore a sunshirt and some swim shorts over my swimsuit. To be honest, I wish I'd worn something longer on my legs because I had TERRIBLE chafing at the end of the day. The life vest you have to wear has straps that hang between your legs and they chafed me badly. I brought Keens, which were good but I kinda wished I had some ankle support. I think they'll provide water shoes if you don't have any. I was glad to have my phone in a waterproof pouch - but make sure your phone is fully charged! I was at 30% and ended up having to conserve photos and videos. I also wish I'd brought some cash for some of the shops along the way. 9. Expect to ride up to the start on the back of a motorbike. It was a driver, my canyon guide, and then me all on one bike. lol. 10. You'll be given an "option" at this point to either walk 2k to the start or pay another 600 pesos to take the zipline. You can pay for the zipline later if you forgot cash, like I did. You'll want to do the zipline, unless you're really afraid of heights. It went much slower than I expected, and was super fun. 11. The canyoneering is tough - a great mix of floating, jumping, rock climbing, wading, and hiking. There will be rocks under the water where you least expect them. But it's a beautiful landscape, and my guide was really helpful holding my hand where I was unsteady and taking about 5 million pictures/videos of me. 12. Overall, it did take about 3 hours and we covered about 5 kilometers. I was BEAT at the end. There wasn't a place to shower but I did change out of my wet clothes (bring a plastic bag to store them in). Then the driver met me and brought me back to my hotel. TL;DR: I'm guessing there's not much difference in the experience you'll get from different guide groups/tours online. If you're cost sensitive, you can book once you arrive in Cebu/Moalboal. Be clear about what food/shower access you'll have with your guide operator. Skip the sandbar unless you're really into it. It's a LONG day, but so worth it.

The entire package was an amazing experience, from the wonderful driver to every tour guide that showed us around. I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone interested. Our driver Wilson was extremely knowledgeable about all activities, extremely friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed along the way. The photos do not do this adventure justice.

This was the best tour! The staff was well-prepared, the route was thoughtfully designed, and the timing was impeccable. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, and the price was more than worth every penny. I would highly recommend this tour to others looking for a top-notch outing.

Favorite experience! The canyoneering was the highlight, but everything was great. Our driver was on time and was exceptional. Our guides for each location were also great, the canyoneering guides were so much fun!

Exceptional service from driver pick up and expert driving skills of Frank to the tour guide Anna, Denver n family were amazing! Even with someone with hip arthritis and joint problems I was treated with compassion and courtesy so I can also enjoy the experience. Humbling to swim near the gentle giant whale sharks, swim at Sumilon Sandbar and most memorable was the canyoneering at Kawasan Falls! The expert guides at Kawasan made it an unforgettable adventure! Well done team!!

The tour guide Jayr in Oslob was amazing and took great care of us! Getting close to the whale sharks is worth it. We’ve had a lot of fun in Kawasan Falls and the guides were also great. We didn’t feel comfortable about the part of riding motorcicles to get to Kawasan Falls and the driver that did the hotel pick-up and drop-off made us feel very unsafe driving super fast, tresspassing everyone and honking the whole time, specially on the way to Oslob. I doubt those road are prepared for driving at those speeds.

Absolutely incredible tour! My drive Jossip was amazing, my tour guide Byron and my kanyoneering guide Albert were phenomenal. Experts! Byron really worked hard to reduce my wait time for whale watching and was successful! Jossip was a charismatic individual, great local and life story. Albert (a jokester) was very funny and good at taking pictures and videos. If you’re fortunate enough or able to to, request these three and you’ll have an amazing experience! Also, make sure you bring spare clothes to change after your dives and hikes are done and money to tip these guys. They deserve it!