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The quick answer is yes, it is possible to stay in Oslob close to the whale sharks. In fact, not only is it possible to stay in Oslob, we highly recommend doing this if your itinerary allows.
Getting to grips with the area
The Closest Hotel to Whale Sharks – AJ Place Beach Resort (3 minute walk from Whale Shark Beach)
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE – Everything You Need to Know to See the Whale Sharks in Oslob
In order to see the whale sharks in Oslob, you will need to visit Whale Shark Beach. This is situated around 8 km south of Oslob town (which is the main hub for food and accommodation). If you stay in Oslob town, you will need to arrange a taxi or transportation to get to Whale Shark Beach (you should be able to arrange an early morning taxi with your guest house for 300 pesos each way). There’s also a small handful of accommodation situated right next to Whale Shark Beach.
How do you get to Oslob? – Full Guide – travelling from Cebu city to Oslob
LOOKING FOR A DAY TRIP FROM CEBU?
Find out more about How to book a Whale Shark tour from Cebu City. Take away the stress and book a Whale Shark Tour on KLOOK.
Why is it best to stay in Oslob?
If you are planning to see the whale sharks in Oslob, we highly recommend that you spend at least a night or two in the area. There are several reasons to do this:
1 Avoid an extremely early start
If you’re planning to see the whale sharks in Oslob, you will need to get an extremely early start. We highly recommend reserving a slot on The Official Whale Shark Facebook reservation page. Even if you have reserved a slot, you will probably still need to get quite an early start in order to see the whale sharks. If you’re unable to secure a slot, you’ll probably need to arrive around 4 am (arriving this early should enable you to see the whale sharks between 7 am – 9 am depending on how busy it is). It is free to reserve a slot on Facebook. Whether or not you reserve a slot, we strongly recommend staying in Oslob so you do not need to wake up too early.
FIND OUT MORE – Everything you need to know to Avoid the Whale Shark queues in Oslob
2 Oslob is a very beautiful area
Oslob is a particularly beautiful area. It is a small town situated on the southeast coast of Cebu Island. There are beautiful beaches, amazing sunrises, and delicious seafood. If you only take a day trip to Oslob, you will not have much time to slow down and connect with the natural beauty of the area.
3 There are lots of things to see and do in Oslob
There are lots of things to see and do in the area. In addition to seeing the whale sharks, you can also visit the stunning Tumalog Waterfall (you can even swim in the plunge pool). You can enjoy beaches and tasty seafood in the area. If you have time, there are some other waterfalls, and you can even go paragliding in the hills over Oslob. You may also be interested in visiting Kawasan Falls in the South of Cebu – if you’re interested in Canyoneering at Kawasan then we recommend staying in Moalboal.
4 You can take a second trip to see the whale sharks
If for any reason you are unable to see the whale sharks on your first day, staying in the area allows you a second shot at it. Generally speaking, if you are planned, organized, and prepared, there is a high chance that you will be able to see the whale sharks (especially if you pre-book a free slot on Facebook). However, during spells of bad weather, you may not be able to see the whale sharks. If you stay for an additional day or two, then you have more opportunities. Staying for longer also gives you the option of enjoying other experiences in the area. For example, on your first day, you can swim with whale sharks, and on your second day, you could return and do a scuba dive with whale sharks. You do not need any prior experience or qualifications to dive in this area, and whale shark diving experiences are surprisingly affordable.
The best place to stay – Sascha’s Lodge Oslob
If you’re traveling on a low budget, we highly recommend a stay at Sascha’s Lodge Oslob (also known as Sascha’s Resort Oslob). This is a small and friendly beachfront guest house situated in the south of Oslob town. They have a small outdoor swimming pool with a water slide. They also have an on-site restaurant serving a range of food. We really love the social, friendly vibe at this guest house. There is plenty of outdoor furniture so that you can relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The staff are also super friendly and helpful, and they can hook you up with tours and trips. The staff can also help you arrange a taxi to get to Whale Shark Beach in the morning. They have onsite parking which is helpful if you rent a car or bike. Sascha’s Lodge Oslob is comfortable, affordable, and family-friendly. In our opinion, this is one of the best options if you are hoping to stay in the area to see whale sharks.
Looking for a place right next to the whale shark beach?
Alternatively if you’re looking for a place right next to the Whale Shark Beach don’t miss the beautiful AJ’s Place Beach Resort (you can book AJ’s on Agoda and you can also book AJ’s on booking.com)
