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Swimming with whale sharks in Cebu definitely counts as one of our best travel experiences ever. Swimming with such a giant, magnificent creature is both humbling and inspiring all at the same time.
However, it is also a very popular activity, and it can be very challenging to arrange your trip. The simplest and easiest way to arrange a whale shark watching trip in Cebu is to stay in Cebu City and book your tour on Klook. Just a word of warning: this will involve an extremely early start and some waiting and queuing in Oslob. However, on balance, we think it is well worth it! So keep reading to find out more about seeing Whale Sharks in Cebu in 2025.
In this article, we will tell you how to book your whale shark watching trip from Cebu City, and we will also compare it to a few other options so you can weigh up the best choice for you.
If you are interested in staying in Oslob near the whale sharks – this is also a great option which can avoid such an early start. Also Oslob is a very nice area! So we definitely recommend that you consider this as an option. Also don’t miss our FULL and In-Depth Guide to the Whale Sharks in Oslob – literally everything you need to know to plan your trip.
How do you book a whale shark watching trip from Cebu City?
We highly recommend the whale shark watching trip on Klook. For a private tour, it is very good value for money, starting at around £50 per vehicle (around $60), which can take 1-3 people. You will also need to pay fuel fees, which generally range in price from £20 – £30 (around $25 – $35). There is also a small guide fee of £5 or $6 (peak season and holidays). Finally, you also need to pay a small amount for the boat and snorkeling in Oslob, around £7 (around the same price).
So all in, the whale shark watching tour is likely to cost around £82 – £92 for one person (including transportation, guide, and boat and snorkeling fees). But if you’re traveling with others, it is actually cheaper per person. Remember, the car and fuel fees can be shared across your group of up to three people. For a group of three people, it only costs around £25 per person, which is great value for money for an all-inclusive whale shark watching tour from Cebu City.
LEARN MORE – Is it ethical to see Whale Sharks in Cebu?
What is included in the whale shark tour from Cebu City?
The Whale Shark Tour includes the following things…
- Car driver (guide) and hotel pickup
- Round trip transportation to and from the whale sharks in Oslob
- Optional stop at Tumalog Falls
- Entrance, boat, and snorkeling fees in Oslob
Top tip: Food and drinks are not included in the price of the tour. You can buy breakfast in the Oslob area when you are waiting for your boat to depart (there are several options, and they are all open very early). Alternatively, pack a breakfast and bring it with you.
It is important to recognize that the visitor has a very early start. You will need a 3 am start in order to reach Oslob in time to see the whale sharks. The tour generally returns to Cebu City by around 12 pm. There is also an optional stop at the beautiful Tumalog Falls.
Is the Oslob whale shark tour family-friendly?
Yes, the whale shark experience is family-friendly. However, there are a few things you need to know if you are doing this with kids. Firstly, kids need to be included in the booking. Kids are chargeable as adults on this trip, and this includes the boat in Oslob as well (we were not charged for a baby on the boat).
Kids 0-2 years old can go on the boat, but they are not allowed to enter the water. The water conditions in Oslob can be quite challenging. Many people jump off the boat and hold on to the wooden stabilizer so they can watch the whale sharks swim past in the water. The stabilizers do rock up and down in the waves, and there is a risk of bumping your head. There can also be very strong currents in the water. You will need to supervise kids carefully if you’re planning to swim in the water. We do recommend using fins (you can rent these on the beach for 200 pesos while you are waiting for your boat).
Top tip: If you are bringing kids, they do have child-sized life jackets. However, they do not have child-sized swimming masks. Therefore, we recommend that you bring goggles along for your kids.
What do you need to bring on the whale shark tour?
The whale shark tour has an early start so pack your back the day before your trip…
- Swimming kit
- Towel
- SPF 50 rash guard (sunscreen is not allowed in the water)
- Dry sack (can be useful if you want to take anything on the boat)
- Small day bag
- Money (bring plenty of cash for food, snacks & fees)
- Breakfast (or buy it in Oslob)
- Drinking water
Top tip: There is a free bag storage office situated at the whale shark registration office on Whale Shark Beach.
