Donsol Whale Sharks in Bicol Region
Part of the Bicol Region travel guide — see every topic in All Bicol Region Guides.
Donsol is a small fishing town in Sorsogon province, at the southern end of the Bicol Region. For part of each year, whale sharks come to feed in the waters off the coast. Visitors go out in small boats to look for them and swim with them. The sharks are wild and are not fed, so sightings are never certain. This makes the experience more natural.
Wild whale sharks
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world. It is gentle and eats plankton and small fish by filtering water through its huge mouth. In Donsol, whale sharks gather to feed when the water is rich in plankton. The community has run a whale shark tourism program for many years, with rules to protect the animals. Unlike Oslob in Cebu, the sharks in Donsol are not fed. Boats search for them, and the number you see depends on the day and the season.
How a trip works
Visitors first register at the visitor centre and watch a short briefing about the rules. Each boat takes a small group of snorkellers, a boat crew and a trained guide called a Butanding Interaction Officer. Butanding is the local word for whale shark. When a shark is seen, the guide tells the group to enter the water quietly and swim near it for a short time. Scuba diving with the sharks is not allowed. You need to be a confident swimmer, as the water is open and can be choppy.
Rules in the water
Follow the guide closely. Keep a safe distance from the shark, especially from its head and tail. Never touch or ride a whale shark, and do not block its path. Flash photography is not allowed. Only a small number of swimmers may be near one shark at a time. Enter and leave the water quietly, without splashing. These rules help keep the sharks calm, so they continue to return to Donsol each season. Wear a rash guard and fins, and listen to the briefing carefully.
Season and fireflies
The whale shark season usually runs from about December to May, and the peak is often from March to May. Sightings change a lot from year to year. Some recent seasons have had few sharks, and on some days boats see none, so check recent reports before you book. In the evening, many visitors take a quiet boat trip on the Donsol River to see fireflies. Thousands of small lights blink in the mangrove trees along the banks. The ride is calm and beautiful, especially on a dark night with no moon. Keep lights and phones off during the ride.
Getting there
The easiest way is to fly to Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay, near Legazpi. From there, vans and buses go to Donsol in about one to two hours. Donsol is a small, quiet town with simple guesthouses and a few resorts along the beach. Most activities start early in the morning, so staying in Donsol for one or two nights is a good idea. Bring cash, as ATMs can be limited. Mobile signal and internet can be weak in parts of the town.
Donsol Whale Sharks at a glance
| Getting there | One to two hours by van or bus from the Legazpi area |
|---|---|
| Hours | Boat trips in the morning; firefly trips in the evening |
| Cost | Registration fee plus boat share; check before you go |
| Best time | About December to May; peak often March to May; sightings vary |
| Rules | No touching, no flash, keep your distance, no scuba |