Cebu’s Big 3: A Review of the Whale Shark, Waterfall & Sardine Run Group Meal

If you want a mega dose of adventure packed into a single day, you almost need to look no further than Cebu’s “Whale Shark, Waterfall, and Sardine Run” tour. We gave it a try, and here’s the lowdown on everything, like from the early wake-up call to that satisfying feeling when you’re back at your hotel, that the tour has to offer.

Oslob Whale Shark Encounter: A Gentle Giant Experience

The day sorta kicks off super early – think 4:00 AM early – for, you know, that drive down south to Oslob. Apparently, it’s a three to four-hour drive, so it’s almost a good idea to catch some more zzz’s on the way if possible. Once you get there, things move pretty quickly. There’s this quick briefing about, well, how to interact responsibly with the whale sharks, then it’s gear up and get in the water. So, there they are, these huge, gentle giants just swimming around. I mean, being in the water with them, it’s, like, absolutely breathtaking. It’s one thing to see pictures, but, actually swimming next to these huge, spotted sharks is completely unforgettable. Keep in mind that lots of other people will probably be there at the same time, it’s super important to be respectful of the animals and that environment around you. Just stick to, basically, the guidelines you receive to make sure these amazing creatures stick around for a long time to come.

Kawasan Falls: Chasing Waterfalls and Thrills

From Oslob, the next stop on that list is Kawasan Falls. The good news is that you are trading swimming with big fish for hiking, and you know, potentially, some cliff jumping. So it is only about a two-hour ride to Moalboal, where you’ll put on all your gear and ready your boat for your snorkeling journey. And as the name implies there are several waterfalls and swimming holes available to see on the premises! Kawasan Falls is very famous for its multi-layered waterfalls and its strikingly clear water, that is cool and inviting on, more or less, a hot day. Getting there typically includes a little hike, going across, what might be, lush scenery, that might actually add to that whole experience. The main falls are, in fact, pretty awesome, yet you might also want to try out the smaller, less crowded tiers. It’s very easy to spend hours here, just swimming, taking snapshots, and generally relaxing in, more or less, a fantastic setting. If you are really feeling up for it, lots of tour packages usually offer canyoning experiences, where people can jump and rappel down certain parts of the waterfalls – with trained personnel, of course! Even if canyoning is, seemingly, not for you, a trip to Kawasan Falls is almost a really great contrast to swimming with, actually, whale sharks and well worth a stop on the list.

Moalboal Sardine Run: A Swirling Spectacle

So, after that bit of a travel-filled experience through the many levels of the waterfalls, it’s time to head to Moalboal for what is often referred to as the sardine run. Moalboal is about three hours away from Kawasan Falls, give or take. It turns out that this is a seriously unique experience since you get to swim among millions, basically, maybe even billions, of sardines. You only need to swim only a few feet away from the shore, and there they really are; that is, a massive, swirling school of fish. It is actually pretty incredible to be surrounded by such a huge number of sea creatures. Even though the sardines really are the main draw, that water there is generally really clear, and there is a great opportunity to actually view additional sea life. Moalboal provides, yet again, a pretty unforgettable snorkeling experience and is the last thing you can do on your triple adventure day! Just try and hold on because it’s another three hours or so drive back up to the city, once you have put all of your stuff away after experiencing all of the snorkeling and nature offered in the southern part of the beautiful island of Cebu!

Tour Logistics: What You Need to Know

Okay, so to assist others who are taking a tour similar to this one, it really does help to, in some respects, plan ahead for this specific itinerary, and expect there is a bit of driving involved. Many of the tour operators can assist with transportation, they can frequently pick you up from your hotel. So make certain to confirm these arrangements ahead of time. In particular, make sure you wear clothes that can easily be worn while swimming since there can be lots of time spent in water. A lot of visitors often advise taking with them a dry bag in order to secure their sensitive valuables. The provision of meals can in fact change by the tour provider, but a large percentage provide a pretty standard Filipino meal. Finally, so, expect the time for a tour such as the kind detailed here will take anywhere from twelve to sixteen hours!

Is the “Big 3” Tour Worth It?

Right, so is it truly a tour that gives the people the most bang for the money spent on a tour in the Cebu area? To answer, well, yes, without hesitation. If anyone is someone who really likes adventure and someone that actually loves sea animals, then there aren’t really many options to seeing whale sharks in the world. A lot of individuals may only get a chance to witness sardines traveling and running with some of their sea friends like dolphins and sea turtles one time in their existence! Lastly, with all of the fantastic benefits that come with that experience, individuals that are in fairly sound form, with some solid swimming skills should definitely explore the waterfall experiences around Kawasan!

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring on the tour?

Swimming clothes, a towel, water shoes, a dry bag, and sunscreen are practically all great to have.

Are meals included?

Generally, yes, many tour packages often include lunch, although that depends, it really depends on that tour provider you go through.

Is the tour safe?

Yes, yet just be certain to actually comply with every bit of safety guideline, and listen carefully to the directions given from the tour guides. The success of the safety measure generally depends on how well participants use it! However, that really can be said of most tours!

What’s the best time to visit?

To maybe acquire the best possible kind of weather, it can really be best to, usually, pay the country of Cebu a visit from that time of December all the way through to May.