Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls
Badge of Excellence
Cebu, Philippines
- 14 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience a few of Cebu’s most exciting attractions in one day on this jam-packed private tour. First, head out onto the water to observe the world’s largest fish—the whale shark—in its natural habitat. Then it’s time for a bit of relaxing as you visit Tumalog Falls, Sumilon Island, and Kawasan Falls. Swim, sunbathe on the sand, and take photos of these incredible locations.
- A light breakfast and lunch are included in your tour
- Includes Tumalog Falls entrance fee and towels
- A private tour means a personalized experience
- Enjoy round-trip transfers from the Cebu area
What's Included
- BreakfastLight breakfast will be served upon arrival in Oslob
- LunchFull meal Lunch will be served after you visit Sumilon island sandbar
- Private transportation
- All Fees and Taxes
- Local Tour Guide in all the spots mentioned above
- Towels
- Tumalog falls entrance fee
- Camera Rental, you can rent one from us and can be paid on the day of the tour
- Motorbike to Tumalog (optional at P50 per head)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We can pick up from any hotels in Cebu City, Mactan, or even in the South of Cebu. We also offer pickup from the airport, sea port or any residences within Cebu or Mactan area.
Operating hours.4:00 am
Itinerary
1
Oslob Whale Shark Watching
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Tumalog Falls
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Sumilon Island
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
4
Kawasan Falls
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Joshua_V
It started very early in the morning with a 3AM pick-up to get a good number in the long line to see the Whale Sharks but was worth it. My guide was awesome and the 2 different falls they took me to were beautiful. Just be aware that it will be a very long day 3AM to around 6pm
Reviews
4.6
based on 176 reviews
Myra_L, Aug 2025
Well organized. Abam our driver was fantastic! This was a whole day trip and we felt very safe with his driving. Lyza our tour guide was amazing! She’s the friendliest tour guide! She knows the ins and outs, and knows everyone. She plans accordingly and made sure she’s not wasting your time waiting. Highly recommend Abam and lyza if you choose this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience on your tour. Abam and Glaiza will be so happy to know they made your day special. We’re proud to have such dedicated and friendly team members who ensure our guests feel safe, welcomed, and well taken care of. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another adventure with us!
Stanley_H, May 2025
Amazing tour highly recommended, tour guides were fantastic and knowledgeable of everything. Seeing the whales sharks was breathtaking
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had a fantastic time and that our tour guides made the experience even more memorable with their knowledge and service. Seeing the whale sharks is truly a breathtaking moment—we're so glad you got to experience it! We hope to see you again on your next adventure!
madona_c, Apr 2025
Awesome experience swimming with the whales. Great adventures at the two falls. Driver and tour guides knows the area very well and very trustworthy.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! 😊 We're so glad you had an awesome experience swimming with the whale sharks and exploring the waterfalls. Our team takes pride in ensuring a safe and unforgettable adventure, so it's great to hear you found them knowledgeable and trustworthy.
We appreciate you choosing us for your trip and hope to welcome you back for more amazing adventures in the future!
Sharon_K, Mar 2025
Great experience , a must do ! Driver Wilson great and so pleasant , Paula our tour guide was very attentive and made the experience a special one .
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We're so happy to hear that you had a great experience and that Wilson and Paula helped make your trip extra special. They truly are amazing, and we’ll be sure to pass along your compliments!
We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure. Safe travels!
Piedad_P, Mar 2025
It is too much in one day starting at 3:30am, mainly because the roads and logistics are not good. The whale shark and sumilon activity is very busy and the catarats are too far away from there. But the worse was that there is not a decent toilet with running water in any of the locations, really disgusting.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We understand that the early start and the full-day itinerary can be challenging, especially with the travel distances and local road conditions. Your comments about the facilities at the locations are also appreciated, and we’ll make sure to share this with the relevant authorities to advocate for improvements.
We’re continuously working to enhance our guests’ experiences and will take your feedback into account to refine our logistics and ensure a more comfortable journey. If you have any other concerns or suggestions, feel free to reach out—we’d love the opportunity to make things right.
Thank you again for your valuable input.
Larry_G, Jan 2025
Driver never picked me up from my Hotel. The company apologized and refunded my money but I flew from the USA to do the excursion. I am not getting back time and money spent going to the Philippines. Very Disappointing
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hi, we are very sorry for what happened on the day, Wilson your assigned driver was suspended for 2 weeks for not picking you up and we make sure that this wont happen again. We apologize.
Paul_A, Sep 2024
This was one of the best experiences here in Cebu. The whale shark section was the highlight of the tour in my opinion. Kawasan Falls was also great and the water was very refreshing! The next time I visit here will definitely do the canyoneering tour. The tour guides for the whale shark/sumilon island was great. Edna was very accommodating and Ramil was also a great guide. Would recommend both for the tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for giving us a feedback on our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package. We appreciate that and we hope to see you again in Cebu.
Senthamil_V, Aug 2024
It was very well organized by Cebu Tours.
I received my pickup on time, in fact, the driver arrived early
My tour guide was Yantcy. She helped me get the ticket and guided me to the tour. Her time management was excellent. During my swim, she was very kind enough to take care of my belongings and bag.
Cebu tours are something I would recommend to others.
The trip to Kawasan Falls was also excellent. It was a pleasure to have a driver who was always on time and took care of the timing.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we appreciate that, hope to see you again in Cebu in our other tours.
Carolyn_J, Jul 2024
Our tour was absolutely amazing and breathtaking! The whale shark experience was a real highlight and something we’ll remember for a life time! We saw 20-30 sharks in a 30 minute period and the timing was the perfect amount to get the full experience! I would recommend bringing 550 pesos to purchase a gopro, and the guides will take photos and videos of you interacting with the sharks.
The experience at the island was average- the water was so blue and beautiful but there’s nothing to do here if you don’t want to swim. The sand bar that is usually there wasn’t there during our visit due to the season, but it may be better when that’s there so you can walk out onto the sand but for us there was no beach or sand, just an underdeveloped island with pretty water.
The breakfast and lunch were also very minimal and had limited options. The breakfast was toast, an egg, and banana and the lunch was a Philippine meal of chicken, rice, soup, watermelon, and noodles. If you’re picky, I would recommend bringing snacks along the way because it’s a long way.
The Kawasan falls was also beautiful and relaxing. We chose not to do the canyoneering because I am pregnant and I have heard it’s not safe, but we had more than enough fun just swimming and enjoying the falls on our own.
Lastly, this was personal to our tour but our driver was very sick the day he drove us. He was constantly sneezing, coughing, blowing his nose, and even opening the car door to spit gunk of out of his mouth. Considering we are in the car for 7-8 hours with him, it was quite unpleasant and uncomfortable. Plus, immediately the next day both my husband and I got sick, and I am pregnant so it was really not good. Plus no one wants to be sick on vacation! I would highly recommend encouraging drivers and guides to STAY home if they aren’t feeling well because it really puts paying customers at unnecessary risk of getting sick. Please encourage all future drivers to find replacement if they are feeling ill! It’s not fair for us to get sick, just because they want to keep working.
Overall, besides the issues we had with the driver and the lack of food variety, I would highly recommend this experience for anyone coming to Cebu!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Hi, thank you for your review and feedback. We appreciate that, please know that all points are taken care. We asked Angelo, your driver, about that and he admitted and asked for apology about it. He reasoned out that when he is on the way to the garage, he was caught by a rain on his motorcycle which cause the sneezing. But he was not in fever. And yes we always advice our driver that, at least a night before if they are unwell, they should let us know so we can find replacement driver. Again, on behalf of Angelo, we apologize for that and we will make sure that this wont happen again. Thank you and have a great day
Andrew_W, Jun 2024
They are trying. But our guide and driver did not speak English very well and we felt very rushed and without a lot of communication. In truth, there were so many more people than I expected. The whole experience with the whales feels a little “icky” given the farmers are feeding them to stay.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
We are very sorry if this does not meet your expections. However, on the contrary, our guide and driver can speak English above average a Filipino can. Whale sharks are not there the whole day, boatman stops feeding them noon time, and it will really depend on the weather if there are many of them will come the next day. Nevertheless, thank you for your review, we still appreciate.
Philip_J, Jun 2024
Fantastic day tour - the tour operator, driver and local guides were excellent. Would highly recomend this tour to others seeks a smaller group experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you so much for your feedback on our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package, we hope to see you again in the future.
Christie_B, May 2024
Ourexperoence with the Whale Shark encounter and Kawasan falls was great our tour guide Saicy was very knowledgeable and helpful. Our driver Wilson was awesome he knows where to go and very much familiar with the roads it was 4 1/2 total driving time.
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful and honest review for our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package, we appreciate it. Hope to see you again in Cebu.
Shauna_C, May 2024
If you don't mind being on a schedule and a lot of driving and walking, then this is the tour for you! Our driver, Joesif, was top notch! We were not able to find a driver to drop us off at the meet-up location so our tour driver went above and beyond to come pick us up at the house we were staying at even though this caused a 30 minute delay, Joesif was extremely patient and very nice, also a great driver, and obviously cared for our safety and satisfaction. Our tour guides were no different, our first one, Ana Marie, kept us on track and was very attentive to our needs and requests, also very patient as my 87-year-old father was also on this adventure with us. We were unable to visit Tumalog Falls but they refunded that portion of the trip for us. Our second guide for Kawasan Falls was just as patient, friendly, and attentive. Overall, highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful review about our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package, we appreciate it. Hope to see you again in Cebu
Vu_N, Apr 2024
So here’s my review of this trip. We got picked up from our hotel (Plantation Bay Resort) around 3am by our driver Ludz. He explained to us how far the ride to Oslob would be which usually around 3 hrs. We ran into a road block in the middle of the road so he had to reroute us. Me and my fiance was able to sleep still even though we didn’t get to Oslob till around 7am. We got our tickets but we had to wait which I didn’t mind since it was packed! So many people were excited just as we were to swim with the majestical whale sharks. So our tour guide Joy told us we’ll be going to the sandbar instead to kill some time. It was a cool experience. She talked about the island and gave us some insights about her culture and the city. Soon it was time to go back to finally swim with the sharks and let me tell you this… best thing I ever did in my life. Or one of the best lol. If you’re reading this right now book this trip!! It’s so worth it. We then went on another drive to see the Kawasan falls where we met up with Dan. He was our tour guide for the short hike to Kawasan falls. The fall was beautiful and the water was like a frost Gatorade color. Which was dope for the pictures and videos that we was able to get. Overall our tour guides and driver was the best ever. Much love to all of them. We tipped them well because they did their jobs and deserved every penny. Thank you guys for these amazing memories. We appreciate you.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful review about our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package, we hope to see you again in Cebu.
James_C, Feb 2024
I was picked up from my hotel in Cebu at 3 am for the long drive to Oslob. The driver drove rather recklessly and unfortunately I got very carsick as a result (should have taken tablets beforehand…) The driver apologised and said he was trying to get to Oslob as quickly as possible in order to reduce the wait time for the whale sharks which I acknowledged.
After enjoying the sunrise and breakfast by the beach, I started off by going to Tumalog Falls where I had a quick dip and experienced the nibbling fish.
I then finally got the chance to swim with the whale sharks. We only had half an hour and it was unfortunately overcrowded but given that it’s hard to swim with whale sharks back home (Australia), it was still memorable.
Sumilon Sandbar was next and the main appeal of this place was that it was the least crowded of the four activities.
After a nice lunch, I finished off the tour by going to Kawasan Falls. In hindsight I probably should have done the canyoneering option in order to fully enjoy this place but given the high cost of this tour (due to doing it solo), I didn’t end up doing it.
Overall it was a memorable tour but will admit that apart from the whale sharks, I’ve done similar activities in other countries which were less crowded and therefore more enjoyable.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hi, thank you for your feedback , yes we changed the pick up time to 3am recently cuz this month its peak season and there are lots of people going to the whale sharks. We are very sorry about the driving of the driver, we really apologize for that. Some will even reached there before 5am and they are 200+ in the queue.
Joshua_V, Jan 2024
It started very early in the morning with a 3AM pick-up to get a good number in the long line to see the Whale Sharks but was worth it. My guide was awesome and the 2 different falls they took me to were beautiful. Just be aware that it will be a very long day 3AM to around 6pm
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you so much for your review and patience. WE appreciate it. Hope to see you again in Cebu in our other tour packages.
EunhaeGrace_C, Dec 2023
Our whole trip was amazing. Regina in Oslob really put it over the top. Our driver Roal was also just amazing. From the whale sharks to the falls, everything was beautiful. It’s a long day, so just be prepared for that.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank yous so much for reviewing our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package, this will surely help our future guests what to book. Appreciate it. We hope to see you again in Cebu in our other tours.
Cuong_T, Dec 2023
Our driver Frank was great and tour guide James was amazing. Everyone was super happy to take photos that will last a lifetime. It’s a bit of a trek from our resort in Mactan but the destination was well worth it. My wife got great videos of the whale sharks and we took amazing photos at the sandbar and each waterfall. Breakfast was traditional eggs and toast, lunch was a mix of local dishes that were fantastic.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we appreciate it. WE hope to see you again in the future for our other tours thanks
Samuel_P, Sep 2023
The Whale Shark Encounter was awesome. I did it on a Monday and was much less crowded because of this. Sandbar was cool, was unable to do Kawasan falls but I did Tumalog falls and Kabutongan Falls canyoning which was amazing. However there is a lot of driving
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we appreciate it, hope to see you again in Cebu
Christopher_G, Jul 2023
All aspects of the trip were wonderful…except the very long drive to get there. The guide (Robbie) and driver (Angelo) did great jobs. The highlights for me were swimming with the whale sharks and having the fish foot massage.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we appreciate it. We hope to see you again in our other tours
Nicole_S, Jun 2023
We had a fantastic time despite the long car ride home! Our guide Glaiza was amazing and really managed our time, made great suggestions and was really accommodating with our kids! The sharks were beautiful and calm definitely a trip to remember! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you so much for your feedback, we appreciate it and we hope to see you again in the future.
gavin_O, Jun 2023
The whale sharks were amazing and so was the rest of the trip. Having your own guide takes all the stress away and makes the experiance even better.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you so much for your feedback, appreciate it. Hope to see you again in Cebu
Sofia_S, May 2023
Kawasan falls is absolutely stunning. Walk in the jungle and swim under the fall for 1h+ experience guided is priceless!
Response from Host, May 2023
Thank you so much for your feedback, appreciate it. Hope to see you again in Cebu someday.
Estrella_P, Apr 2023
Going to Kawasan Falls is a big challenge for me but Edmar was a very excellent guide , he made me feel I can do it , reassured me and made me feel so safe throughout the time, very protective like a son to mother, I thank you very much Edmar. To Obet he is very trustworthy, leaving our things in the car,for Paula ,she was very supportive and helpful , thank you guys…enjoyed your company.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we appreciate it. Hope to see you again in Cebu in our other tours.
Jonathan_M, Apr 2023
Great tour. They were able to accommodate my change request at the last minute. Josef was a fantastic driver and great to talk to during the long drives. Reksha and Ed were great guides at Oslob and Badian, respectively.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we appreciate it
Gabriele_G, Apr 2023
A different day than we use ti have. Simple magnificent, a beautiful day in the nature ! Unforgettable
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we appreciate it. Hope to see you again.
LaNaiza_K, Mar 2023
Only giving 2 stars for the driver Obet & guide Anna Lee. They were great. The tour itself is a disaster. Firstly there is no need to spend extra on a private tour, because you will undoubtedly be with tons of people no matter what. Save the extra money. From the moment you arrive to the first location, it is just pure chaos. There are HUNDREDS of tourists at the whalesharks encounter participating in this unethical baiting and feeding of the sharks for the amusement of the human population. They feed them, to keep them in this area not far from the shore and then boat out atleast 50 people at a time to jump in the water with them. It’s terrible. Every location we visited was super crowded which made it way less fun and appealing - plus you only have about 30 mins at each place. We really wanted to visit Kawasan falls and because I am pregnant, made sure to ask the tour operator if we would have to canyoneer to see it and they told us no. And then when we arrived to that part of the tour, they made us fill out waivers for canyoneering - which of course we didn’t do because I am pregnant. Complete waste of $300 on my opinion. Do not recommend
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Hi we are very sorry about your experience. But these tourists spots in Cebu are managed and controlled by the local government and private travel agencies, tour agencies does not have control with the crowd and their regulations. Its just that the tour is private to you where you have your own car, guide, driver, etc. Thank you and have a nice day
Ellaina_A, Feb 2023
Having a private tour guide to coordinate all the details of this experience was well worth the money alone. We would have never known that my senior mother was able to skip all the long wait lines for sign up (a perk for seniors in the Philippines). We were also able to relax before hand instead of being stressed out sitting in the hot for hours just waiting to be called. Our guides knew exactly what to do and keep an ear out for our turn. Not to mention the amazing support they gave my elderly mom trying to experience this with me. Yes its a tourist attraction here but seeing the whale sharks here is something my mom and I will never forget!
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Hi thank you so much for the feedback about our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package. We hope to see you again in Cebu.
Kristian_Y, Feb 2023
Whale sharks and Kawasan falls are just what you expect from this booking but its even more when you do it.
Response from Host, Feb 2023
hi, thank you so much for your wonderful review about our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package, we appreciate it. Hope to see you again in Cebu.
Thereasa_M, Jan 2023
I was not able to swim with the whale sharks do to weather. However, Josef was an amazing driver / guide and he did everything possible to make the best of the rest of the trip. He is a fantastic driver and made sure I was comfortable/ happy all day.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Thank you so much for reviewing our Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls tour package. We hope to see you again in Cebu.
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