Oslob

  Oslob can give you an opportunity to swim with the whale sharks or locally called the butanding. There's also a beautiful, serene waterfall you can visit -- Tumalog Falls.

Butanding

Photo by: Karsten Kirstätter

How to get there:

  Hop on the bus that goes to Oslob from the South Bus Terminal. Ask the dispatcher/driver to drop you off Tan-awan, Oslob. They know a lot of people go there for the Butanding so they'll drop you off just right where you need to be.

Fare:

Air-conditioned bus: Php 175
Non-airconditioned bus: Php 165
SBT Terminal Fee: Php 5

Snorkeling Fee:

Local: Php 500
Foreigner: Php 1000

Tips:

• It's best to go early to catch the whale sharks in the morning. The first bus to Oslob is at 3 a.m. If you find it an inconvenience to travel this early, you can stay overnight in the town at a place called Fridel's Lodge for only Php 200 per head. Then just get a tricycle in the morning from there to Tan-awan. Getting the whole trike (fits 3-4 people, depending on size) to yourself would cost just about Php 100.
• There's a few places there lined up who'll try to convince you to go with their guides for the whale sharks. Just choose the one with cheaper/free amenities like the cottage and life vests - it's on the left side with a sloping driveway.

GUIDELINES WHEN SWIMMING WITH THE WHALE SHARKS:

1. Never touch a whale shark as ailments may be passed on to them from us humans.
2. Keep a distance of at least 5 meters to allow them to swim about freely.
3. Do not use the flash when taking pictures.
4. Avoid using lotion or sunblock.
5. Refrain from splashing into the water.

Note: There has been a lot of controversy regarding the whale sharks in Oslob as a tourist attraction. Read more about it on sharksavers.org.


Tumalog Falls

Photo by: Karsten Kirstätter

How to get there:

   If you're coming from the city, just take the bus to Oslob from the South Bus Terminal. If you're coming from swimming with the whale sharks, you can take a jeepney. Ask the dispatcher/driver to drop you off the corner of the street that goes up to Tumalog falls where you can get a habal-habal to take you up to the entrance of the falls. Then you'd have to walk down the steep slope. I warn you, it's quite steep! But totally worth it.

Fare (one-way):

Air-conditioned bus: Php 175
Non-airconditioned bus: Php 165
SBT Terminal Fee: Php 5
Habal-habal: Php 30
Jeepney: Php 8

Fees:

Entrance Fee: Php 20

Tips:

• Bring food! It's a nice place to have a picnic.
• From Oslob, it's easy to hitch-hike to go visit the other towns (like Boljoon or Dalaguete) or even back to the city if you're lucky! Flag down one of those trucks and talk to the friendly drivers. 

Photo by: Horst Kirstätter