Whale Watching in Donsol, Sorsogon

Cagsawa Ruins view of Mayon Volcano

This is experience is one of the best I've had adventurously.

We took a flight to Legaspi Albay and took a 3 hour drive to Donsol, Sorsogon for the whale watching. Make sure to stop by the ruins to take photos of the perfect cone shaped Mayon Volcano. You can find buses, or rent a van to Donsol in the terminal of Legaspi.


Also try small talk restaurant but make sure you have a reservation before you go. Tricycles is the means of transportation, so basically they know important landmarks within Legaspi. Famous bicolano dishes such as pinangat, laing, and bicol express should really be on your list. But be careful, they have a palate armored for spice. They even made a sili ("chili") ice cream. It's worth a try! Lastly don't forget to try local best restaurant, the sibid sibid.

Sibid Sibid Restaurant in Legaspi

Vitton Donsol Resort facade

When we arrived in Donsol, we checked in a not so pricey resort called Vitton & Woodland. One good thing is that, the resort is about 300m away from the Butanding (whale) registration site.


You have to register and pay an amount for the participation. You also need to rent a boat, which you will ride to dive in to the water to swim with the butanding. Also you have to rent (if you don't own) a snorkeling and fins gear.


One of the best things when you're in a province is that the price of food are really cheaper compared to the metro. Especially if the province is near an ocean / fishing village, the seafood is really a treat. It's fresh and it's more affordable. Indulge.

Super affordable kilos of crab

Of course the highlight of the trip is the whale watching. Butanding is the local term for the whale shark. Whale shark is a harmless plankton eating fish.

Swimming with butanding in Donsol

Dutch Couple we befriended

The first time we did dive, adrenalin rushes thru your body and would make you scream even when your on your snorkels under the water. This thing is huge, but it's hard to notice at first in the murky waters of Donsol. But as soon as it approaches in in meters, you will be amazed by the graceful flap of its tail. We were lucky to have a siting of at least 5 butandings on that day. We just didn't enjoy swimming with the butanding, but also made friends with a dutch couple where we shared our boat with. But the fun did not stop there, we also did firefly watching about 5kms away from the resort into a river. This one is magical for thousands of fireflies light up like green sparkling stars making the ever romantic vibe.

Firefly watching in Donsol

I'm willing to do this again next summer. I won't miss it in a heartbeat.

Watch the video I created -> Donsol Travelogue