The Philippines · TURTLE WATCHING TOURS
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 turtle watching tours worth the pesos, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Cebu snorkeling day with Oslob whale sharks, Moalboal sardine run, sea turtles, plus pickup, guide, gear, and clean shower facilities.
“Mae was a wonderful guide :) I did this activity twice in a row because nature is metal & the whale shark x turtle collabo is extraordinarily trill!”
Swim with Oslob whale sharks, visit an Oslob monkey sanctuary, then snorkel Moalboal sardine runs and sea turtles with a free GoPro.
“Amazing 🙏 highly recommend to all. Our guide was great, professional and knowledgeable.”
A 7-hour Port Barton island-hopping day with snorkeling gear, life vests, possible sea turtles, coral reefs, and a local BBQ lunch.
“I‘ve done a few island hooping tours and this was by far the best! Lunch on a quiet island not with hundreds of people, the food was amazing thanks to the crew. The crew was super fun & we got to see everything which was promised. Would absolutely book it again!!”
Snorkel Balicasag with turtles, spot wild dolphins, then relax on Virgin Island sandbar. Lunch and fees included in 6 hours from Panglao.
“It's an early start, didn't manage to see any dolphins but did get to see turtles. The second snorkel spot was too choppy for me, but overall a nice tour.”
Sunrise dolphins, sea turtle snorkeling at Balicasag, and relaxed coral reef time in a small-group Panglao boat tour.
“An amazing and memorable experience! Seeing dolphins up close in the wild was magical, and swimming with sea turtles was peaceful and unforgettable. The guides were professional, friendly, and respectful of marine life, making the tour feel safe and ethical. Everything was well organized, and the natural beauty of the ocean made it even more special. Highly recommended for anyone who loves nature and ocean adventures!”
Oslob whale shark snorkeling and Moalboal sardine run with sea turtles from Cebu. Early start, long day, strong wildlife value for $113.
“This is a group tour, which means it's perfect for solo travelers like myself who do not want to pay the full price of a private one. The organization was on point. GoPros, water, soap - everything was provided as needed. Our guides were great too. The biggest downside is that you basically pay for that and the transfers. When you arrive at the swimming site - you are at the mercy of local guides. Thus we had to wait more than one hour for our shark swim. Also the sites are public and pretty crowded too. You will have more people than sharks on your videos and photos. Nonetheless,…”
Pamilacan Island trip from Bohol with dolphin spotting, turtle snorkeling, and a homemade Filipino lunch on quiet white sand.
“We booked the tour to Pamilacan Island online. A great tour with a few people and a nice guide. We got there before anyone else boated”
Snorkel Moalboal sardines and sea turtles, then canyon to Kawasan Falls. Small-group Cebu day trip with lunch and gear.
“This was hands down the best activity we did so far. We got pick up on time and we got dropped back by a very nice and friendly driver. Everything was very well organised. First stop was the Sardine swim and Turtle chase, and we did not get disappointed! we saw plenty of fish and several sea turtles and could get some beautiful pictures with them. We rented a water camera from the guide and he took all the pictures for us. He got some incredible shots for us. Everything else was provided. Afterwards we had a tasty home cooked lunch and the canyoneering. We used the Zip lining to…”
Early-morning whale sharks in Oslob, sardines and turtles in Moalboal, plus Pescador snorkeling and Tumalog Falls, from Cebu.
“This tour started at 3am and ended back at out hotel by 8pm. Was picked up in an old van with seats too close together and no legroom (never seen seats so close - I’m 177cm tall so average for a Caucasian male), noisy and rattly, had no suspension and was totally uncomfortable/unsuitable for such a long day. After picking up at different hotels around the city, th day started with a 3hr+ drive to Oslob where we walked to get tickets to the whale shark swimming, then walked back to have breakfast that was one egg, toast and a banana and coffee/juice. Then went to Tumalong falls. Pretty dally…”
Early Pescador Island snorkeling with sardines and sea turtles, then Badian canyoneering to Kawasan Falls from Cebu.
“We had an absolutely amazing time on this tour! Our whole group agrees that everything we saw and did was spectacular. The best part being the service of Loed and the crew of guides in the canyon, they really took care of us. I wRead more”
Whale shark swim, Kawasan canyoneering, and Panagsama sardines plus turtle snorkeling, with Cebu transport and lunch in one long day.
“Loved this tour. Very organized and great guides. My friend and I were picked up at our hotel in an air conditioned van. We were transported just the two of us to the southern part of the island for whale sharks. We met our guide who directRead more”
Bohol in 5 hours, sunrise dolphin spotting, turtle snorkeling at Balicasag, guided underwater photos, plus lunch and unlimited drinks.
“We had an amazing day on this snorkel tour! The weather was perfect, we even spotted dolphins and enjoyed the included drinks (beer, soda and rum) along the way. Snorkeling was great and the guide took GoPro footage, which resulted in some fantastic photos and videos we received afterward. Lunch on the island was simple but good and well organized. Although there was no island party, it didn’t take away from the overall experience. Overall, it was a fun, relaxed and very enjoyable experience that we would definitely recommend.”
Snorkel Pescador Island, watch the Sardine Run, and swim near sea turtles in Moalboal with door-to-door pickup and gear included.
“From start to end, this activity was seamless. Wengweng was a very good driver and well air conditioned. Wengweng made sure to fast track our tour registration and took us to some amazing spots to snorkel. Saw thousands of sardines and about 5 sea turtles swimming about. Would highly recommend this service”
Snorkel Moalboal’s sardine run and turtles, then go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls in a long Cebu day trip with hotel pickup.
“10 of 10, 100 stars to Jong he was an AMAZING guide. These guys were so much fun and so great at what they do. Highly recommend”
Snorkel the Moalboal Sardine Run with sea turtles, then visit Mantayupan Falls in one full day from Cebu, with free GoPro rental.
“It was just amazing, apparently my boyfriend and me were the only ones who booked this tour on that day so it felt like a private tour which was great. We decided to spend less time at the waterfalls so we could have a bit more time in Moalboal, and it was just perfect. Our diver was so nice, he took charge of our GoPro and he was taking videos the whole time so we could enjoy the snorkelling without worrying about pictures and videos. The videos he took are so good. Our guide Elvira was so nice as well and so very well prepared, she had GoPro ready for…”
Pick the island first. The kind of day sorts itself out after that.
