A good find we tried ourselves in Padre Burgos.
If you dream of swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines without supporting the controversial practices found at some tourist sites, this trip from Padre Burgos is well worth considering. After extensive research, we found this excursion, which takes a wildlife-friendly approach. Here, whale sharks are not fed and swim freely in their natural habitat. Sightings are never guaranteed, and that's part of what makes each encounter so special. On the day of our trip, we set off early in the morning to explore Sogod Bay. After several hours searching for and observing these gentle giants, we returned with memories we'll never forget. Seeing a whale shark appear beneath the surface, swimming alongside it for a few moments, then watching it calmly continue on its way is hard to put into words. We especially appreciated the responsible approach, the limited number of participants and the lack of crowds in the water. The experience felt more authentic, more peaceful and, above all, more respectful of marine wildlife. This day will remain one of the highlights of our trip to the Philippines. We'd recommend it to anyone dreaming of an unforgettable encounter with the largest fish in the world.
Brgy Lungsodaan, Padre Burgos, 6602 Southern Leyte, Philippines
It was one of Matthieu's big dreams: to swim with whale sharks. While preparing our trip to the Philippines, we quickly understood that there were several places to observe them... but not all of them very ethical. Between the artificial feeding, the overpopulation of tourists and the lack of respect for the animals, some places clearly turned us off. With…
