Whale Shark Watching in Puerto Princesa

3.7 / 5
41 reviews
1K+ booked
Puerto Princesa City Centre
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  • Explore the serene waters around Puerto Princesa as you move to whale shark diving spots
  • Observe and swim alongside these gentle giants, known locally as "butanding", up close and personal
  • Learn more about these rare marine creatures as well as the island from your licensed tour guide
  • Enjoy a delicious lunch before going back to Puerto Princesa City
  • A hotel pick-up and drop-off will bring you to and from your adventure safely and hassle-free

Package options

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Join-in tour or private tour

Private tour

Join-in tour

Group size

Group of 4-5

Group of 6-9

Group of 10-12

Group of 2

Joiner

Group of 3

Quantity

You must select at least 10 and no more than 12 for this package
£ 32.90

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What to expect

Discover and see in person the whale sharks, locally called "butanding" in this boat tour around Puerto Princesa. These majestic giants of the ocean are a rare sight to behold, only seen during particular times of the year around a full moon.

Palawan is not only famous for its island destinations and land-based tours, the waters of Puerto Princesa City are teeming with marine mammals and cetaceans ideal for for whaleshark-watching tour. Get the chance to swim with the gentle giant of the sea in a half-day tour. It includes a light snack, boat transfers to and hotel pick-up and drop-off from your place of accomodation.

Woman swimming above a whale shark underwater
Snap unique photos of yourself alongside whale sharks swimming through the waters
whale shark nearby a tourist boat in the water
Arrive at whale shark diving spots via private boat tour led by locals
Two divers observing a whale shark under water
Experience the astounding beauty of these gentle giants up close as you swim beside them

Reviews

3.7 / 5
Good
41 reviews
Guide
3.9
Itinerary
3.8
Quality of transfer
3.7
Value for money
3.7
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Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

very nice! due to some personal reason, I couldn’t go to whale shark tour. I needed to change to underground river tour instead, and they allowed me to change the tour. The underground river was amazing. Great tour guide, Mr. Marlo was very nice and helpful.

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Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

It's been amazing, for real. The stuff is so very kind and respectful with the sharks. That's why we chose them. Moreover, they are very professional and helpful, and the lunch was just great. On the other side, we were very lucky! We saw 3 different sharks in different moments, so the day couldn't be more perfect. Totally recommend it!!

Helpful
Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

It was awesome~ We are 4 members, such as 5 years old child, 10 years old child, my wife, and me. It needed some snorkeling skills, but we all saw the whale shark in the sea. Thanks to Shan (our guide), we enjoyed this activity and we got some videos that we had seen the shark.

Helpful
Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

We not only saw several whale sharks, but also manta rays! They served good food and plenty of it. They dropped us off and picked us up at the hostel. They gave us a whale shark sticker. They knew where to go and split the group into two groups so there wouldn't be too many people per dive.

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Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

Amazing experience, I was scepticak at first but we really wanted an ethical whaleshark experience. We were both blown away by how many whalesharks we saw and how amazing the staff was. Good was amazing and the spotters gave their everything. We had ~10 encounters. Best experience on the Philippines yet!

Helpful
Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

Although this tour we did not catch any sightings of the gentle giant, the tour guides Jed and Glaiza made us understand that this is wild and very natural way to try and swim with the whale sharks as they do not coerce them with food. In other words it an ethical way to do it without harming them. it’s all about timing to catch them feeding. but either way the water was calm, weather was beautiful and it was like sailing around puerto princesa on a nice boat with great lunch. thank you to Blue bird tours. it really is worth a try trying to see them in their natural habitat.

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Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

It was amazing, we had to wait but in the end we were lucky and we were able to see the whale sharks on several occasions, an amazing experience, highly recommended and the guide was a 10, he did not skimp on explanations. The food is not bad and the activity time is not very long if you get good sea. Very very good, you have to do it if the weather allows it.

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Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

Unfortunately we did not get to see any Whalesharks after hours of sailing around Honda Bay. The delicious Lunch is served by 11:40. We get to swim around till 13:00 then sailing back to the port

Helpful
Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

Indescribable experience, we had an incredible day and we were able to see the whale shark 7 times!! The organization is perfect, respectful of the animal and ends with a super varied and delicious meal! Totally recommended

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Review for: Join-in tour · Joiner

A day before the tour, they contacted me to be transparent and let me know that many tours had recently returned without seeing the whale shark. They gave me the option to cancel for a full refund or go ahead with the tour and get a 25% refund if we didn’t see it. I chose to go, and although I wasn’t lucky enough to see the whale shark, I did see a manta ray and we swam a lot. Even without seeing the whale shark, the tour was still worth it. The 25% refund was processed quickly and without any issues

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