Cebu: Whale Shark Swim, Sumilon Sandbar & Kawasan Falls Tour

Summary

Whale shark swim and island sandbar adventure from Cebu with waterfalls and local food

You’ll swim alongside whale sharks in Oslob, wander beneath Tumalog’s misty falls, walk barefoot on Sumilon Island’s shifting sandbar, and cool off at Kawasan’s blue pools—with hotel pickup, local guides at every stop, towels ready when you need them, plus breakfast and lunch included. It’s one of those days you’ll keep replaying long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the way the sun hit the water at Oslob—sharp, almost too bright for my sleepy eyes. We’d barely finished our light breakfast (rice cakes and strong coffee that tasted a bit like burnt caramel) when our guide, Jun, waved us over. I didn’t expect to feel nervous about swimming with whale sharks, but there was this mix of excitement and something like awe. When I slid into the water, it was colder than I thought. And then—there they were. Huge, gentle shapes gliding right under me. For thirty minutes I just floated there, trying not to forget how it felt.

After we dried off (sort of—the air was sticky), Jun drove us up winding roads to Tumalog Falls. The path down was slick; I nearly slipped once but a woman selling mangoes just grinned and pointed out a better route. The falls themselves looked like silver threads hanging from green cliffs. Not loud—more like a soft rush you could almost tune out if you weren’t paying attention. We only stayed about twenty minutes, but I liked that it wasn’t rushed or crowded that morning.

Sumilon Island’s sandbar surprised me—I’d seen photos but didn’t realize how clear the shallows would be. The boat ride over took maybe fifteen minutes? Hard to say; I was distracted by kids laughing behind us in Cebuano and the smell of salt on my skin. We had two hours here—enough to walk barefoot along the shifting sandbar and let my feet sink in where the tide curled around my ankles. Lunch came after: grilled fish, rice wrapped in banana leaves, something spicy I couldn’t name (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin—probably butchered it). By then my hair was full of salt and I honestly didn’t care.

Kawasan Falls was last—a longer drive than I expected, but worth it for that cold blue water. We had towels waiting for us (nice touch), and three hours if we wanted them. Some people jumped straight in; I sat on a rock for a while just listening to the sound of water hitting stone. Our guide told us stories about local legends—half in English, half in Bisaya—and by late afternoon everything felt slower somehow. The drive back to Cebu blurred together; all I remember is watching the sky turn pink behind palm trees and thinking about those whale sharks again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Whale sharks, falls, island, and sandbar

• Whale shark interaction for 30 minutes
• Visit Tumalog Falls for 30 minutes
• Relax at Sumilon Island sandbar for 2 hours
• Explore Kawasan Falls for 3 hours

Top questions

How long does the whale shark interaction last?

The whale shark swim lasts about 30 minutes in Oslob.

Is hotel pickup included from Cebu or Mactan?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included from any hotel in Cebu or Mactan.

How much time do we spend at Tumalog Falls?

You’ll have 20–30 minutes at Tumalog Falls after swimming with whale sharks.

What is included for lunch during the tour?

A full meal lunch is served after visiting Sumilon Island sandbar.

Are entrance fees covered for all attractions?

Yes, all entrance fees—including Tumalog Falls—are included in your tour package.

How long can we stay on Sumilon Island’s sandbar?

You can spend up to 2 hours relaxing on Sumilon Island’s sandbar.

Is there a guide with us at each spot?

A local tour guide is present at all mentioned spots throughout your day trip.

Are towels provided during the tour?

Towels are provided as part of your inclusions for swimming stops.

What happens if Tumalog or Kawasan Falls are closed?

Tumalog is closed every 2nd Wednesday monthly; Kawasan every 3rd Wednesday—for clean-up drives.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation with pickup from your hotel in Cebu or Mactan (and drop-off after), entry fees for every stop including Tumalog Falls and Sumilon Island sandbar, a light breakfast upon arrival in Oslob before swimming with whale sharks, towels for drying off between swims or waterfalls, a full meal lunch after exploring Sumilon Island beach, plus a local guide who stays with you through each spot so you never have to figure out logistics alone—all taxes already handled so you can just focus on what’s next.