How do we get there? If you’re currently in Cebu City, you need to go to South Bus Terminal. Ride a bus with the signage Oslob on it. A ticket would cost around 200-250 pesos one way to Oslob. If you have a personal car/ rental, then just pin on your maps Oslob and you’re good to go. You can also buy a tour package from authorized travel agencies so that you can experience Oslob on another level. Tour packages might range from around 1,000 to 5,000 pesos depending on inclusions and length of stay.
Meanwhile, if you’re already in Oslob and wanted to go to different tourist destinations around the place, you can ask the locals that you want to go to a specific place, they’ll mostly recommend habal-habal and motorcycle taxis. Fare is more or less cheap depending on the location.
Our very own, Jessa is a local of Oslob and we wanted to share with you the narration from a local who really spent her life there and had a first-hand experience on the things we’re going to talk about. Below are the five places that you need to make sure to visit when in Oslob, Cebu.
WHALE SHARK WATCHING AND SNORKELING
- First on our list are the most famous creatures/ attraction of Oslob, their whale shark. The place is very famous for this that even non-locals and foreigners come to visit Cebu just to experience seeing these majestic sea creatures. But the experience doesn't stop by just seeing those big fish alone. You can also have the opportunity to swim with them and take a close-up pic of the moment.
- According to our research, these majestic creatures are the largest shark, and of course are the largest of any fishes in the world. They can reach 10-20m in size or like a school bus. But these gentle giants are graceful, harmless, and slow-moving. Their main diet are tiny planktons and fish eggs. GENTLE GIANTS INDEED!
Located at Brgy. Tan-awan, Oslob. The diving/ snorkeling are per batch and should attend a seminar first and follow strict rules. It's only a 30-minute activity. The rates earlier this year are 500 pesos for Filipino tourists while 1,000 pesos for foreign tourists.
From Cebu City, go to Southbus terminal and ride a bus going to Oslob and tell the driver to drop you at the Whale Shark activity site.
SUMILON ISLAND
- A perfect escape from the bustling life in the city.
- Oslob's potential don't just stop with their whale sharks though. Sumilon Island is one that. This laidback island do have an amazing sandbar and you can do amazing activities that you'll surely can't get enough of and go back to this place again and again.
- Once you set foot on this beautiful island, you’ll be greeted with its long sandbar, but it changes sometimes depends on the wind and current; worst is if high tide, it gets buried. It is a good place for tourists to take pictures at. You can sunbathe there in which the foreigners love the most. The island is full of sanctuaries where people can go diving and snorkeling. You can see a lot of corals and might get a chance to encounter Nemo (clownfish) but that’s rare and really hard to find.
- If you wanna go snorkeling, you can ask assistance from local guides in order for you to rent equipment and go along with you to the sanctuaries. They can take your pictures too! But it is undeniably better to just bring your own, to be safer.
- In going to the island, you may rent a boat for 500 pesos per person or;
- You may avail a package at the Bluewaters Resort of 2500 pesos (weekends and holidays)/ 2000 pesos (weekdays). The package includes the ff: lunch buffet or 5-course meal set with 1 round drink, free use of Pulo swimming pool, beach & access to sand bar 8 am - 3 pm and scheduled Roundtrip Boat Transfers from 8 am- 3 pm (mainland-island & vv). Subject to change due to weather conditions & capacity limitations.
MONKEY VIEWING
- Oslob is not just about the white sands and whale sharks, they also have a nice tourist attraction that animal lovers will surely like. There is a small forest with at least 80 monkeys roaming around that will really catch any passersby's attention. You can feed the monkeys with bananas that you can buy from the caretakers at a small price of 50 pesos per kilo. Physical contact with the monkey are discouraged. Interested enough?
- Exact location is Sitio Bulak, Brgy. Hagdan, Oslob, Southern Cebu. If you're from Cebu City, you can go to South Bus terminal and ride a bus with the sign Bato- Oslob and tell the driver to drop you at the Monkey Viewing. If you have personal/ rental car, you can just pin "Oslob Wild Monkey Viewing"
OSLOB CHURCH AND CUARTEL "THE RUINS"
- You can go to Baluarte Ruins and Cuartel Ruins to take a picture of the amazing background. The ruins are full of historical importance and are considered Oslob's heritage sites.
- Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church is a famous church in Oslob. It is one of the must-see historical places in the municipality. The church was burned several times in the past and was renovated again and again. What’s left mostly are not the original contents of it, but replicas and the like. Although it was already severely damaged in the past, the church still gives a sense of devotion and faith to the people in Oslob.
- These places are located at the heart of Oslob and can easily be accessed.
TUMALOG FALLS
- A must-visit too are their falls. You wouldn't dare to miss their splendid view of falls. A worth to mention one is the Tumalog Falls. The view in the place is so good that it will surely make you coming back for more. What makes it more amazing is its big size of around 80-100m in height. Its turquoise looking water is so good that it will make even those who don't know how to swim, wanting to swim. It is open from 6am to 5pm only. The best and safest time to go to there is during dry seasons or the first half of the year.
- Location: Brgy. Luka, Oslob, Southern Cebu. If you're from Cebu City, you can go to South Bus terminal and ride a bus with the sign Bato- Oslob and tell the driver to drop you at Tumalog Falls crossing/ interaction. Then ride a motorcycle going there from the crossing to falls, costing around 30 pesos one way. If you have car, just pin Tumalog Falls, you can park near the falls but you'll still need to walk for 10-15 mins to reach the exact area.
NOTABLE MENTIONS
They also have Museo Oslob which you can go in for free to see artifacts and antiques that the place is keeping for tourists to appreciate.
Other attractions and IG-worthy scenes can also be found on the neighboring places of Oslob that is sure worth the visit:
- Mainit Springs in the Municipality of Malabuyoc (20km away)
- Osmena Peak in Dalaguete (30km away)
- Kawasan Falls in Badian (30km away)
The locals are of course one of the reasons why people keep on coming back here. The joyful and welcoming nature of all Filipinos can also be abundantly seen here and it seems like the kindness in there is never stopping. The locals will happily greet you with a smile and they will help tourists as much as they can.
Going to Oslob might be costly and not a totally budget-friendly destination. But if you're a tourist that is seeking exceptional adventures and scenes, then spending money won't hurt that much.
The memories you'll take after leaving Oslob will surely be hard to forget for it is jam-packed with a lot of activities you've done and the different stories of people/ locals you've met along the way. And where else can you swim this close easily with the biggest fish in the world than in Oslob. And the fact that the place is not just all about "Butandings", this surely is a place worth putting in your bucket list.
Note: Due to various travel and quarantine restrictions, both local and national, some attractions might close unexpectedly. And due to the pandemic, sudden changes in rates / fares can happen. It is still much better to do your own research first before packing up your things on those backpack. Be a responsible traveler and take care always. 😄
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