By seeing majestic wildlife in their natural habitat, you could gain a deeper understanding of nature's incredible wonders.
This becomes considerably clear when you go whale shark watching in Donsol, a municipality in the Philippine province of Sorsogon.
How To Get To Donsol, Sorsogon
Donsol is reachable from Manila via a flight to Legaspi.
You can then use a shared van or a private pick-up to get to the beach town.
Private rent-a-vans are available just outside the airport's proximity. You must take a tricycle from the airport to the terminal.
You need to wait till all of the seats are filled up before departing to Donsol.
Compared to private vans, public vans are less expensive.
The city's bus station is where you'll be dropped off. You then need to take a tricycle that travels to Dancalan.
If you prefer, you can go by bus directly from Manila to Donsol or through Legaspi.
Experience The Wonders Of Donsol, World's Whale Shark Capital
About 600 kilometers from Manila, the nation's capital, is the picturesque seaside fishing hamlet of Donsol.
Whale sharks, locally known as butanding, have traditionally made regular trips to this region off the southwest coast of the island of Luzon.
It had been a secret Donsol kept for a long time before a group of foreign divers revealed it in 1998.
Regrettably, many with dubious motives profited from the discovery. After the butanding migration became widely known, poachers became commonplace in the area.
However, it's fortunate that the Philippine government moved swiftly to conserve the whale sharks by designating them as a protected species.
What makes Donsol's waters so special for whale sharks, though, exactly?
The reason is that the water temperature in this area is perfect for the butandings during their migratory phase, which lasts from February to June.
Due to the plentiful fish food and the good water temperature, these marine mammals would gladly gobble them up.
The butandings have more than enough food for their lengthy stay thanks to the abundant planktons.
Whale Shark Tourism in Donsol
The area becomes a bustling hub of both domestic and international tourists whenever the whale sharks begin to arrive.
Visitors from around the world would come to Donsol, Sorsogon just to observe these beautiful marine animals swim in the waters.
In the past few years, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported 165 butandings in the surrounding waters of Donsol.
Some whale sharks were even able to swim as close to the shore as 20 m.
It is hardly unexpected that the butandings' activities led to a 20% increase in the town's average annual visitor population.
In Donsol, the majority of hotels organize guest activities, like transportation, albeit occasionally there is an additional cost on top of the regular rate.
You must register at the visitor center in Barangay Dancalan in order to engage with whale sharks.
A Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO) serves as a guide for tourists and whale shark watchers.
There are also a number of stringent ordinances that must be adhered to in order to ensure the safety of both tourists and whale sharks.
In addition to the BIO, the center also offers tourist vessels.
Nearby resorts offer the option for visitors to reserve a tour in advance, although with a small service fee.
Conclusion
There you have it. You now understand how Donsol came to be known as the whale shark capital of the world.
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Have you been to Donsol, Sorsogon? Did you have fun swimming with the whale sharks?
