As we told you in Where to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines, Pintuyan is our favorite place to do it. Selfishly, it’s the one that gives you a more incredible experience, since it’s very likely you’ll be alone with it in the water, but also swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan ensures you’re doing it in a sustainable way.
In Pintuyan, despite the fact that more than 330 individual whale sharks have been identified (according to the LAMAVE institute), there is hardly any tourism. Only a few people venture to come all the way here to enjoy what is locally known as tiki-tiki in the wild. In this small town in Leyte there is an organization called KASAKA, which makes sure that this activity is carried out following rules and with a limited capacity.
Keep reading and discover everything about swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan, Leyte.
Where is Pintuyan
Pintuyan is located on Panaon Island. If you don’t look closely at the map, it’s very hard to see that it’s a small piece of land independent from the island of Leyte, since they are so connected that only a small bridge separates them.
Specifically, Pintuyan belongs to the province of Southern Leyte, whose capital is Maasin. The curious shape of southern Leyte is due to the enormous bay at its heart. In fact, Sogod Bay is your target on this trip. It is here, thanks to the great concentration of nutrients during a certain time of year, where the whale sharks are found. Pintuyan, if you look closely at the map, sits on the coast and is the perfect base to find them, since these wonderful animals are usually nearby.
Why go to Pintuyan and how many days to spend
You’ve probably guessed it already, but the main reason to come here is to swim with the whale sharks. In our opinion, Pintuyan is the best place in the Philippines to do it. It’s a pristine place, with little tourism and, most importantly, respectful of the animal.
Unlike Oslob, here the sharks are not fed every day, nor are there more than 1.000 people surrounding them, and therefore causing them irreparable harm. Whale sharks only come to Pintuyan in season, when nutrients reach Sogod Bay and they stay along its coasts feeding.
On the other hand, Pintuyan is also a good base for diving and to enjoy macro marine life and the corals of the nearby Napantao sanctuary.
Ultimately, depending on what you’ve come to do, we suggest spending more or fewer days here. If you’re only coming to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan, try to dedicate at least 2 days. Since it’s not 100% guaranteed, it doesn’t hurt to give it an extra day in case you want to try again. If you’re also coming to dive, remember to allow at least one more day.
But is it safe to swim with the whale shark? Isn’t such a big animal going to eat me?
Yes, it’s completely safe and no, it’s not going to eat you. Whale sharks, even though they can reach up to 15 meters in length and are the largest fish in the world, are not dangerous and do not attack people. We’re not going to say they’re vegetarian, since they do eat some little fish or shrimp in addition to plankton, but they don’t eat people. In fact, we are the danger.
You could hurt yourself if you’re not careful and jump very close to it or you’re swimming very close and it hits you with a fin or the tail. But you already know this is not, by any means, responsible tourism. That’s why there are rules and safety distances.
When to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan, the best time
Unlike in Puerto Princesa, the season to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan runs from November to April/May. If you’re coming just for this, our advice is to try to time it for March–April, when the number of sightings tends to be higher. Still, keep in mind that this is 100% natural and not an exact science. It’s quite possible you won’t see them, although it would be rare to go 2 days in a row and not see them. You never know!
In the 2024/2025 season, the first sightings began in October 2024. However, the frequency started to drop a lot from January 2025. Experts say it may be because the nutrients are deeper, although it may also be that they moved a bit further north, to Liloan. Even so, it seems that at the beginning of March they were seen again, so we can’t guarantee anything. Perhaps the best thing is to ask the Pintuyan Tourism Office on Facebook.
A traveler told us that the tourism office helped him organize the trip from Liloan and that he was lucky there and saw a whale shark. So, it doesn’t hurt to ask. That said, we also have a contact in Liloan who can help you.
Why should you come to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan at this time?
Because these majestic animals are migratory. They basically move in search of food and, although you can see that they don’t swim extremely fast, they cover great distances. In fact, it has been proven that they migrate from California and Mexico across the Pacific to reach the Coral Triangle—that is, to travel through the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. In all these places, in the right season, there are large concentrations of plankton, krill (small crustaceans), little shrimp, and other small organisms.
Whale sharks enter the Philippines through 2 places: the San Bernardino Strait (between Luzon and Samar, which is why they are also seen in Donsol) and the Surigao Strait (between the Bohol Sea and the Leyte Gulf). Hence the nutrient-rich waters of Panaon Island and Sogod Bay are a haven for these fish between October and May.
As you can see above, we’re always keeping an eye out for the appearance of whale sharks in this and other areas of the Philippines. Thanks to information from other travelers in our Philippines Facebook group and to our contacts in different dive centers, we can tell you whether they’re being seen or not. Leave us a comment and we’ll gladly share more info.
How swimming with whale sharks in Pintuyan works
The procedure for swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan is super interesting.
Excursions start in Son-ok, a small neighborhood of Pintuyan. This is where you’ll receive basic instructions about the interaction and indications of what you should do.
We tourists get on small motorized bangkas, the traditional Filipino boats, in which we are accompanied by a captain and a guide. Two bangkas without a motor follow, in which the spotters paddle and put their heads in the water wearing snorkel masks.
If the spotters see a whale shark, they move the paddle and your captain will quickly take you to that point. You will carefully jump in one by one, together with the guide, and try to swim as long as possible.
Sometimes the sharks swim more or less quickly or are at greater or lesser depth—it’s a matter of luck!
The maximum interaction time is 3 hours. And there is a limit to the number of people who can go each day, but honestly, every time we’ve gone we’ve seen a maximum of 2 boats. There’s a long way from this to mass tourism.
Sometimes a LAMAVE volunteer may also accompany you, an organization that studies the behavior patterns of whale sharks in different places in the Philippines.
How to organize the activity to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan
Interactions with the whale shark in Pintuyan are organized by KASAKA, a local cooperative made up of fishermen from the small neighborhood of Son-ok, a couple of kilometers from the center. It was established in February 2005 and now has more than 60 members. These are local guides, boat captains, and the so-called spotters, who are trained to follow eco-tourism practices.
If you want to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan, the best thing is to go to the Municipal Hall in Pintuyan and have them organize it for you, since they will even coordinate the transport. It’s not necessary to book in advance, although you can also call the Municipal Tourism Operation Officer (Engr. Edilberto A. Alapag): +63 (0) 963 9117 655.
Once in Son-ok, in a sari-sari (Filipino convenience stores) they have a small office where they keep the snorkel gear and do all the paperwork for you. You just have to pay and in a few minutes you’ll be on the bangka searching for the whale shark in the waters of Pintuyan.
Prices for swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan
The prices for swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan depend on the number of people you are. A bangka can take a maximum of 3 passengers, so the math is quick.
For one person, the price from January 15, 2024 (and up to today) is as follows:
| Boat rental | 1.200 pesos |
| Guide | 600 pesos |
| Spotters | 1.000 pesos (500 each) |
| Conservation fee | 300 pesos |
| TOTAL | 3.100 pesos |
If there are 2 people, it comes out to 1.700 Philippine pesos per person. If there are 3, it’s 1.233,33 pesos per person.
Each boat must carry at least 2 spotters so you’ll have more “sea” covered. Keep in mind they cover different areas and their range of vision isn’t that large.
On the other hand, if you want to rent gear, the set is 150 pesos, including fins.
As you can see, the cost of swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan is substantially cheaper than doing it from Padre Burgos. There they usually charge 3.750 pesos per person for this excursion. This price includes snorkel gear, so it’s a bit cheaper if you bring your own.
While it’s true that it’s much more comfortable, since you go on a bigger boat with shade and it’s much easier to get back on after jumping into the sea, the little adventure of doing it in this more private way is also something to consider.
©LAMAVE
Other things to do in and around Pintuyan
As you can see, there isn’t a huge amount to do in Pintuyan beyond the whale shark, but there are some interesting activities to make the most of this area of Leyte. Here’s a selection:
- We suggest you don’t miss the daily date with the sunset. For this, our favorite spot is the promenade or, if you want to be quieter, walk to the left facing the sea and you’ll have a small pebble beach all to yourself.
- There are several waterfalls around Pintuyan. The best-known are Busay Falls, Catbawan Falls, and Dan-An Falls. We didn’t visit them, but if you want more info, the Municipal Hall will surely help you.
- Also, if you like hiking, you have several peaks to conquer. The most famous are Son-ok Peak, the ascent to Barangay Buenavista, and the hills of Caningag.
- From Caningag Mountain Park (accessible by motorbike or tricycle), you have great views and a huge hand for taking photos.
- If you want to move around a bit, you can visit the Liloan area, which has several interesting things. For example, there’s the Tagbak Marine Sanctuary, where there are beautiful corals. The price is around 200 pesos (although you can also walk). On the other hand, you have 2 white-sand beaches relatively close: Molopolo White Beach and Bitoon Beach.
If you like to go at your own pace, there are a few places to rent a motorbike in Pintuyan. You can ask at the same tourism office and they’ll help you.
Where to stay in Pintuyan
As you’ve seen, Pintuyan is not a touristy place, so the accommodation offer is very limited. In fact, it boils down to 4 places, 3 of them very basic and not bookable online. These are the places where to stay in Pintuyan:
- La Guerta Lodge: this is the one we chose for our visit to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan. Don’t expect much—on the contrary, expect the basics. The rooms are tiny, the beds are small, and the bathroom doesn’t even have a sink (nor hot water, of course), but it has air conditioning. Staff are almost never around, so it’s likely you’ll have to call out a couple of times to see if someone comes out or wait a bit. You can always send them an SMS at +63 926 142 6986. They charge 700 pesos per night. They have a second hostel in front of the Pintuyan hospital, but don’t bother—there’s usually no one there either and it seems to have permanent residents.
- DD Lodge: this was the first one we went to see when we arrived, but the truth is it convinced us less than La Guerta for the price. Room prices start at 600 pesos, but it seemed more run-down than La Guerta. Then they have a couple of rooms that are quite a bit better, but prices no longer dropped below 1.200 pesos, despite being empty. As in the previous case, it’s hard to find anyone there, so you have to call out a couple of times or contact the owner (who doesn’t live in Pintuyan) in advance. The phone is +63 975 738 6398.
- D & G Transient House: new in 2022. For 1.000 pesos they have double rooms with air conditioning and hot-water showers. In addition, they have a restaurant and the owners are nice.
- Pintuyan Dive Resort: if you want something substantially better, this is your place. It’s a seaside resort with little huts, a pool, a restaurant… Rooms have air conditioning, a fan, and hot water. On the other hand, it’s the only dive center in the area, so if you’re thinking of diving in the Napantao sanctuary or other nearby sites (with the possibility of seeing the whale shark while scuba diving), it’s the best alternative. You can book and check prices here.
How to get to Pintuyan to swim with the whale shark
One of the reasons Pintuyan isn’t so well known is because getting there is a bit more complicated than to other destinations. Even so, it’s not mission impossible and it’s relatively easy if you’re in Bohol, Cebu, or Siargao.
We tell you in detail how to get there from these and other destinations in How to get to Pintuyan.
Where to eat in Pintuyan
Although you won’t go hungry, the selection of places is also quite limited and beyond 20:00/20:30 it’s rare to find anything open. After a long search, we came up with these places to eat in Pintuyan:
- Mano Richard’s Steakhouse: it’s hard to find it open beyond 19:00 because the owner doesn’t want to get home too late, but if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to eat a burger or siomai with a cold beer. Don’t expect culinary delights, but it’s something. In addition, it has a couple of pool tables to spend the afternoon and join the Filipinos. If you don’t find anything open in the morning, you can go to any bakery, grab a few rolls and come here, as they have a coffee machine for 5 pesos.
- The French fries lady: right across the street from the previous one is this lovely lady’s place. She has French fries, siomai, and a few other bits at very cheap prices and will also tell you some little secrets about Pintuyan.
- Carendería rica: not far from the 2 above (we marked it on the map), there’s this small carinderia with Filipino dishes at a good price. At night there’s usually not much left, but you can always ask her to make you a huge pancit.
- Pizza: next to La Guerta Lodge II and across from the hospital is the most modern place to eat in Pintuyan. We came across it by chance and it seems to be the meeting place for young people. Along with lots of sugary drinks, there are some Filipino dishes and pizzas. We have to admit these won’t be the best you’ve eaten in your life, but for what there is in Pintuyan, not bad at all.
- CM Bakeshop: as in any Filipino town, there are several bakeries in Pintuyan to satisfy your sugar cravings. This one isn’t bad and has a few tables.
- Pintuyan Boulevard Night Market: they set up tables and do barbecue at sunset.
- D’s BBQ: near Laguerta, new in 2024 with barbecued meat, sisig, and empanadas.
Some tips for swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan and enjoying your stay
- The main one: try to go in season because otherwise it will be extremely difficult for you to see the sharks.
- Do it through KASAKA and support this organization, which is striving to ensure everything is done in a respectful way and that the money goes back to the town’s families. The Pintuyan tourism office is wonderful and will help you in every way possible. You can even contact them via Facebook and they’ll help you with transport schedules.
- Please, be respectful. Don’t even think about touching it or trying to touch it, and observe the distance rules with the whale shark.
- Try to jump in slowly. Although it’s difficult, it’s much better because it won’t get as scared and swim away like crazy.
- Bring a sun-protection hat and shirt like this, which we recommend in Backpack for the Philippines. If you can, avoid putting on sunscreen or look for a biodegradable one so as not to damage the animals’ skin.
- KASAKA rents mask and snorkel, but we suggest bringing your own because it’s very likely to be in better condition and it’s also more hygienic. This snorkel set is great. You can rent fins there.
- The wifi is practically non-existent in Pintuyan, but Globe’s connection works more or less fine. So we suggest bringing your Filipino SIM card. See more information in Internet in the Philippines.
- Don’t expect to find exchange houses or ATMs in Pintuyan. Come with cash or use Remitly—there’s a pawnshop in the town itself.
- Pintuyan’s hospital is extremely basic. We don’t want to be doomsayers, but in case something happens to you, you’ll have to be transferred elsewhere and for that it’s best to carry good travel insurance. Check the insurance for the Philippines we use so you don’t get any nasty surprises.
Map of Pintuyan
Here are some places of interest in Pintuyan so you can locate them in a more visual way.
We hope we’ve helped you prepare your trip to swim with the whale shark in Pintuyan! We wish you the best of luck and thank you for not taking part in the Oslob aberration. If you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them in the comments.
