Travel Answers

Hi,
We will be visiting Donsol this May. Arrival is at May 11 and departure at May 13. That leaves us one whole day to do the tour. Originally, we had our hearts set on the Butanding interaction. But from what I've heard and read, it isn't always guaranteed and it tends to be a little bit frenzied. So I've decided to take a trip to Ticao Island instead. The thing is there will be two of us and only one of us is a licensed diver. Any chance that we might be able to have a trip customized for two people with one diving and one snorkeling?

Thanks.

hi anybodys know we can get to matnog from donsol via public transpo also if you any any car/van contact that can take us there but also have sidetrip to the irosin hot/cold springs

How do i get in touch with the butanding tourist center to reserve slots for us on april 29? Or are all reservations done through tour operators?

We will be flying in from Manila to Legaspi on Tuesday morning. Can I get your views on which itinerary is better? Option1: Day1 Go to Mayon/Casagwa; spend the night in Legaspi; Day2 leave 5am to Donsol for the butanding; take the River Cruise and spend the night in Donsol; Day3 leave Donsol for Legaspi to catch flight back to Manila Option2: Day1 Go to Mayon/Casagwa; proceed to Donsol and spend the night there Day2 go to the Butanding encounter; take the River Cruise and spend the night in Donsol again; Day3 leave Donsol for Legaspi, then Manila Thanks.

We will be flying in from Manila to Legaspi on Tuesday morning. Can I get your views on which itinerary is better? Option1: Day1 Go to Mayon/Casagwa; spend the night in Legaspi; Day2 leave 5am to Donsol for the butanding; take the River Cruise and spend the night in Donsol; Day3 leave Donsol for Legaspi to catch flight back to Manila Option2: Day1 Go to Mayon/Casagwa; proceed to Donsol and spend the night there Day2 go to the Butanding encounter; take the River Cruise and spend the night in Donsol again; Day3 leave Donsol for Legaspi, then Manila Thanks.

hi. we will be in donsol on june 19 and the day after that were planning to go to Cam sur to experince CWC. I just wanna ask how long does the travel takes from Donsol to Legazpi and how will be the transportation? Thank you.

Hi all nice people! I will go back to Philippines in March, and will guide my best friend who visit for the first time. He wanted to see the whalesharks, so i was planning to go to Donsol with him. Now I got info that its just as good to go to Oslob outside Cebu, instead of Donsol. Since we will be staying in Cebu, its probably easier to travel to Oslob by bus, instead of going to Donsol from there. I want to ask if Oslob is almost as good for watching and swimming with whalesharks as Donsol? Is there any good accomodation in Oslob? Is it easy to get assistance in Oslob? During my 8 trips to Philippines i always loved everything, and people are so friendly and wonderful, but its always best to ask, and I have got good response from this forum before.

Hello fellow travellers need your experts advise... planning to go to Legaspi & butanding watching) any suggestions on 1. place to stay 2. place to eat 3. places to see (we will in legaspi Sat Morning and then Monday early morning is flight back to manila) Really need your help on what to do first on sat and then sunday... so we wont miss out on any of the nice places... if you can also help to recommend tours/van (we are about 7 adults). Thank you much

Hi! I will go back to Philippines in apsil again, my friend will join this time, his first trip to Phils. he wants to go to Donsol, for the whalesharks. Is the fastest way to fly Cebu - Legaspi, and then go by bus to Donsol? Are there lots of buses, so theres short waiting time? Where to find good but not very expensive accomodation in Donsol? Thx for your help.

We are planning a trip to Sorsogon and plans to stay in Villa Luisa Celeste in February 2012. Please send their contact number and address to inquire about their rates and reservation, thank you.

Hi, My husband and I are going to Caramoan, but we also want to go to Donsol. Does anyone know if there is direct transportation from Caramoan to Donsol around April 27th and what the costs would be?

Hi, does anyone have any ideas if it is just okay to go on whale watching tour at the end of August? I also read in http://www.donsolwhaleshark.com/ that Amor Beach Farm Resort and other accommodations are closed from June to November, is this still true? Donsol inns, hotels, or lodging are not operating during non-peak season for whale watching?

Hi All, We might be driving from Manila to Donsol. We will have a day or two to do so. What places must we see on our way. Please give me some good suggestions. Asian Belle you have been very helpful in the past. I hope to hear from you! Thanks, Palauig

hi guys!,,we have our flight on nov-15-18 to legaspi..and we are planning to go to donsol on nov.16,but we are in gruop of 9..we heard that the maximim people that the boat can accommodate is 7,,is there some boat that we can rent that can accommodate 9 persons??and it is advisble for us to go to donsol in that date?how much is the possible expenses?some ofy friends are worried bout the expenses,,they heard it is too expensive,,tnx guys,,hope u can help us!

hi~ How can I make a booking for the One of Donsol's Gem?? please reply me asap~~ mingleung

I've read from some tips in the forum that there's a small season for Butandings in November. We're planning a Bicol trip in mid-November and deciding on whether or not to include a trip to Donsol. Will we be able to see whale-sharks or should we just wait for high season? Thanks for the replies.

Hi can anyone please tell me how to commute to Donsol, for Whale Shark-watching, from CWC? If you could be so kind as to add the fares, that would be lovely too!

Hi! Hope someone could help me out. My family and group of friends are planning a trip to the bicol region. We want to visit Mayon Volcano, Camsur Sports Complex, Whale watch at Donsol, and if possible Caramoan islands as well. We are planning to leave Manila May 10-14/15 1. How should we sequence these places so we can maximize the time? 2. Can anyone estimate the number of driving hours between each place? 3. Any Hotel suggestions as well. Thank you so much and hope someone could really help me out. from// mgc

Hello, does anybody know the approx driving time from Donsol To Matnog, Sorsogon? Thanks

Hello! Would anyone know the approximate car drive time from Donsol to CamSur Sports Complex? Thanks

I'm planning for a solo trip to Donsol on the last Friday of the month, Apr 30 and will be returning to Manila by May 2, Sunday. My entire Friday will be spent in Donsol. I am planning to go around Legazpi on Sat morning and meet a friend afterwards. Then, for the remaining day and a half is open. I am thinking going to Caramoan and CWC. Would that be possible? Thanks.

How can I get to Donsol from Manila? What are the prices for non-aircon buses? WHat companies have the cheapest tickets? Where can i book the tickets? The buses Manila-Donsol go daily? Thanks for help. Michael. P.S. Greetings from El Nido! :)

Hi, I would like to ask if it is still advisable to go to Donsol on July? Will we still be able to see butandings during that season? Please advise. thanks a lot and more power!

hello!i hope someone is kind enough to offer me some guidance.just got back from my viet/cam trip and although it was lots of fun,im still lookin forward for some beach/sun time.and so, i am planning to visit puerto galera and donsol but; 1>i was wondering which was an easier and more time efficient route to take.im not sure if i should go to PG 1st then fly out to legaspi or the other way around.i was hoping to do maybe 3 days each(inc. travel time) sometime between march 1-17. 2> i really wanna try the butanding experience but i dont know how to swim;i can only boast of my expertise in floating with a life vest on.are there any tour operators who wld be willing to cater to my special needs? thanks for any suggestion/s!!!

we are planning to go to donsol this on february 25-27. our flight details are: feb 25 manila-legaspi (app. 7a.m) feb 27 legaspi-manila (2pm) we want to go to cwc since we are already in the region, i was told that cwc is closer to the naga airport,however, we have already booked our flight, and it will be costly for us if we try to change it now. can you give suggestions on how we could visit these tourist spots. thanks.

Hello everyone! A few friends and I are going to Caramoan in January. It just occurred to us, since we are already in Bicol region, we might as well make the most of it. We are planning to go butanding and fireflies watching in Donsol. Then before heading to the airport, make a stop at the Cagsawa ruins and take photos of the Mayon volcano. Is this a possible plan? I mean, will there be modes of transportation to assist us? And how much cash should we bring with us for the butanding and fireflies watching, and also for the Mayon/Cagsawa travel? Also, do you have any idea of the travel time? Thank you so much for taking the time. I appreciate your replies and suggestions. :D

Hi, I'm going to Donsol in March for a couple of days. The hotel I've booked has offered me a one way airport transfer for 2000PHP. They've also said we can make a detour to do a short tour of the Cagsawa Ruins with the view of Mount Mayon for an extra 1000PHP. 3000PHP sounds very expesnive to me!! When I get to Legaspi Airport am I likely to find a taxi/pedicab that can take me from the airport to the ruins and then to my hotel for less than 3000PHP? I hear transfers at the airport can be expensive too! Thanks! Mandy

HI, I know this might not be the correct forum, but i'm hoping someone can help! My boyfriend and i will be going to the Philippines in February 2010. we plan on spending a couple days in Donsol/ Legaspi and then going to Boracay. can anyone recommend what the best route is? ie Manila -> Donsol -> Boracay OR Manila -> Boracay -> Donsol. how long will it take and how much will it cost? thanks ;)

Hi, i have been in Bicol last Holy Week (2009) and Butangding experience is the highlight of this vacation. My other set of friends wants to go too and we are planning. What we like to happen is, we are going from Legaspi Airport to Donsol, then from Donsol to Cagsawa, then Cagsawa to CWC? Hope to hear from you! Thanks!

I have to leave sta magdalena, sorsogon to legaspi on holy thursday for my flight to manila. I would really want to swim with the butandings before going to legaspi. - Will there be transportation from sorsogon city to donsol on holy thursday? how long is the travel from sorsogon to donsol? - will the donsol tourist office be open that day and will there be guides?