Donsol, Sorsogon is a place that is bursting with natural beauty. The Philippines, being an archipelago, is known for its beautiful natural sites and thousands of islands with some, still unexplored. Donsol, Sorsogon is one of the places in the Philippines where you can experience nature at its fullest. It is abundant with natural sites, which is why it is not a surprise that not only humans are attracted to visiting Donsol, but also animals. Donsol is the perfect place for someone who is looking to take their interaction with nature to the next level. Read more to find out all the best things to do among nature in Donsol.
1. Swim with the Whale Sharks
When visiting Donsol, interaction with the Whale Sharks should always be on the list! Donsol is one of the best places to see these gentle giants and swim with them in their natural environment! Donsol Bay is one of the best places to see the Whale Sharks, since they come up to the surface. While there are diving areas in Donsol, only snorkeling is allowed in Donsol Bay for safety reasons. The season for Whale Sharks is generally from December to May, with February to April being the best time to see them. While Whale Shark sightings are not a guarantee, it is more unusual not to see these giants during the peak season. Five Whale Sharks are the least amount you can see during the season.
Whale Shark Interaction Tour (Donsol EcoTour)
Address: G21 Cityland Makati Executive Tower 2, Dela Rosa St., Makati, Philippines
Duration: 3 hours
Contact: +63 028938173 / +63 025765934
Website: Whale Shark Interaction Tour
2. Scuba diving in Manta Bowl
If you’re a scuba diver, or taking up scuba diving as a hobby, you shouldn’t miss going to Manta Bowl in Donsol. Manta Bowl Shoal was just opened as a dive site back in 2002, and was only known by locals before as an area where mantas could be seen. Manta Bowl Shoal is a 7 to 8-hectare (17.2 - 19.7 acre) area in the middle of the ocean and has several different diving points: The Bowl, Rock Point, Shark Apartment, Tuna Alley, and Sweetlips Place. However, the main reason why people visit this place is because this is where most of the Manta and Whale Shark are usually sighted. Other things to look forward to in this dive site are the different rock and coral formations, and being able to watch marine life play out in front of you.
A note to consider is that the Manta Bowl is an advanced dive. Those who want to try this activity should be experienced in open water diving due to the strong currents at the bottom of the sea.
Scuba Diving in Manta Bowl (Bicol Dive Center)
Address: Vitton Beach Resort, Sorsogon, Philippines
Contact: +63 9219293811 /+63 9068016852 /+63 9179002464
Website: Scuba Diving in Manta Bowl
3. Watch fireflies at Donsol River
Another unique experience you can do in Donsol is firefly watching. If you’re looking for a night activity that will provide you with a breathtaking sight, firefly watching is the way to go. The tour will provide you two things: fireflies and sunsets. The tour will start just before the sun will set, using a small boat to navigate through the river, you will be able to see the sun slowly setting and the color of the skies gradually changing. Going further down the river as the skies darken, fireflies will slowly start to come out, their little lights floating in and out of the trees and over the river. The experience becomes more magical when you look down and witness the plankton glowing up the river. Cameras may not be able to justify the beauty of what you will witness, but experiencing it first-hand is like being inside a fairy tale book.
Firefly River Tour (Donsol EcoTour)
Address: G21 Cityland Makati Executive Tower 2, Dela Rosa St., Makati, Philippines
Duration: about 2-3 hours
Contact: +63 028938173/ +63 025765934
Website: Firefly River Tour
4. Go to Paguriran Island
Paguriran Island is in Bacon, Sorsogon - a two-hour drive from Donsol. If you have time to go to other places in Sorsogon, then you should put Paguriran Island in your itinerary. While it is not actually an island but more of an islet, it is what most people go to instead of the beach that is located a few meters away from Paguriran Island. The reason why people go out of their way to visit this island is the lagoon found here - a shallow pool of aquamarine water surrounded by naturally formed rock formations. It could be described as an isolated space, a momentary escape from all the noise coming from the town. The island is a testament to the beauty Mother Nature can provide us.
Paguriran Island
Address: Brgy. Sawangga, Bacon, Sorsogon
Access: From Sorsogon City, take a jeep going to Bacon, Sorsogon. Tell the driver to drop you off at Paguriran Island and from the highway, a ten-minute walk to Paguriran Island Resort.
5. Go on a shrimp-catching tour at night
Another night activity you can do in Donsol is the shrimp-catching tour. The locals in Donsol have a traditional way of catching shrimp called “sudsod” which literally means “dragging or scraping the bottom” using their nets. The shrimp fishermen would start fishing at night, around sunset, and would attach a light - sometimes a kerosene lamp - so that it would attract the fish in their area. Waist-deep in water, the fishermen would then drag their nets to the sea floor to catch the shrimps which would then go to the container attached to their backs. Giddy’s Place, a hotel in Donsol, is offering this tour for visitors who are interested in getting a first-hand experience in catching shrimp the traditional way.
Shrimp-Catching Tour
Address: 54 Clemente Street, Donsol, Philippines
Contact: +63 9178488881
Website: Shrimp-Catching Tour
6. Nature's beauty
Donsol is one of the best examples of Mother Nature’s gifts to humankind. Visiting this place can give you more insight on how humans and nature interact with each other, and will give you a much better view of the world. You can take all the pictures and souvenirs you want from Donsol when you go home, but the most important thing you’ll be able to take away from the trip is the appreciation of Mother Nature.