With diverse natural habitats including anything from tropical island rainforests to the ocean and mountain regions, it’s no surprise the Philippines is home to thriving wildlife populations. For your chance to encounter some of the most majestic creatures on the planet up close, here are some the top wildlife encounters the Philippines has to offer visitors.
Dive with Thresher Sharks in Malapascua
Malapascua in Cebu is one of the few places in the world where you can reliably encounter Thresher Sharks, making it ideal for thrill seekers visiting the Philippines. A truly rare experience, you can expect to enjoy an early morning 30-minute boat ride from Malapascua to the underwater plateau of Monad Shoal where you’ll take a dive to see thresher sharks rising from the deep to be cleaned by smaller fish. Imagine the captivating sight of these non-aggressive creatures swimming gracefully past your very eyes. During your early morning shark encounter, you might also see Manta Rays, schools of barracuda and colourful reef fish to enhance your underwater experience.
Fireflies of Bohol
While the picturesque island of Bohol is well-known for the unusual Chocolate Hills – an expanse of land covered with near perfect giant limestone mounds – you can also experience another natural phenomenon in Bohol courtesy of its resident firefly population. Delivering spectacular light displays at night, imagine floating down one of the island’s calm rivers at night on a guided boat tour where you can watch the glow of thousands of fireflies whizzing before you. A truly relaxing experience, you’ll see the surrounding mangroves illuminated by the flickering light as you cruise through this magical atmosphere.
Fireflies in trees, Bohol
Encounter the Philippine Eagle – the “King of the Birds”
The Philippine Eagle is endemic to the Philippines and can be found in the wild on the four major islands of eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Davao, with the largest population on the island of Mindanao which has up to 233 breeding pairs. While these incredible birds inhabit the rainforests and mountainous regions, you can visit the Philippine Eagle Centre at the foot of Mt Apo in Davao City to encounter these incredible birds.
The conservation centre in Davao City provides a sanctuary for these endangered eagles, while visitors are offered the chance to explore its lush, forested grounds to observe these gigantic birds with wingspans of around seven feet.
Dolphin and Whale-Watching in Bais
Bais City in Negros Oriental is a hub for dolphin and whale-watching tours in the Tanon Strait – a marine sanctuary teeming with dolphins and sea turtles. From Bais, you can join a tour on a traditional banca (wooden boat) which cruises through the calm clear waters where you’ll see pods of dolphins playfully jumping from the sparkling sea surface into the air. Trips also usually include a stop at the renowned Manyunod Sandbar – a seven kilometre stretch of white sand beach emerging from the turquoise waters where you can swim and snorkel.
Diving with Thresher Sharks, Malapascua
Witness over a million bats emerge from the Monfort Bat Cave
The Monfort Bat Cave on Samal Island is home to the largest colony of Geoffrey Rousette fruit bats in the world. Visit in the evening at sunset to see the spectacular sight of these bats emerging from the cave like a swirling black cloud.
