8 Dolphin Watching Trips in the Philippines to Build a Day Around

1.Dolphin Watching & Sea Turtle Swim Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 159 reviews · 6 hours · from $49Our pick

Start before sunrise from Panglao or Dauis, then cruise toward the dolphin grounds before heading to Balicasag Island. Local guides such as Sarah, Paulen, and Fatima organize turtle snorkeling, reef stops, gear, and transfers. Expect a shared boat, loud engines, possible crowds, and a ₱500 environmental fee, but excellent value at $49.

“This was a highlight of my trip. Paulen is an excellent guide - kind, knowledgeable, and very helpful. I felt safe at all times on the boat and swimming in the water and he went out of the way to make our trip better such as coming to find us during the free time to tell/show us another turtle that had popped up. We saw many dolphins, turtles, and fish. The corals were fantastic. Would definitely book again!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Pamilacan Island Dolphin/Turtle Watching Tour & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 96 reviews · 8 hours · from $70

Start early at Abraham Bohol with coffee, then ride by local boat toward Pamilacan Island while watching for dolphins. Snorkel with turtles and around the Coral Garden, eat a homemade Filipino lunch, walk through the village, and enjoy quiet beach time. Guides such as Ruby, Sarah, and Dan have been praised for attentive care and clear explanations.

“The morning boat cruising with the dolphins was the best start of the day and our experience from Panglao till Pamilacan Island. The people on the island are very hosting and friendly. We enjoy eating the local food, in snorkelling with the turtles and in the coral garden too. If you like an adventure, little escape n feeling freed from every day working life …. we recommend to go on this trip 🐬🪼🐠🌊❤️”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Bohol Dolphin Watching, Balicasag, and Virgin Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 29 reviews · 5 hours · from $51

Start before sunrise from Panglao for dolphin watching, then snorkel Balicasag Island among coral, fish, and possible sea turtles. Finish at Kalipayan Beach or, when operating, Virgin Island’s sandbar. The $51 shared boat tour includes transfers, gear, fees, and English or Tagalog crew support, but expect crowds and long time on the water.

“Snorkeling was nice, but a few comments need to be made. None of us were able to communicate with the boat crew, as they couldn’t explain to us what to do or what to bring once we arrived at the island. The bigger problem was that our boat had no sun shade. Supposedly it was broken. The sun was harsh on everyone. What was almost funny was that the local staff at the place where we departed told us that shade wasn’t actually necessary because there would be clouds anyway. I’ve never heard such nonsense before. So yes, overall the trip did not leave a good impression.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Dolphin Watching, Turtle Swim and Party Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 27 reviews · 5 hours · from $69Top rated

You’ll start early from Panglao for dolphin watching near Pamilacan Island, then snorkel with turtles and reef fish at Balicasag. A local guide helps in the water and records underwater photos and videos. After a Filipino lunch, enjoy drinks, music, and a relaxed beach-party setup before returning to Panglao.

“We had an amazing day on this snorkel tour! The weather was perfect, we even spotted dolphins and enjoyed the included drinks (beer, soda and rum) along the way. Snorkeling was great and the guide took GoPro footage, which resulted in some fantastic photos and videos we received afterward. Lunch on the island was simple but good and well organized. Although there was no island party, it didn’t take away from the overall experience. Overall, it was a fun, relaxed and very enjoyable experience that we would definitely recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Bohol Balicasag Is Private Tour and Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9 reviews · 1 day · from $108

Start early from Panglao with a local guide such as Jessie, then watch for dolphins before reaching Balicasag. Snorkel among fish and turtles, walk through the island village, use a paddle boat, and enjoy a fresh lunch. The small group is limited to 10, and the Virgin Island stop is currently closed.

“We had an amazing day on our trip. From the very beginning, Jessie’s great mood was contagious and made the experience even more enjoyable. He answered all of our questions and made us feel very well taken care of throughout the day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Dolphin Watching & Manjuyod Sandbar Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 8 reviews · 10 hours

Start with early hotel pickup in Dumaguete, Bacong, Dauin, or Zamboanguita, then ride by van and banca boat toward Bais Bay. Your English- or Tagalog-speaking guide helps you look for spinner, bottlenose, and spotted dolphins before a swim, snorkel, sandbar walk, and onboard lunch. The private format gives your group more say over the day’s pace.

“This tour was amazing from start to finish! It was just me and a friend, and we had a private boat all to ourselves — definitely worth it. The driver picked us up at 6am from our hotel and stayed in touch on WhatsApp, which made things super easy. Everything was really organized, and we felt taken care of the whole time. The boatmen were super kind and spoke English well. And best part is we spent so much time chasing the dolphins and got to see them up close!!! We had total freedom to decide what to do and when to do it, whether hanging w dolphins or at…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Pamilacan island: Dolphins, snorkel, lunch and walking tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 8 reviews · 8 hours · from $139

Set out from Panglao by tuk-tuk and private Filipino boat for dolphin watching, guided snorkeling in Pamilacan’s marine sanctuary, a seaside Boholano lunch, and a walk to a 200-year-old Spanish fort. The day lasts eight hours, includes pickup within 8 kilometers of Alona Beach, and suits anyone who prefers a quieter private outing.

“Tour privato molto piacevole, con tante attenzioni da parte della nostra guida, dell'equipaggio della barca (fantastica!) e degli abitanti dell'isola. Pranzo tipico filippino, coi piedi nella sabbia e di fronte a un mare stupendo, abbiamo nuotato con 7 tartarughe e visto pesci e coralli coloratissimi!! super consigliato!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling at Balicasag Island

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 4 reviews · 6 hours · from $45Best value

Start before sunrise from Panglao, watch for dolphins near Balicasag, then snorkel coral reefs and a turtle sanctuary with local island guides. Shared tours meet early and do not include lunch. Private tours add hotel pickup, more flexibility, and a cooked island-style meal served on board. Fabio may handle private-tour transfers.

“The activity was rescheduled a few times due to cyclone warning but our tour guide Fabio was very responsive and kept us well informed about the rescheduling and came to pick us up at the hotel for the activity, however the boat rider and handler did not live up to their expectations. We had a very good view of the Dolphins., but when we reached Balicasag island for snorkelling activities our boat stopped very far away from the shore than rest of the boats and we were made to walk on rocky waters where both me and my husband bruised ourselves. Especially my husband fell in water and badly bruised…”

Check availability →Read our full review