Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
Sorsogon Travel Guide
One of the tourist destinations in the southern region of the Philippines, Sorsogon province offers special places to all travelers and vacationers in the place. For people who are in search for the famous tourist attractions in Sorsogon, Philippines, they can always refer to Sorsogon travel guides since these feature hospitality service providers and restaurants where people can sleep and dine during their stay in the area. Additionally, the travel guides also offer instructions on how to get the famous tourist spots in the province.
Tourist Attractions
Tourist attractions in Sorsogon, Philippines, are main features in Sorsogon travel guides. For those who like to have a tour to the famous spots in the province, they can always refer to the travel guides for detailed information on how to reach the natural attractions and manmade attractions in Sorsogon, Philippines. Hence, some of the natural attractions that are worth visiting in the province are Masacrot Springs, Palogtok Falls, and Paguriran Island. Meanwhile, for people who have interest in visiting manmade tourist spots in the area, they can always go to beautiful beach resorts, namely Dancalan Beach Resort, Rizal Beach Resort, and Libanon Beach Resort, or they can visit parks like Sorsogon Provincial Capitol Park, Bulusan National Park, as well as PNOC Eco-Park.
Hotels
After a tiring day traveling to the famous tourist destinations in the province, there are attractive hospitality service providers in Sorsogon, Philippines, where people can have a relaxing sleep. For those who are in search for lodges and inns that offer affordable accommodation rates, most Sorsogon travel guides offer information on any of these hospitality service providers, Manuel’s Lodging House, Saint Peter Lodging House, and Magtangob Lodging House. However, for those who prefer to stay in hotels, they can make advance reservations in Hotel Maria Concepcion, Hotel Olympus, and Central Hotel.
Restaurants
Dining is another feature in many Sorsogon travel guides. For tourists who like to dine in restaurants that offer delectable Filipino dishes, they can try the specialties of Kalundan Restaurant, Dahon Saging Restaurant, and Manoy’s Fastfood. In addition, there are fast food franchises that have affordable meals such as Jollibee, Mike and Jerry Fastfood, as well as Jane’s Fastfood. For the exact locations of these restaurants in Sorsogon, Philippines, they can refer to Sorsogon travel guides for them to easily find the dining places. With the attractive features of Sorsogon travel guides, tourists can surely have a worry-free vacation in one of the beautiful provinces of the Philippines, Sorsogon.
Sorsogon Sightseeing Guide
Tourists and visitors would usually equate visiting Sorsogon to whale shark interaction. However, there are more interesting sights that can be found in Sorsogon than we usually know. The sights here may not be the same as the others you’ll find in the Philippines, but they are worth looking into. We have a Sorsogon sightseeing guide below for some of the interesting places in the Philippines’ southernmost province.
Our little Sorsogon sightseeing guide starts with the province’s most popular attraction, whale shark interaction. Sorsogon is admittedly the whale shark capital of the Philippines. The place to go to would be the little quiet town of Donsol. Whale sharks, locally named ‘butanding’, usually converge in the waters of Donsol starting in October and would last until May. You can get to Donsol from Legazpi City, where the airport is, by taking a taxi, bus, or air-conditioned van. The drive to Donsol will usually take an hour.
The beaches and tropical water fun is the next part of our Sorsogon sightseeing guide. Rizal Beach is located in the town of Gubat, which is about 25 minutes away from Sorsogon City. After getting into Gubat, you’ll have to switch to a jeep or another vehicle headed for Rizal Beach to get there. This is a favorite hang out and picnic area complete with resorts and other accommodations.
If you’re looking for one of the exotic sights in the Philippines then you might want to get to the Bacon District then to the small island of Paguriran. This is a picturesque island, with a matching lagoon, that has been made into a marine sanctuary. You’ll have to take a 20-minute boat ride from Bacon to get to the island.
Our Sorsogon sightseeing guide won’t be complete without any historical sites. One such site is the Barcelona Church that was constructed in the 19th century. There is also a nearby ruin of an old Spanish fort. You’ll also find a lot of old houses lining the streets of Juban and an old Spanish shipyard in Pilar.
As part of our Sorsogon sightseeing guide, we have a few travel tips when roaming around the province. First is that you should check with the local tourism office for information. However, if you hired a guide or have arranged your trip with an agent then everything will be taken cared of. The tourism office will usually give you a brief orientation. This is especially important for people interacting with the whale sharks for the first time.
The usual means of transportation within a town is usually by tricycle. Jeepneys are also available if you prefer to get on them than get cramped in small vehicle like a tricycle. There will always be vehicle terminals for buses, jeepneys, and other vehicles. When looking for public transport, simply ask anyone to point you to the terminal.
Not that many visitors to the Philippines would usually think to tour the province but they could be missing out on a lot of tropical adventures unique to the place. Thus making a Sorsogon sightseeing guide necessary. The province has a lot more interesting sights that you won’t find anywhere else in the Philippines.
Sorsogon Restaurant Guide
One of the advancing and progressive provinces in the Philippines, Sorsogon takes pride in its inviting and relaxing restaurants. For the convenience of all tourists and travelers to the place, there are numerous Sorsogon restaurant guides that they can refer to if they are in search for dining places that have fine services, tasty specialties, affordable meals, and accessible locations. Hence, to everyone who plan to visit the restaurants in Sorsogon, Philippines, it is best that they use the travel guides so that they can pick the dining place that have dishes that will suit their budgets.
Types of Cuisines Available in Restaurants in Sorsogon, Philippines
For those who consider the cuisines available in dining places before they choose a restaurant in Sorsogon, Philippines, it is important that they look at Sorsogon restaurant guides since these offer detailed information on the famous restaurants. Some of the dining places in Sorsogon, Philippines, that specialize in Filipino cuisine, and which are commonly featured in Sorsogon restaurant guides are Dahon Saging Restaurant, Manoy’s Restaurant, and Casa Dominga. Hence, for people who prefer grilled dishes, they can always visit the popular Acacia Grill Fastfood.
Costs of Meals at Dining Places in Sorsogon, Philippines
When it comes to affordability, travelers can always visit fastfood chains in the area such as Jollibee and McDonald’s. On the other hand, for those who have food budgets that range from 50 pesos to 200 pesos, there are small and simple dining places that are featured in Sorsogon restaurant guides like Jane’s Fastfood, Kim’s Fastfood, as well as Mike and Jerry Fastfood. On the other hand, for people who have budgets above 200 pesos, they can go to Kalundan Restaurant.
Accessibility of Restaurants in Sorsogon, Philippines
Another important section in Sorsogon restaurant guides is the location of the dining places. Many travelers take into consideration the accessibility of restaurants in Sorsogon, Philippines, before they decide where to eat. Hence, three of the most accessible places in the province to have a relaxing, entertaining, and memorable dining experience are Graceland, Quick and Hearty, as well as Tajie’s Restaurant. In addition, by referring to Sorsogon restaurant guides, tourists can also know the exact location together with the contact information of dining places in the city in case they want to make reservations. Thus, with the interesting features and information available in the restaurant guides, travelers will definitely have a convenient, comfortable and great dining experience at the interesting province of Sorsogon.
Sorsogon Hotel Guide
When in Sorsogon, Philippines, it’s not just important to go sightseeing and see and hear the sights and sounds of this beautiful place, it’s also important to find a hotel that feels like home. This Sorsogon Hotel Guide showcases the hotels in the area that have positive reviews and are highly recommended by both Filipinos who travel to this area and tourists.
First up on the list in the Sorsogon Hotel Guide is the Sirangan Beach Resort. This hotel is located in Caricaran, Bacon District, Sorsogon City, Philippines. It’s a relatively small hotel but what places it on top of the list in the Sorsogon Hotel Guide is that though it only has 8 rooms, this quaint place was designed for those who want to sleep and wake up hearing the gentle lap of the waves. All rooms are a convenient walking distance to Bacon Beach but this did not prevent management from building a big pool in front of the hotel for those who prefer to lie on a deck chair by it. Known for its romantic ambience perfect for couples, its rooms are luxurious, spacious and gives one that home away from home feel.
Hotsprings Resort, located in Irosin, Sorsogon City, Philippines also makes it to the Sorsogon Hotel Guide. Irosin is known for its hot springs and if one wants to be closer to these, then Hotsprings Resort is the place to be. Hotsprings Resort is located close to the Bulusan Lake and a short hike can be made from Patad to the crater-lake and since this place is not something that’s well known for the locals, if one is looking for that secluded area that epitomizes pristine, then this is the perfect spot.
Vitton Resort is another quaint place that specializes in something completely different than the previous two. Vitton Resort is in the Sorsogon Hotel Guide because it is the best place to get that close encounter with the whale shark. This hotel in the Sorsogon Hotel Guide in Donsol Sorsogon, Philippines and it’s conveniently located near the whale shark interaction center and offers bungalows that have 1-2 rooms. The resort is peaceful at night and ensures privacy, a true escape when in the Philippines.
Last but not the least in this Sorsogon Hotel Guide is Palm Creek Resort. This place in the Philippines is for those who prefer the great outdoors so much more than being indoors. The beach is right in front of the cabin and since this place is somewhat remote, it can be expected that this especially quiet at night.
Whale Shark Watching in Sorsogon
Figuring out what other leisure things to do at sea besides the usual swimming, diving, water skiing, or surfing? Fishing is fun but there’s no fun like catching the world’s biggest fish—catching it on video face to face. And they’re all waiting to be caught on candid camera out there in Donsol.
Donsol, Sorsogon, in the southern most tip of Luzon, is where the world famous whale sharks loiter. And there they loiter the whole year round—although their peak seasons have been reported from February to May, when the Donsol Sea is at its clearest and calmest.
This fishing and diving village has clusters of beautiful mountains greeting incoming visitors. Also the wide azure sea, humble, smiling people, and recently, a world popular marine phenomenon that brings the fisher folks with higher economic revenue yearly.
Sorsogon can be reached through a land trip, public bus or private car, via the Philippine Tourism Highway. This is about a 15-hour drive of refreshing rustic sceneries from Manila taking the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
Donsol used to be a quiet fishing and cottage industry town, frequented by storms and annual rains. Then God sent forth hundreds of whale sharks. The sightings first became a household byword in diving circles in the community. Then the news was passed on to some visiting tourists. Soon it overflowed to the tourism world. Now thousands flock to Donsol.
Locally the whale sharks are called “Butanding.” These gentle giants loiter in Donsol waters all year round, as observed by guys from the World Wildlife Fund. No other place in the country—or in the world—can one spot whale sharks hanging around that long.
The thought of swimming and diving with the world’s largest fish out there in deep sea is scary, to say the least. Yet these mammoth creatures are harmless and often let humans swim and dive with them side by side. It was both fascinating and magical, said one who had glided with them underwater. It was like the world stopped, he added.
At Donsol, these whale sharks may appear in a group of 10 to 15 at one time. The Donsol harbor has one of the highest densities of whale sharks in the world. Whale sharks can measure from 15 to 40 feet long. They have silvery polka dots all over them and feed only on plankton and krill. Donsol has tons of Plankton in its waters. So that’s why they’re here year round.
Whale shark watching, like diving, is a growing sea hobby worldwide and is available and affordable in Donsol, Sorsogon. It is Donsol’s main attraction today besides its other natural features that also draw the curiosity of visitors.
Tags: Sorsogon, Whale Sharks, Whale Shark Watching, Donsol
