Bais dolphins & Manjuyod white sandbar
Spot dolphins in the Tañon Strait, then wade out onto a long white sandbar in the middle of the sea, lined with houses on stilts.
Bais City, north of Dumaguete, is the jumping-off point for boat trips into Tañon Strait, a protected seascape where dolphins are regularly seen in the morning.
The highlight for most people is the Manjuyod Sandbar — a strip of fine white sand that appears at low tide, far from shore. At high tide you swim and snorkel around it instead.
Highlights
- Dolphin watching in Tañon Strait
- Manjuyod white sandbar and stilt houses
- Swimming and lunch on the boat
Good to know
- Check the tide table — the sandbar is most impressive at low tide.
- Dolphins are most often seen in the morning, but sightings aren't guaranteed.
- Shared (joiner) tours from Dumaguete are reported at around ₱1,500–₱2,500 per person including boat, fees and lunch; a private boat runs about ₱3,500–₱5,000. Prices vary.
- Bring sun protection — there is almost no shade on the sandbar.
Prices and fees last checked October 2026. Always confirm locally before you go.
Book it with a local
More things to do
Oslob whale sharks (Cebu)
Cross the strait to southern Cebu to snorkel beside whale sharks in Oslob — the most popular day trip from the Dumaguete area.
Siquijor island
The 'mystic island' off Dumaguete — turquoise waterfalls, white-sand beaches, ancient balete trees and a slow, friendly pace. Go for a day or stay a few.
Muck diving the Dauin coast
Dauin is one of the world's best-known muck diving spots — frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic octopus and ghost pipefish live on its black volcanic sand.