Municipal Profile - Donsol, Sorsogon
Tourist Attractions

The natural beauty of Donsol, relative to its strategic location, with open seas on the southwestern side and the presence of mountains, rolling hills and valleys, if properly developed, will open its frontiers to tourism industry. Provisions of physical development with regards to infrastructure and facilities will enhance the municipality's potential into one of Philippines' major tourist destination.

SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES (GROTTO)     A serene place, beautifully designed and conceptualized from one of the religious and holy places in France. Several hundreds of pilgrims gather every February 11, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes attending the Holy Mass, other religious activities and sight seeing at the top of the mountain. The shrine can be reached through more or less 309 stairways, 149 downhill and 160 uphill, surrounded by a Bermuda grass covered landscape with 4 kiosk complimented by a jetmatic pump where potable water supply is always available. (Located in San Antonio, Donsol, Sorsogon)

THE CATUNDULAN POINT     A once enchanted place, several enchanting stories have been told of this place. Today, it is where the whale shark or the “Butanding” is openly seen. It is a mountain cliff about 100 meters tall, making it suitable for mountain climbing and gliding. Below the cliff is a small cave from which one can see the white sand beaches and the clear water of the Burias Pass. Tourists can enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, swimming, leisure fishing and whale shark watching. It is 9 kilometers away from the town proper with a traveling time of not more than 30 minutes. To get there, one can hire a motorboat or take the passenger boat plying pobalcion-coastal barangays route. No infrastructure facilities, utilities and amenities have been constructed yet. (Located in Tinanogan, Donsol, Sorsogon)

TUBA FALLS     The waterfalls is about 15 meters high cascading down into a deep blue lagoon  about 20 meters in diameter. It is complimented by two other smaller waterfalls and lagoons. During summer, especially during Holy Week, residents from the neighboring barangays visit the place to beat the summer heat and to search out for an amulet. The place is a semi-forested area covered with coconut trees, big trees, ferns and vines. It is also a source of fish, fresh water crabs and shells, shrimps or “gangawan”, lizards, and frogs or “kabakab’. To get there, one has take a passenger motorboat to Barangay Vinisitahan or Sibago, and thence a trail walk of at least 7 kilometers for two hours. No infrastructure facilities of whatsoever is in the place. Local residents who wish to visit the place will have to construct a temporary makeshift shelter for their stay.

THE ASTILLEROS SITE     It is located at Barangay Dancalan, Donsol, Sorsogon,  about 2.5 kilometers away from the town proper. It is believed to be a shipyard way back in 1894 because of the giant anchor discovered by the inhabitants of the said barangay. In 1896, Don Sabas Milleza, popularly known as “Capitan Sabas”, an enterprising rich trader and industrialist from Iloilo, established the shipyard. The enterprise was credited with the building of small galleons of the Spanish inter-island trade and also two big galleons used in the Manila-Acapulco Trade. Recently, a combined team from the National Museum and the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council conducted archeological excavation on the site and found different cultural artifacts. It was proposed that a cultural museum be erected in the Astillero Site.

RIVER CRUISING/FIREFLIES WATCHING     Firefly watching at Ogod or Donsol River is a visual and spiritual way to experience nature. Hundreds of these nocturnal insects inhabit the two rivers and provide glow around the mangrove-associated stands along the banks. Firefly watching is becoming an important nature-based tourism activity in Donsol. Only three countries in Asia, including the Philippines,  offer this kind of firefly tour. Rates: Php 1,250.00 (fee good for a group of 5 tourists or less).

TANKULAN MANGROVE ECOPARK     A manmade mangrove plantation which cultures different marine species such as mollusks, crabs, etc.
 

BUTANDING ARRIBADA FESTIVAL

To welcome the return of the Butandings, which usually come in droves during this time of the year, and to officially signal the opening of another high adventure season of Butanding Interaction, the Butanding Arribada Festival is held every first week of March in Donsol town.

The peak Butanding Interaction season is March, April and May each year. This means, it is again open season for eager visitors or tourists to go Whale Shark/Butanding watching or, for the more intrepid and adventurous, who want to cavort with these biggest fishes in the world up close, swimming with the awesome, but gentle Butandings of Donsol.

A long fluvial procession just at the mouth of the long and winding Donsol River where a large pod of Butandings usually converge at this time of the year, highlights the festival.

Source: Local Government Unit of Donsol, Sorsogon
Photos courtesy of sorsogontourism.com

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