What to expect when visiting Donsol
Donsol is a small but world-famous coastal town in Sorsogon, Philippines. It rose to fame when a group of divers discovered its hidden gem — whale sharks, locally called butanding, swimming freely in its waters.
If you’re keen on swimming with whale sharks, we recommend doing so in Donsol, instead of the more popular Oslob (Cebu). Most companies in Donsol follow an ethical policy and do not lure whale sharks for profit (like they do in Oslob). The best time to see whale sharks is from February to April, which is Donsol’s peak season.
2 ways to get from Legazpi to Donsol
There are 2 ways to travel the distance of 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Legazpi to Donsol by van (1 hour 30 minutes) and Jeepney (2 hours). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours and the quickest way is by van. The lowest priced tickets start from 70 PHP (€1.10) for the jeepney.Legazpi to Donsol by Jeepney
If you’d like to experience local transport, travelling by jeepney from Legazpi to Donsol is a good alternative. You might get to meet locals and can ask for recommendations. However, jeepneys take a little longer since they stop in Pilar. Travel time with a jeep takes about 2 hours.
Departure and arrival station
Like the vans, jeepneys depart from Legazpi Grand Central Terminal. You can also hail them from the streets, but it’s best to ask for assistance from your hotel on which roads they pass.
Jeepneys drop off passengers at the Donsol Centralized Shuttle Station. To be on the safe side, tell the driver that’s where you’d like to get off the jeepney.
Legazpi to Donsol by Van
Most travellers prefer taking a van from Legazpi to Donsol. It’s more convenient, and it’s faster than local transport. Also, vans depart from and arrive at the centralized public transport terminals, which make them easy to locate.
Keep in mind that the vans don’t operate on regular schedules. They leave once they’re full.
Departure and arrival station
To catch a van to Donsol, head to Legazpi Grand Central Terminal located in the southern part of the city’s centre. It’s accessible by tricycle. The fare for the 1 hour 30 minutes van trip is 120 PHP (€1.90) per person.
The van will drop you off at Donsol Centralized Shuttle Station. Depending on where your accommodation is, you may have to walk or travel by tricycle within the town centre.
Frequently Asked Questions about Legazpi to Donsol
What is the distance from Legazpi to Donsol?
The distance from Legazpi to Donsol is 60 kilometers (37 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Legazpi to Donsol?
The fastest way to get from Legazpi to Donsol is by van and takes 1 hour 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Legazpi to Donsol?
The cheapest way to get from Legazpi to Donsol is by jeepney with ticket costs starting from 70 PHP (€1.10).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Legazpi to Donsol. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Hi !
I just did the Legazpi-Donzol trip and here is some details :
From the airport to the bus central in Legazpi, there is a van that costs 150php. My hotel was on the way and I asked to be dropped off on the way. They told me they can do personnal drop off for 300php, and multiple taxis approached me for 500/600php.
However, to go from the bus station to the airport, I couldn’t find the van and asking around didn’t help so I just booked a grab ( Grab works in legaspi) for 340php during peak hour.
Once in Donsol, I took a tricycle for 40php to go to the whale shark boats.
I booked with Whaleshark adventure and it was 1800php all included (boat, guide, spotters, fin, mask, transfer by tricycle, fee).
I can’t be sure with this information but my guesthouse told me that the last van going from Legazpi to Donsol was at 5pm, and the last van from Donsol to Legazpi was at 2pm. Also, I waited nearly 2 hours at Legazpi, and around 45min at Donsol for the van to fill out, so if you have a flight be early. It’s still 120php for the van.
Otherwise, I am so grateful for Gecko Guides, I use it without exception for every solo travel ! Thank you guys !
Hallo, weiß man ab wann die Busse von legazpi nach donsol fahren? Gibt es schon welche um 5 Uhr morgens?
Hi Philipp, there are no buses from Legaspi to Donsol. Instead, you can take a van or a jeepney at Legaspi Grand Terminal. We couldn’t confirm the earliest trip, but both vans and jeepneys typically leave once they’re full. We suggest visiting the terminal the day before to check the first trip with the drivers or conductors there.
PS: Diese Antwort ist auf Englisch verfasst, um sie für Reisende aus allen Ländern hilfreich zu machen. Wir empfehlen die Verwendung von Google Translate, um diese Antwort ins Deutsche zu übersetzen.
Hi, just an update for 2022. The van from Legazpi to Donsol now costs 120.
Hello James, many thanks for sharing this price update! We’ve updated the price on all relevant pages. Hope you had a great trip!
Just want to ask, can a Manual Sedan car able to drove safely in donsol road? Is the road way up too high?tnx
Hi Ma. Cecilia, there are some uphill roads going to Donsol, but they’re not very steep. Minivans regularly drive between Legazpi to Donsol, so manual sedans should be fine too. You can watch some road trip videos on youtube to get a better idea of what to expect during the drive. Have a safe trip!
I wanna travel from leazpi to San Juan cosiguran in south of sosorgon how ?
Hi Younes! From Legazpi, head to the Grand Terminal located in the town centre. Find the DLTB buses. We’re not sure about the current bus schedules because of the pandemic so we recommend that you ask around if there are direct buses bound for Casiguran. If they’re not available, an alternative option is to take a bus or a van to Sorsogon City. Ask to be dropped off at the jeepney terminal. And then transfer to a jeepney bound for Casiguran. We hope this helps! Stay safe and happy travels!
Hi Maarten. Thanks much for the article. Very helpful indeed. I wonder if you may know the latest vam from Legazpi to Donsol? I’ll be arrived in the next few days, at around 6p.m (if no delay from the airline), and wonder of I may have enough time to catch one to Donsol. Otherwise, do you know of the time for the earliest in the morning? Thanks much for your help!
Hi Van Anh! Sorry for the late reply. I’m travelling in the Philippines at the moment and had very bad connection. I hope you still made it on the same day to Donsol! If you can share any of the bus schedules that would be very useful!