Meet the wildlife adventure in the Philippines by booking at Atmosphere

Meet the wildlife

Birdwatching at the twin lakes

Meet the wildlife in the Philippines will involve animals of all sizes – from large whale sharks to delicate birds. Birdwatching in the Philippines is fabulous. In our province of Negros Oriental alone, we can count around 315 bird species. We are fortunate to have a mix of native and migratory species all year round, which makes the location ideal for birdwatching.

Our birdwatching adventure takes place at the Twin Lakes Natural Park (Lakes Balinsasayao). The bird life here is amazing and there are up to 150 bird species recorded in just this area.

Our birdwatching tour begins early morning. Depending on your energy level, we can take you on a shorter walk or extend it to a longer hike. There is also the option of using a boat to cross the lake. We provide a birdwatching guide, binoculars and literature containing the local birds in our area, making the tour even more worthwhile.

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Local excursions to twin lakes Negros Oriental

Fun fact!

The “balinsasayao” or “balinsasayaw” is the local name of the bird species swiftlet. The swiftlet builds its nest exclusively of solidified saliva, and this is the main ingredient of bird’s nest soup, a delicacy of Chinese cuisine. This clever bird has given Twin Lakes their local name.

Visit the beautiful twin lakes

Swim with giant whale sharks in Oslob

Join us on an amazing adventure to see whale sharks up close in Oslob and swim with the biggest fish on this planet! We will bring you there from Atmosphere in an air-conditioned van by land followed by a short ferry trip, the total travel time being around 2 hours. From the beach in Oslob, you will step into a smaller boat and watch the whale sharks from the surface. You can also choose to take a swim or snorkel with these gentle giants.

For the safety of the whale shark, we follow World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recommendations and don’t offer scuba diving since it may be harmful to the whale sharks. Your adventure will be both respectful and enjoyable. To learn more about this experience, check out one of our previous marine biologists Kirsty’s blog on whale sharks in Oslob. After your whale shark adventure you can combine your trip to Oslob with a visit to one of the stunning waterfalls on Cebu Island called Binalayan falls. Another option could be to enhance your experience with a city tour in Dumaguete or another activity.

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Fun fact!

Did you know that whale sharks can be up to 12 m long and are the biggest fish alive? Even though they’re incredibly large, whale sharks only eat tiny plankton, small fish, and crustaceans.

Freedive & snorkel

Dolphin watching in the Philippines

Join us for an unforgettable dolphin adventure on the waves in Bais. The Tañon Strait, located between Negros Oriental and Cebu islands is a natural habitat for several dolphin species. If you are lucky, you can watch them play from the boat early in the morning. You may encounter the Pan Tropical Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins and Long Snouted Spinner Dolphins, as well as other rarer species.

Combine your dolphin watching with a trip to the white beautiful Manyujod Sandbar and enjoy a day full of dolphin adventure, white sand and warm clear water.

Manjuyod Sandbar

Fun fact!

Dusky and spinner dolphins can jump up to 20 feet (6.1 meters) or even higher in the air. Dolphins use clicks and whistles to talk. This helps them hunt for food together, navigate where they are going and warn each other of potential predators

Manjuyod Sandbar

Swim with turtles in the Philippines

If you haven’t seen turtles in the Philippines – this is your chance. Apo Island has a big population of green and hawksbill sea turtles. Our day trips to swim, snorkel or dive with these amazing creatures are an unforgettable experience.

Their slow and steady movements are calming, creating a peaceful and unique experience. Observing turtles allows you to connect with nature, and their unhurried behaviour is both interesting and relaxing. You will sometimes find large sea turtles sleeping with their heads tucked in between corals and sponges or small turtles scuttling around near the surface.

Turtles are also abundant along the Dauin coast and very frequently seen on or house reef in front of the resort.

Apo Island

Fun fact!

Did you know turtles belong to one of the oldest reptile groups in the world together with the dinosaurs? They lay their eggs on land hiding them in a nest they dig. Sea turtles need air to breathe but can hold their breath for 2-5 hours but they prefer to come up for a breath every ten minutes or so.

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