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Apo Island · Dumaguete · Year-round

Swim With Turtles at Apo Island, Philippines

Apo Island, a marine sanctuary off Dumaguete in the Philippines, is one of the best places in the world to swim with turtles. Green sea turtles graze the seagrass right off the sanctuary beach, so calm that snorkelers drift over them a few metres from shore. The island is also a famous coral-reef site, protected by the local community for decades. Day trips cross by boat from the Negros coast, and sightings are among the most reliable anywhere.

Green & hawksbill turtles Marine sanctuary World-class coral From $134 Year-round

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3 turtle tours
$134 starting price
Year-round turtle season
Sanctuary protected reef

Swim With Turtles in Apo Island

Dumaguete: Apo Island Turtle Snorkel Tour with Private Transfer, swim with turtles in Apo IslandTop Pickfrom $134

Dumaguete: Apo Island Turtle Snorkel Tour with Private Transfer

★★★★★4.9(11 reviews)·Full day
  • Snorkel with green sea turtles at the Apo Island sanctuary
  • Turtles graze the seagrass a short swim from the beach
  • Private round-trip transfer from Dumaguete
  • Snorkel gear and guide included
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Dumaguete: Apo Island Snorkeling & Island Hike (Joiners), swim with turtles in Apo Islandfrom $134

Dumaguete: Apo Island Snorkeling & Island Hike (Joiners)

·Full day
  • Join a shared day trip to Apo Island
  • Snorkel with turtles and hike the island viewpoint
  • Boat transfer and snorkel gear included
  • Great value group tour
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Dumaguete: Apo Island Full-Day Turtle Snorkeling, swim with turtles in Apo Islandfrom $144

Dumaguete: Apo Island Full-Day Turtle Snorkeling

★★★★★4.2(14 reviews)·Full day
  • Full-day Apo Island turtle snorkeling
  • Green turtles and world-class coral reefs
  • Transfer, lunch and gear included
  • Small-group island day
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How Much Does It Cost to Swim With Turtles at Apo Island?

Apo Island day trips include the boat crossing, guide, gear and sanctuary fees, which is why they cost more than a quick reef snorkel elsewhere. All include free cancellation.

Full day
Apo Island day trip
$134 – $144

A full day from Dumaguete or Malatapay: a boat crossing to Apo Island, snorkeling with turtles at the sanctuary and on the coral reefs, with gear, guide and sanctuary fees included.

What affects the price?

Private or joiners

A private transfer costs more than a shared joiners boat, which fills with other travelers.

What is included

Lunch, the island hike, extra reef stops and hotel pickup in Dumaguete all add to the price.

Sanctuary fees

Apo Island charges an entrance and snorkeling fee and requires a local guide, both usually built into the tour.

Bottom line: The private-transfer turtle snorkel around $134 is the easiest way to reach Apo and its turtles. A joiners trip costs about the same and adds the island hike if you want the viewpoint.

Which Apo Island Tour Is Right for You?

Tour Duration Group size Best for Rating From
Turtle snorkel + private transfer Full day Private Top-rated, easiest logistics 4.9★ $134 Check →
Snorkel + island hike (joiners) Full day Shared Turtles plus a viewpoint hike New $134 Check →
Full-day snorkel with lunch Full day Small Reefs and a longer day 4.2★ $144 Check →

Sea Turtle Species & Best Months in Apo Island

Species January–March April–June July–September October–December Likelihood
Green Sea Turtle Common Common Common Common Near-guaranteed
Hawksbill Turtle Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular
Apo Island's sanctuary is home to green sea turtles, which graze the seagrass in the shallows off the beach, and hawksbills, which feed on the coral reefs around the island. Turtles here are habituated to snorkelers and seen on nearly every trip. The island is a protected marine sanctuary, so a local guide is required, and you must keep your distance and never touch or chase the turtles.

What to Expect on the Day

1

Transfer to the coast

Tours pick you up in Dumaguete and drive to the Malatapay or Dauin coast, where the boats to Apo leave.

Book a morning trip; the crossing and the sanctuary are calmest early in the day.
2

Cross to Apo Island

Ride a traditional bangka boat across to Apo, about 30 to 45 minutes over open water.

3

Snorkel with the turtles

Pay the sanctuary fee and snorkel the shallow seagrass with a local guide, where green turtles graze close to shore.

4

Snorkel the coral reefs

Move to Apo's coral walls and gardens for reef fish, hawksbills and some of the best coral in the Philippines.

5

Relax or hike

Have lunch on the island, and on some trips climb to the viewpoint before the boat back.

No turtle sighted? Apo Island's turtles are resident and habituated, so sightings are among the most reliable of any turtle spot in the world. Trips run year-round, though the dry season brings the calmest crossings and clearest water.

Sea Turtle Behaviors to Watch For

Grazing the Seagrass

Green turtles crop the seagrass meadows in the shallow sanctuary off Apo Island's beach, where snorkelers drift over them a few metres from shore.

All day at the sanctuary
Resting on the Reef

Turtles settle on the coral and sand to rest between feeds. A resting turtle should be watched from a distance, not woken or followed.

Midday
Surfacing to Breathe

Turtles rise for air every few minutes to about an hour. Give them a clear path to the surface and never crowd the space above one.

On every snorkel

What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)

✓ Bring

  • Reef-safe (oxybenzone-free) sunscreen
  • Swimsuit worn under your clothes
  • Towel and a change of clothes
  • Waterproof phone case or GoPro
  • Water shoes for the rocky beach entry
  • Cash in pesos for the sanctuary fee and tips
  • Your booking voucher (printed or phone)

✗ Leave at home

  • Regular sunscreen (harmful to the coral)
  • Anything you would touch a turtle or the coral with
  • Single-use plastics
  • Fins if you cannot control them over shallow coral
Seasickness tip: The bangka crossing to Apo can be bumpy when the wind is up. Take a tablet the night before if you are prone, and choose a morning trip when the sea is usually calmest.

Where Tours Depart From

Port / AreaDetailsBest for
Malatapay / Dauin The coastal launch point for boats to Apo Island, south of Dumaguete. Boat crossings to Apo
Dumaguete The main city and airport on Negros, where most tours pick up. Hotel pickup and transfers
Apo Island sits off the south-east coast of Negros. Fly to Dumaguete, then it is about a 45-minute drive to the Malatapay boat launch and a 30 to 45-minute boat crossing to the island. Tours handle the transfer, boat and sanctuary fees for you.

How to Choose an Ethical Tour

What ethical operators do

  • Brief a strict no-touch, no-chase policy
  • Keep a respectful distance from turtles
  • Never block a turtle’s path to the surface
  • Require reef-safe sunscreen from all guests
  • Cap group sizes for calmer encounters
  • Support reef and sea-turtle conservation

Red flags to avoid

  • Let guests touch, ride, or chase turtles
  • Feed turtles to lure them in
  • Crowd or corner a turtle in the water
  • Stand on coral or trample seagrass
  • Oversized groups with no guide in the water
  • Any “hold a turtle” photo op

Best Shore Spots to See Turtles in Apo Island

These shore and reef spots let snorkelers and beachgoers find sea turtles in Apo Island without a boat. Keep your distance and never touch a resting turtle.

Apo Island Sanctuary (Turtle Point)

Main turtle spot

The protected shallow seagrass off Apo's beach, where green turtles graze a few metres from shore. One of the most reliable turtle snorkels in the world, with a local guide required.

💡 Snorkel gently over the seagrass and keep your fins clear; a guide leads you to the turtles.

Chapel Point

Coral wall

A steep coral wall and garden off Apo with reef fish, hawksbills and healthy hard coral, one of the island's best reef sites.

💡 Reached on the same day trip; go on a calm morning for the clearest water.

Rock Point (Coconut Point)

Drift snorkel

A lively reef point off Apo with current, schooling fish and turtles passing through. More of a drift snorkel for confident swimmers.

💡 Only with a guide who reads the current; it can run strong here.

Mamsa Point

Reef & fish

A reef area off Apo known for schooling fish and coral, with turtles on the way. A good second stop after the sanctuary.

💡 Best when the sea is flat and the visibility is high.

Apo Island Turtle Snorkeling Map

FAQ: Swimming With Turtles in Apo Island

What is the price of swimming with turtles at Apo Island?

⌄
Apo Island day trips start at about $134 and run to around $144, including the transfer from Dumaguete, the boat crossing, a guide, snorkel gear and the sanctuary fees. The price is higher than a quick reef snorkel because it is a full day with a boat crossing to a protected island. Every tour here includes free cancellation.

Are turtles guaranteed at Apo Island?

⌄
Close to it. Apo's green turtles are resident and habituated to snorkelers, grazing the seagrass right off the beach, so they are seen on nearly every trip. No wild-animal sighting is fully guaranteed, but Apo Island is one of the most reliable turtle spots anywhere in the world.

How do you get to Apo Island?

⌄
Apo Island sits off the south-east coast of Negros in the Philippines. Fly to Dumaguete, then drive about 45 minutes to the Malatapay boat launch and cross to the island by bangka boat in 30 to 45 minutes. Tours arrange the transfer, boat and sanctuary fees, so you only need to turn up.

Do you need a guide to snorkel Apo Island?

⌄
Yes. Apo Island is a protected marine sanctuary, so you pay an entrance and snorkeling fee and snorkel the turtle area with a local guide. This keeps the turtles and coral safe and is built into the day-tour price. Keep your distance from the turtles and stay off the seagrass and coral.

What is the best time of year to visit Apo Island?

⌄
Turtles are at Apo year-round, but the dry season from November to May brings the calmest boat crossings and the clearest water. The rainy and typhoon season from June to October can bring rough seas that cancel crossings, so check the forecast and keep your plans flexible.

Is the snorkeling good for beginners?

⌄
The turtle sanctuary is shallow and calm, and a guide stays with you, so beginners and confident children manage well there. Some of Apo's reef sites, like Rock Point, have current and suit stronger swimmers, so tell your guide your level and stick to the sheltered spots if you are new to snorkeling.

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