Botubarani, a fishing village southeast of Gorontalo, is the reason many travellers now stop in the city. Whale sharks are often seen close to shore in the morning, and local boats take visitors out for viewing and, when conditions allow, snorkelling.
The experience is powerful but sensitive. These are wild animals, and the encounter is only worth doing if you keep distance, avoid touching, and leave if boats crowd the sharks. Go early, bring reef-safe sun protection, and keep expectations flexible; wildlife does not owe anyone a schedule.