Maasin's real draw is as a base for excursions into the surrounding coast and sea.
Padre Burgos and whale shark watching — About an hour south by van or motorcycle, the town of Padre Burgos is the main base for whale shark interaction in Sogod Bay. Encounters take place in the open sea, usually early morning, and are run by local fishermen-turned-guides. The experience is unregulated compared to better-known sites like Oslob in Cebu, which means it is more variable but also more natural. Sightings are most reliable from January to May.
Pintuyan and thresher shark diving — Further south from Padre Burgos, Pintuyan has established a reputation for thresher shark dives at cleaning stations in deeper water. Dive resorts in the area organise trips and equipment hire.
Canturing Beach — A short tricycle or habal-habal ride from the city centre, Canturing Beach is Maasin's local swimming beach — a curved strip of grey sand on the bay with calm water. It sees mostly local families at weekends.
Sogod — The nearby municipality of Sogod, northeast of Maasin, gives its name to the bay and is worth passing through. Buses and vans between Maasin and Tacloban pass through it.