If you’ve made it this far, it’s because you’re worried about the weather you might get on your trip around the Philippines. Which dates are best, when the best time to travel to the Philippines would be, what issues you might run into due to the climate, or which places are better avoided in the rainy season are the most common questions we receive from travelers. The answers are sometimes complicated because, as a country with more than 7,000 islands and a tropical climate, it’s hard to give uniform information, which ultimately means it’s always a good time to visit the Philippines.
Even so, we’re going to give you all the information about the best time to travel to the Philippines, taking into account both the weather and the inflow of tourists or special events.
What is the best time to visit to the Philippines?
We’re going to divide this guide according to the weather and the number of tourists you’ll find—another variable you should keep in mind when planning your trip to the Philippines.
Best time to travel to the Philippines: the weather in the Philippines
We’re almost certain it was the picture‑perfect images of Philippine beaches that drew you to visit this country, so we get it—you don’t want to spend all day cooped up in the hotel because of the rain.
The Philippines enjoys a tropical climate, which means fairly changeable and unpredictable weather. Even so, it is possible to talk about better—or more desirable—times to travel to the Philippines.
Thus, the dry season in most of the country runs from December to May. At this time, rainfall in Palawan, the Visayas, or Luzon is lower and, therefore, the chances of enjoying the Philippines’ spectacular nature are greater. However, this can’t be taken as a hard rule. Even in the dry season, downpours are common and, although they usually don’t last long, they cool the air and give the archipelago the lush vegetation we love so much.
In the dry season in the Philippines, the sea is usually calmer and visibility better, which also makes it the best time if you plan to go diving. You can read much more about this in Diving in the Philippines and Snorkeling in the Philippines.
These months, in the dry season, are, without a doubt, the best time to travel to the Philippines.
The Filipino “summer” runs between April and May. These are the hottest months, when schools and many workplaces are on break, and also when you’ll find more fiestas in the barangays, the local neighborhoods. The coolest months in the Philippines are December and January, though it’s rare you’ll need warm clothing except to battle air‑conditioning on transport. Average daytime temperatures hover around 30ºC, except in mountainous areas like Batad, where they’re a bit lower and nights can be cool.
The rainy season in the Philippines
For its part, the rainy season in the Philippines in most of the archipelago runs from June to October. Note that this doesn’t mean it will rain all day if you decide to visit the Philippines in June, July, August, September, or October. In most cases, monsoon downpours and sunny intervals alternate.
During the rainy season—except for major periods like Christmas or other holidays we’ll discuss below—prices for both accommodation and flights drop considerably.
The region of Mindanao, in the south of the country, and the eastern coast of the Visayas (Leyte and Samar) deserve a special mention. If you’re thinking of including the gorgeous islands of Siargao or Camiguin in your trip around the Philippines, you should note that their dry season is the opposite of the rest of the country. So, if you’re traveling in June, July, August, or September, make sure to include them, as you have a very good chance of enjoying calm, sunny weather. Experts also often add Bohol to this list.
So, if this makes you a bit uneasy, we’ve designed this 2‑week Philippines itinerary for August, which also works for July and September.
Typhoon season in the Philippines
One concern for travelers looking for the best time to travel to the Philippines is the possibility of being affected by a typhoon. One feature that sets the country apart from other Southeast Asian destinations is the risk of typhoons, cyclones, or tropical storms. Typhoon season in the Philippines usually lasts from August to December.
Don’t panic! This doesn’t mean you’ll definitely experience a typhoon on your trip, but you should keep the risk in mind and we encourage you to check the Philippines weather forecast in advance. For us, the best thing is to take a look at the PAGASA satellite, the country’s official meteorological agency, or follow updates by meteorologist Robert Speta, who is always spot‑on.
When a typhoon occurs in the Philippines, it’s normal for flights and ferries to be canceled. Therefore, if you’re traveling around the country from August to November, consider leaving some flexibility in your plans and, above all, stay informed about the weather. Still, don’t be afraid— in most cases, travelers only experience 4 or 5 days of rain and wind, which doesn’t spoil their entire trip.
Travel to the Philippines in July?
Travel to the Philippines in August?
Travel to the Philippines in September?
Travel to the Philippines in October?
Travel to the Philippines in December?
Travel safely at any time of year
Something we emphasize—because it’s of huge importance—is having travel insurance no matter when you’re moving around. In Best Travel Insurance for the Philippines we talk about the one we’ve used for years and recommend from our own experience. Besides medical assistance, it can cover cases where, for example, bad weather makes you miss transport connections or delays them excessively, even covering essential expenses. It’s also a huge safeguard in case of accidents, whether due to wet roads or storms affecting maritime transport.
On the other hand, it’s a mandatory requirement due to COVID‑19. You can read more about this in Requirements for traveling to the Philippines.
As a Travel Around the Philippines reader, you also have a 5% discount if you get it here:
How to check the weather in the Philippines
Many travelers look up the weather forecast on sites like Accuweather and, whatever the time of year, it shows that it’s going to rain in the Philippines. However, don’t be alarmed—because the climate is so changeable, what often happens is that it indicates rain even if it’s just for 5 minutes. Therefore, our advice is to make the PAGASA website your best ally; it’s the Philippines’ meteorological agency.
Although it’s a bit difficult to understand the weather bulletins that PAGASA publishes, using the satellite is ideal to see which areas are affected by rain and the possible formation of typhoons or tropical storms. In addition, on its Facebook page it also provides track alerts for these phenomena, which can help you plan areas to avoid at least 5 to 7 days in advance.
As we mentioned above, meteorologist Robert Speta is an excellent source of information, as is this Facebook group, which monitors all phenomena in the Pacific area.
Another useful app is Windy, which also helps you see tides and wind conditions. It’s one of those we recommend in Best apps for traveling to the Philippines.
Best time to travel to the Philippines: high season and low season in the Philippines
Another aspect to consider when determining the best time to go to the Philippines is how crowded the islands are. High and low season in the archipelago essentially coincide with the rainy and dry seasons.
You’ll find more tourists in the Philippines from January to June, mostly local travelers. PEAK SEASON tends to be March, April, and May, when vacations and the most important festivities take place. Therefore, if you travel to the Philippines at this time—especially during Chinese New Year (Chinese visitors, along with Koreans, are the main inbound market), Holy Week (bear in mind it’s a very religious country and they have public holidays then), and the May long weekend—book both flights and hotels well in advance.
If you’re thinking of spending Christmas in the Philippines, you should know that the Philippines has the largest Catholic population in Asia, so the whole country gets moving and hotel and flight prices skyrocket. The same applies if you’re going to travel to the Philippines during Holy Week.
Meanwhile, the cheapest time to travel to the Philippines is from July to November. Hotel prices drop by up to 30%. Still, keep in mind that many foreign tourists now visit the islands in July and August, especially the country’s most popular areas such as El Nido, Siargao, Bohol, or Boracay. Other months with moderate prices are January and February—our favorites.
Travel to the Philippines in January
Travel to the Philippines in February
Festivals
Perhaps you’re not so concerned about the weather or crowds and you’re more interested in exploring the archipelago’s cultural side. In that case, you should look up when the best festivals in the Philippines are held. From our perspective, Cebu’s Sinulog (January), Kalibo’s Ati‑Atihan (January), and Camiguin’s Lanzones Festival (October) are the most spectacular. Keep them in mind when deciding when to travel to the Philippines and incorporate them into your itinerary.
In summary, what is the best time to visit the Philippines?
As you can see, the answer is a bit more nuanced, but if we have to stick our necks out, we’d say the best time to travel to the Philippines is February and March. Visiting during these months gives you a better chance of enjoying clear skies, abundant sunshine, calm seas, and better visibility. Plus, since these aren’t peak tourist months, you can also enjoy moderate prices and quieter tourist spots. We also love the beginning of the year—so take a look at Traveling to the Philippines in January, the Philippines in February, or Traveling to the Philippines in March and let yourself be convinced.
Even so, we’re firmly convinced that any month is great for traveling to the Philippines. Even in July or August—when people tend to worry most—you can enjoy areas where the dry season prevails. Go for it and discover the Philippines as soon as you can!
Meanwhile, in When to travel to the Philippines? we explain the weather month by month and provide even more information on this topic. And if you’re thinking of traveling in summer, don’t miss our specific articles Traveling to the Philippines in July and Traveling to the Philippines in August.
Do you have any questions about the best time to visit the Philippines? We’d be delighted to answer you in the comments.
