If you’re wondering what it’s like to travel to the Philippines in December, here we’ll tell you everything so you can make a decision.
The festive atmosphere can be felt from the beginning of the month (although, to be honest, Filipinos already start getting ready for Christmas in September), the weather starts to become more stable in most of the country and, yes, prices begin to rise, so traveling to the Philippines in December has its pros and cons.
In this guide we’ll delve into every aspect: prices, festivities and weather (including the dreaded typhoons). Plus, we’ll give you tips drawn from our experience traveling/living around the country since 2010.
Can you travel to the Philippines in December 2025?
Of course! You can travel to the Philippines in December. The country hasn’t had any restrictions for years, so if you’re considering it, don’t put it off any longer. That said, you can find more information on the topic in Requirements to travel to the Philippines.
On a personal note, we recommend coming as soon as you can because it’s a country that’s getting more popular every year.
On the other hand, you already know we always recommend having travel insurance for the Philippines. By clicking this link you get a 5% discount on yours.
In addition, the exchange rate of the Philippine peso against the euro and the dollar is at historic highs, which means your money will go much further. Enjoy!
What is the weather like in the Philippines in December?
We don’t want to go on too long because in Best time to visit the Philippines we already cover the subject in depth, but, to give you an idea, in the country you can talk about two seasons:
- Rainy season: approximately from June to October.
- Dry season: roughly from November to May. This is usually split into 2: the cooler period (November to March) and the hottest or Filipino summer (April and May).
Besides there not being an exact transition date between seasons—meaning it’s not always true that the rains start at the end of May or leave at the end of October—we also need to consider that these don’t occur the same way throughout the entire country. In other words, there are different climate zones where these “seasons” happen differently or with more or less intensity.
Thus, in the south (the island of Mindanao, including the popular islands of Siargao and Camiguin) and the southeastern coast (Leyte and Samar) it’s considered that these seasons are reversed. That is, the rainy season usually begins in November and ends around April (with the rainiest months being December–January–February) and the dry season runs between May and October—again, not a hard rule.
In our article When to travel to the Philippines we go into more detail on this topic and, in addition, you can see it a bit clearer in this image:
With all the above, don’t forget that the Philippines has a tropical climate, so you can never guarantee it won’t rain. Downpours are frequent at any time of year without that implying your trip will be ruined.
To sum it up briefly: in the Philippines, December is dry season in Luzon, Western Visayas and Palawan. And it’s one of the rainiest months in Siargao and the rest of Mindanao, especially the eastern coast.
Is it cold in the Philippines in December?
It’s true that December is, along with January, the coolest month in the Philippines, but that doesn’t mean it’s cold. In fact, except on transport, you’ll hardly need any warm clothing, not even at night.
Average temperatures across the archipelago range between 24°C and 31°C. So you’ll enjoy mild weather that’s perfect for a dip whenever you feel like it. We’re not very sensitive to heat and don’t need air conditioning in accommodations, but of course this is purely personal.
However, if you’re going to visit the mountains (places like Baguio or Banaue/Batad) you can indeed see minimum temperatures around 14°C in December, so don’t forget to pack warm layers, especially for nights and mornings. During the day you’ll hardly need to put anything on.
For everything related to clothing and prep of this kind, we recommend reading our guide What to pack for the Philippines.
As for the water temperature, in case you’re worried you won’t be able to enjoy the sea, you should know that the sea temperature is around 28–29°C in December, making diving in the Philippines and snorkeling in the Philippines more than feasible without feeling cold.
We think you’ve already got a good idea of what it’s like to travel to the Philippines in December, but here’s a comparison of temperatures and rainfall in the country’s main tourist destinations in December and August:
Typhoons in the Philippines in December — is there any risk?
In general, typhoons don’t occur in December in the Philippines. These weather phenomena are, understandably, something travelers worry about a lot, but you also have to consider that they don’t happen constantly and that they rarely affect tourists severely, since they’re predicted 7–10 days in advance.
Typhoons in December are rare, as the months most prone to their formation are August and September. However, in December 2021 the island of Siargao was indeed heavily affected, which, as we mentioned above, is one of the areas of the country in rainy season in December.
With all that, our advice is not to become paranoid, to stay informed and, of course, to travel with a travel insurance policy that performs well, as is the case of the one we talk about in Best travel insurance for the Philippines.
Are there parts of the Philippines without rain in December?
Yes, as we said, it’s considered dry season in December in the Philippines across all the islands in the Western Visayas region (Bohol, Siquijor, Malapascua…), Luzon (Banaue, Vigan, Legazpi…) and Palawan (Port Barton, Coron, El Nido…).
It’s rainy season in the south (Mindanao, Siargao, Dinagat…) and the islands of the Eastern Visayas (Leyte and Samar).
Does this mean that in the Philippines in December it doesn’t rain at all? No, even on the islands where dry season theoretically reigns, showers are common. Keep in mind the archipelago has a tropical climate and that’s why the vegetation is so lush and we love it so much. Does it mean that if it rains your trip will be ruined? Absolutely not! It’s normal for downpours to be intense but short—and we also think that’s part of the charm.
Of course, if you want to avoid rain as much as possible, we recommend focusing on the Western Visayas, Palawan and Luzon.
What is it like to travel to the Philippines in December?
It’s pleasant in weather terms, since there usually isn’t much rain (except in the south) and there’s not as much humidity. The sea tends to be quite calm, so you can dive comfortably and also do activities that involve long sailings like the incredible Coron to El Nido Expedition or vice versa. The Cordillera rice terraces (Banaue) also tend to look very beautiful and the cities are already full of Christmas decorations.
On the other hand, if you have in mind trying to swim with the majestic whale shark, you should know that the sighting season will already have started in Pintuyan/Padre Burgos and Donsol. You can read more about it in Where to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines.
As for tourist numbers, the first 3 weeks of the month are usually relaxed. This means accommodation and flight prices are fairly reasonable, as long as you book in advance. However, as you can imagine, Christmas makes everything skyrocket and places fill up quickly. Considering there are around 100 million Filipinos and that over 90% are Christian, many of them take vacations at this time and travel to their provinces or visit tourist spots, which makes everything considerably busier.
Does this mean we don’t recommend traveling to the Philippines at Christmas? Not at all. We love this time because the celebrations are lived with great intensity (in fact, preparations start in September) and spending such a special moment in the archipelago is something you’ll always remember.
That said, we strongly recommend booking your hotels and flights as soon as possible, as well as ferry journeys, since these are dates with a lot of travel and everything ends up clogged. Even for the most common and frequent routes (El Nido–Coron and vice versa, Cebu–Bohol and vice versa and Siquijor–Cebu and vice versa) tickets sell out.
If you want to read more about the festivities in particular, don’t miss Traveling to the Philippines at Christmas.
Our experience traveling to the Philippines in December
From our experience—we’ve spent many Decembers in the Philippines—it’s a comfortable month, especially during the first 3 weeks. This is due to the weather we mentioned before, but also because there aren’t as many tourists.
That said, after having spent many Christmases here, we highly recommend that a few weeks before the holidays you book accommodations, flights and ferries in advance. Honestly, things get a bit crazy and it’s hard to find options at decent prices.
If at Christmas/New Year’s you’re looking for a more relaxed vibe, without having to complicate transportation too much, we like spending the holidays in destinations like Malapascua, Siquijor or areas like Loboc or Anda in Bohol. For something much quieter, opt for less touristy places in the Philippines such as Romblon, Negros or Camiguin.
On the other hand, if you want nightlife, we recommend spending the holidays in places like Siargao (General Luna area), El Nido, Boracay or Alona Beach (Bohol).
By the way, all the photos you’ve seen throughout this article were taken in the Philippines in December.
New Year’s Eve in Malapascua
Tips for traveling to the Philippines in December
In addition to everything we’ve been mentioning—much of which comes from our own experience—here we want to leave you some tips for traveling to the Philippines in December that will surely come in handy:
- The first and foremost: book flights, hotels and ferries in advance, especially if you’re traveling around December 20–31 (and the first days of January). During the first 3 weeks things are calmer, but not at Christmas. For bookings, we always use Booking (we usually choose accommodations with free cancellation) and 12go (for ferries).
- The same goes for international flights—it’s better to book well in advance. If on more common dates (except in summer, when they skyrocket) prices are around $800–$900, in December they easily go above $1,300. We recommend keeping an eye on the Skyscanner search engine, where you can also set flight alerts.
- We wouldn’t overthink the weather, since nothing can be predicted more than a week in advance, and we’d choose destinations you feel like visiting. Even so, in December it’s better to avoid Siargao and Dinagat (to a lesser extent Camiguin) because it’s, along with January, the rainiest month in that area.
- Decide a little in advance where you want to spend New Year’s Eve and Christmas because of bookings. Once there, you can sign up for parties or dinners—these are usually organized 5–7 days beforehand—and you won’t have trouble joining them on the spot.
- Regarding activities on the “key” days, we do recommend booking dives in well-known places like Malapascua or Bohol (especially Balicasag) and the El Nido island hoppings and Coron. You already know you can ask us for our contacts in the comments.
- Don’t pay any attention to “normal” mobile apps (like the iPhone’s) or non-specialized websites; honestly, they’re useless in the Philippines (only good for worrying you). We only rely on the Windy app and just a few days ahead (4–5 at most) and follow the guidance of this meteorologist.
- Finally, it’s no less important when traveling in December in the Philippines to go with good travel insurance, not only for health matters but for any travel incident (flight delays, damaged luggage…). Get a 5% discount on the one we use.
Frequently asked questions about traveling to the Philippines in December
To summarize what we’ve been telling you, here we answer the most frequent questions travelers usually have about traveling to the Philippines in December:
What’s the weather like in the Philippines in December?
It’s a good month to travel around almost the whole country (except in the south) because it’s dry season, but bear in mind that at Christmas both Filipinos and foreigners travel, so it’s advisable to book accommodations and transport in advance. Prices start to rise from mid-month.
Is the Philippines a good place to visit in December?
Absolutely—it’s a good month in weather terms and the overall atmosphere is great.
What are the best islands to visit in the Philippines in December?
It’s dry season in the islands of the Western Visayas region (Malapascua, Siquijor, Bohol, Negros, Cebu…), Luzon (Banaue, Vigan, Caramoan, Laoag…) and Palawan (El Nido, Port Barton, Coron, Balabac…).
Is December rainy season in the Philippines?
No—except in the south/southeast, that is, on islands like Mindanao, Siargao, Leyte and Samar, where it is rainy season. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t rain at all in the rest, since we’re talking about a tropical climate, but it’s not the rainiest month.
Are there typhoons in the Philippines in December?
Generally, no.
Coron-El Nido Expedition
If you’re considering traveling in other nearby months, take a look at the following guides:
Best time to travel to the Philippines
Traveling to the Philippines in October
Traveling to the Philippines in January
We hope this has helped you understand what it’s like to travel to the Philippines in December. If you have any questions, we’ll be happy to help if you leave us a comment below. We hope you’re encouraged to visit!
