If you’re wondering what it’s like to travel to the Philippines in December, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know so you can make a decision.
The festive atmosphere can be felt from the beginning of the month (although, to be honest, Filipinos start getting ready for Christmas in September), the weather starts to become more settled in most of the country and, yes, prices start to rise, so traveling to the Philippines in December has its pros and cons.
In this guide, we’ll take an in-depth look at every aspect: prices, festivities and weather (including the dreaded typhoons). We’ll also give you tips based on our experience traveling around and living in the country since 2010.
Can you travel to the Philippines in December 2026?
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 subject in Requirements for traveling to the Philippines.
So, on a personal note, we recommend coming as soon as possible because the country is becoming increasingly popular.
Also, you already know that we always advise you to get travel insurance for the Philippines. Click this link to get a 5% discount on yours.
In addition, the exchange rates of the euro and the dollar against the Philippine peso are at record highs, which means your money will go much further. Enjoy!
What is the weather like in the Philippines in December?
We won’t go into too much detail because we already cover the subject in depth in Best time to visit the Philippines, but to give you an idea, the country has two seasons:
- The wet season (rainy season): approximately June to October.
- The dry season (dry season): roughly from November to May. This is also usually divided into two periods: the cooler one (from November to March) and the hotter one, or the Philippine summer (April and May).
Besides the fact that there is no exact transition date between seasons—in other words, the rains don’t always begin in late May or end in late October—we have to bear in mind that the seasons don’t follow the same pattern throughout the country. In other words, different climate zones experience these “seasons” differently or with varying levels of intensity.
So, in the south (the island of Mindanao, including the popular islands of Siargao and Camiguin) and along the southeastern coast (Leyte and Samar), the seasons are considered to be reversed. In other words, the wet season usually begins in November and ends around April (with December, January and February being the rainiest months), while the dry season runs from May to October, although, once again, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.
In our article When to travel to the Philippines, we go into more detail on this subject, and you can also see it a little more clearly in this image:
With all of the above in mind, don’t forget that the Philippines has a tropical climate, so you can never be certain that it won’t rain. Downpours are common at any time of year, but that doesn’t mean they’ll ruin your trip.
To sum it up very briefly: December is part of the dry season in Luzon, Western Visayas and Palawan. And it’s one of the rainiest months in Siargao and the rest of Mindanao, especially along the eastern coast.
Is it cold in the Philippines in December?
It’s true that December, along with January, is the coolest month in the Philippines, but that doesn’t mean it’s cold. In fact, except when you’re on public transportation, you’ll hardly ever need anything warm, even at night.
Average temperatures across the archipelago range from 24°C to 31°C. So you’ll enjoy mild weather that’s perfect for taking a dip whenever you like. We don’t tend to feel the heat too much and don’t need air conditioning in our accommodations, but of course, that’s entirely a matter of personal preference.
However, if you’re going to visit the mountains (places like Baguio or Banaue/Batad), temperatures can drop to around 14°C in December, so don’t forget to bring warm clothes, especially for the evenings and mornings. During the day, you’ll hardly ever need to put anything warm on.
For everything related to clothing and similar preparations, 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 it hovers around 28-29°C in December, making it more than feasible to go diving in the Philippines and snorkeling in the Philippines without feeling cold at all.
We think you now have 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 a risk?
Generally speaking, there are no typhoons in the Philippines in December. These weather events are understandably a major concern for travelers, but you also have to bear in mind that they don’t happen constantly and rarely affect tourists seriously, as they can be forecast 7-10 days in advance.
Typhoons are rare in December, as August and September are the months when they’re most likely to form. However, the island of Siargao was badly affected in December 2021 and, as we mentioned above, it’s one of the parts of the country that experiences its wet season in December.
With all that in mind, our advice is not to become paranoid, to stay informed (which you can do through the Philippines WhatsApp channel, where we talk about the weather very frequently) and, of course, to travel with reliable travel insurance, like the one we discuss in Best travel insurance for the Philippines.
Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor
Are there parts of the Philippines without rain in December?
Yes, as we’ve said, December is considered part of the dry season on all the islands in the Western Visayas region (Bohol, Siquijor, Malapascua…), as well as in Luzon (Banaue, Vigan, Legazpi…) and Palawan (Port Barton, Coron, El Nido…).
It’s the wet season in the south (Mindanao, Siargao, Dinagat…) and on the islands of the Eastern Visayas (Leyte and Samar).
Does this mean it doesn’t rain at all in the Philippines in December? No. Even on the islands where the dry season theoretically prevails, there are usually downpours. You have to bear in mind that the archipelago has a tropical climate, which is also why the vegetation is so lush and why we love it so much. Does rain mean your trip will be ruined? Absolutely not! Downpours are usually intense but brief, and we think that’s also part of the charm.
Of course, if you want to avoid the rain as much as possible, we recommend focusing on the islands of the Western Visayas, Palawan and Luzon.
What is it like to travel to the Philippines in December?
The weather is pleasant, since there usually isn’t much rain (except in the south) and it’s not as humid. The sea tends to be fairly calm, so you can dive comfortably and also enjoy activities that involve long boat journeys, such as the incredible Coron to El Nido Expedition, or the other way around. The rice terraces in the Cordillera region (Banaue) also tend to look beautiful, and the cities are already full of Christmas decorations.
Also, if you’re hoping to swim with the majestic whale shark, you should know that the sighting season will already have begun in Pintuyan/Padre Burgos and Donsol. You can read more about the subject in Where to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines.
As for tourist numbers, the first three weeks of the month tend to be quiet. This means that accommodation and flight prices are fairly reasonable, as long as you book in advance. However, as you can imagine, Christmas sends prices soaring and places fill up easily. Considering that there are around 100 million Filipinos and that more than 90% are Christian, many of them take time off during this period and use it to travel to their home provinces or visit tourist destinations, which means that everywhere is considerably more crowded.
Does this mean we don’t recommend traveling to the Philippines at Christmas? Absolutely not. We love this time of year because the festivities are celebrated with enormous enthusiasm (in fact, preparations begin in September), and spending such a special time in the archipelago is something you’ll always remember.
That said, we strongly recommend booking your hotels, flights and ferry journeys as early as possible, because so many people travel at this time that everything gets completely overwhelmed. Even tickets for the most common routes, which have frequent services, sell out (El Nido-Coron and vice versa, Cebu-Bohol and vice versa, and Siquijor-Cebu and vice versa).
If you want to read more specifically about the festive season, be sure to read Traveling to the Philippines at Christmas.
Loboc River (Bohol) in December (Philippines)
Our experience traveling to the Philippines in December
Having spent many Decembers in the Philippines, we’ve found it to be a comfortable month to travel, especially during the first three weeks. That’s partly because of the weather we’ve discussed above, but also because there aren’t as many tourists.
With all that in mind, and after spending many Christmases here, we highly recommend that you book accommodations, flights and ferries in advance, a few weeks before the festive period arrives. Seriously, things get a little crazy and it’s hard to find anything at decent prices.
If you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere over Christmas and New Year’s without having to deal with too much transportation hassle, we like spending the holidays in destinations such as Malapascua, Siquijor, or the areas around Loboc or Anda in Bohol. For somewhere much quieter, choose 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 (the 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.
The festivities in Malapascua
Tips for traveling to the Philippines in December
In addition to everything we’ve discussed along the way, much of which comes from our own experience, here are some tips for traveling to the Philippines in December that we’re sure you’ll find incredibly useful:
- First and foremost: book flights, hotels and ferries in advance, especially if you’re traveling between December 20 and 31 (or during the first few days of January). Things are calmer during the first three weeks, but not at Christmas. For bookings, we always use Booking (we usually choose accommodations with free cancellation) and 12go (for ferries).
- The same applies to international flights: it’s best to book well in advance. While prices from Europe are around $1,120–$1,280 at more typical times of year (except in summer, when they soar), they can easily rise above $1,600 in December. We recommend keeping an eye on the Skyscanner search engine, where you can also set up flight alerts.
- We wouldn’t overthink the weather, since nothing can be predicted more than a week in advance, and we’d choose the destinations you feel like visiting. Even so, it’s better to avoid Siargao and Dinagat in December (and Camiguin to a lesser extent), because December and January are the rainiest months in this area.
- Decide somewhat in advance where you want to spend New Year’s and Christmas because of the booking situation. Once you’re there, you’ll be able to sign up for parties or dinners; these are usually organized just 5-7 days beforehand, but you won’t have any trouble joining them once you’re there.
- As for activities on the “key” dates, we do recommend booking dives at well-known places such as Malapascua or Bohol (especially at Balicasag), as well as island-hopping tours in El Nido and Coron. You already know that for the latter, you can ask us for our contacts in the comments.
- Don’t pay any attention whatsoever to “regular” mobile apps (such as the iPhone weather app) or non-specialist websites. They really are useless in the Philippines (except for making you worry). We only use the Windy app for forecasts a few days ahead (4-5 at most), and we follow the guidance of this meteorologist.
- Finally, it’s just as important to have good travel insurance when traveling to the Philippines in December, not only for health-related issues but also for any travel mishaps (flight delays, damage to your luggage…). Get a 5% discount on the policy we use.
Frequently asked questions about traveling to the Philippines in December
To sum up what we’ve been telling you, here are our answers to the most frequently asked questions travelers tend to have about traveling to the Philippines in December:
What is the weather like in the Philippines in December?
It’s a good month to travel around almost the entire country (except the south) because it’s the dry season, but you have to bear in mind that both Filipinos and foreigners travel at Christmas, so it’s advisable to book accommodations and transportation in advance. Prices start to rise from the middle of the month onward.
Is the Philippines a good place to visit in December?
Of course. It’s a good month in terms of the weather, and there’s a good atmosphere.
What are the best islands to visit in the Philippines in December?
It’s the dry season on the islands in the Western Visayas region (Malapascua, Siquijor, Bohol, Negros, Cebu…), as well as in Luzon (Banaue, Vigan, Caramoan, Laoag…) and Palawan (El Nido, Port Barton, Coron, Balabac…).
Is December part of the wet season in the Philippines?
No, except in the south/southeast—that is, on islands such as Mindanao, Siargao, Leyte and Samar, where it is the wet season. This doesn’t mean it won’t rain at all elsewhere, since we’re talking about a tropical climate, but it isn’t the rainiest month.
Are there typhoons in the Philippines in December?
Generally speaking, 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 November
Traveling to the Philippines in January
We hope we’ve helped you understand what it’s like to travel to the Philippines in December, but if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to help if you leave us a comment below. We hope you’ll come and visit us!
