Philippines in November 2026: Weather, Typhoons & Tips

As the rainy season begins to give way to the dry season, many travelers ask us whether it is a good idea to travel to the Philippines in November. As people who have been in love with the archipelago since 2010, we decided to put together this guide to answer those recurring questions. In it, we take an in-depth look at what the weather is like during this month and which islands are best to visit, and we share, among other things, tips based on our own experience.

We can tell you right away that the weather in the Philippines (whether in November or at any other time) is unpredictable and follows no fixed pattern. That is even more true in this case, since November is considered a transition month between the rainy and dry seasons across much of the country, and this shift does not happen on a set date. The monsoons change gradually, and there is no way to know what might happen, so you have to “embrace” the uncertainty or, as Filipinos themselves say, bahala na (“whatever happens, happens”).

Without further ado, we are going to tell you about the pros and cons of visiting the Philippines in November, whether it is typhoon season and much more.

Table of Contents

Can you travel to the Philippines in November 2026?

Of course—you can travel to the Philippines in November. The country is operating normally, and you will not encounter any difficulties. Just bear in mind that most visa-exempt travelers must show an onward or return ticket within their authorized period of stay and complete the eTravel registration, as we explain in Requirements for traveling to the Philippines.

As people who know the local tourism scene well, we recommend taking advantage of the opportunity and coming sooner rather than later, as the Philippines is becoming an increasingly popular destination.

As always, we also recommend traveling with travel insurance for the Philippines that you know will deliver when you need it. We have been using this travel insurance for more than 10 years and, unfortunately, have had to put it to the test on many occasions, so we can recommend it with complete confidence. That is why you get a 5% discount when you purchase it through OUR LINK.

Also, if things remain as they are (and it looks like they will), the exchange rate is at an all-time high, which means your trip will be considerably more affordable.

What is the weather like in the Philippines in November?

We go into much more detail about all this in Best time to travel to the Philippines, but, to sum it up briefly, the archipelago has 2 or 3 seasons:

RAINY SEASON: it runs roughly from June to late October or early November.
DRY SEASON: approximately from mid-November to late May. Within this period, we distinguish between the cooler season, which runs from November to mid-March, and the hot season, or Philippine summer, which runs from mid-March to May.

Even so, you should bear in mind that there are around 4-6 climate zones in the country, meaning that these seasons play out differently or with varying degrees of intensity.

So, the above generally applies throughout Luzon, the Visayas and Palawan, while things work differently in Siargao and the easternmost part of the Visayas (Leyte and Samar), where the seasons are almost reversed. In other words, the dry season runs roughly from April or May to October.

If you look at what we wrote above, we said that the dry season begins “around mid-November.” We know that leaves a fairly high degree of uncertainty. This is the time of year when the winds begin to shift, determining the seasons, but there is no specific date. In fact, October is also considered a transition month, as the Amihan (the northeast monsoon, which brings dry winds and reduces rainfall) may begin to dominate the weather in either October or November, depending on the year.

You also need to remember that we are always talking about a tropical climate, so it is impossible to tell you whether or not it will rain, even during the driest months. On top of that, there are years or periods when either El Niño or La Niña prevails, making tropical weather systems more or less likely.

In short, although we will continue to explore the subject in more detail, it is not clear whether November is part of the rainy season or not, as the winds can shift at any time. What we can tell you is that, in recent years, early November has been quite rainy, with some significant typhoons (which last 2–4 days). As the month has progressed, everything has calmed down and the dry season has begun to take hold.

Mayon Volcano (Luzon)

Is November typhoon season in the Philippines?

Theoretically, no. The period with the most typhoons in the Philippines runs from July to October, with August being the most active month in this regard.

However, we do not know whether it is due to the effects of “La Niña” or climate change, but it is true that in recent years, typhoons have occurred more often between late September and early November. We have even experienced the occasional tropical depression (a weather system far less intense than a typhoon) throughout November and into early December.

So, when asked whether November is typhoon season in the Philippines, we have to say yes: you could say there is still a chance of a typhoon or a milder tropical storm.

How can you tell if a typhoon is coming? A typhoon’s path can be predicted roughly a week in advance. When this happens, PAGASA (the country’s official weather agency) issues alerts on its website and social media.

Is it dangerous? Honestly, no. It would be very unusual for you to be seriously affected by a typhoon. First, because its path is known far enough in advance to avoid the worst of it. Second, because, unfortunately, the people affected tend to be those living in substandard housing. Even so, if you see that the eye of the typhoon is going to pass close to where you are, it is best to move to solidly built accommodation and follow government instructions.

From a logistical standpoint, a typhoon or tropical depression usually means canceled ferries, flights and tours for a couple of days. Because of this and anything else that might happen, it is important to travel with good travel insurance for the Philippines. It will cover you not only for healthcare but also, where applicable, for living expenses resulting from transportation cancellations, for example.

Mantigue Island and Camiguin

Is it cold in the Philippines in November?

With fall well underway in Europe, you might think it is cool in the Philippines in November. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Because it has a tropical climate, average daytime temperatures rarely drop below 30°C. Once the sun goes down, they settle at a pleasant 23-25°C. It will only feel cool if you visit mountainous areas such as Baguio, Banaue or Batad, where temperatures do hover around 20°C during the day.

As for the sea, there is no need to worry about that either, as the water temperature is around 27-28°C. So, you will be able to swim comfortably.

This table showing temperatures and precipitation in the main tourist destinations in the Philippines in November will make everything much clearer:

November	Average temperature (max./min.)	Precipitation
Manila	31°C / 25°C	168 mm
Banaue/Batad	27°C / 20°C	154 mm
El Nido	31°C / 24°C	100 mm
Bohol	31°C / 25°C	147 mm
Boracay	32°C / 25°C	359 mm
Cebu	30°C / 26°C	123 mm
Siargao	31°C / 25°C	296 mm

Which islands can you visit in the Philippines in November without rain?

We cannot guarantee that it will not rain in the Philippines in November because the country has a tropical climate and, as we mentioned, it is a transition month. What we mean by this is that we would not worry about choosing one island over another based on the chance of rain.

That said, the theory is that as November progresses, the dry season settles in across the Visayas (Malapascua, Bohol, Siquijor, Cebu, etc.), Luzon (Manila, Banaue, etc.) and Palawan (El Nido, Coron, Port Barton, etc.), while the rainy season begins in the south/southeast (Mindanao, Siargao, Leyte, Camiguin, etc.).

Since there is no set date when the winds will change, if we were planning a trip to the Philippines in November, we really would not overthink it and would simply go to the places we felt like visiting. The best way to do that is to read our guide on Things to do in the Philippines and start shaping your trip. You can also use our Philippines itineraries for inspiration.

What is it like to travel to the Philippines in November? Weather, things to do and more

Beyond the weather, you should know that November is a quiet month for exploring the country. High season has not started yet, so there are few tourists and even the most famous destinations are not crowded. As a result, prices are also much lower than those you will find in months such as December, April and May.

This means you can keep your trip fairly flexible and even book accommodation as you go or choose hotels with free cancellation. This will also give you peace of mind if you are worried about the weather, as you can adjust your trip along the way. You could even opt for something in between, planning the first week or first few weeks of your itinerary and leaving the rest open.

If you would like to see whale sharks in the Philippines, you should know that the season will already have started or will be starting in Pintuyan/Padre Burgos. It may still be too early in Donsol.

If you want to go scuba diving, it is generally a good month because visibility is good and, unless there is a typhoon or tropical depression, the sea tends to be calm. Of course, you will be able to dive with thresher sharks in Malapascua or go scuba diving in Balicasag. The same applies to snorkeling.

It is also entirely possible to enjoy activities such as the Coron to El Nido Tour, island hopping in Dinagat (in fact, our first time here was in November) or the Balabac expedition.

If you want to do something a little different, the rice fields of Banaue are usually very lush in early November, creating a beautiful scene.

Interestingly, you will already find Christmas decorations almost everywhere, as Filipinos start celebrating Christmas as soon as September arrives.

As for Philippine festivals, November is not a particularly eventful month, to be honest. There are a few festivals in lesser-known destinations, such as the Helobung Festival in Lake Sebu, the Higantes Festival in Angono and the Kabkaban Festival in Carcar (Cebu).

Our experience traveling around the Philippines in November

Everything above is the theory, but what have our own experiences been like? You already know that we have been lucky enough to spend many Novembers in the Philippines, and we can tell you that we have experienced a bit of everything.

In general, what we experience this month is a real mixed bag. It is common to have sunny spells and showers on the same day, with the heaviest rain falling in the afternoon or evening. The Philippines has a tropical climate, so that is exactly what you would expect.

In recent years, we have noticed some tropical depressions at the beginning of the month, so we have experienced the occasional ferry cancellation for a couple of days. However, nothing has been serious enough to make us radically change our travel plans.

With all that in mind, would we recommend traveling to the Philippines in November? Yes, without a doubt. It is a month with few tourists and, therefore, affordable prices. Also, as we mentioned, the weather becomes very stable as November progresses.

By the way, all the photos in this guide were taken in November.

Coconut Beach (Port Barton)

Tips for enjoying your trip to the Philippines in November

Although we recommend traveling to the Philippines in November, we want to share a few tips we have come up with after spending a lot of time in the country during this season:

Since the weather is a complete lottery, we would advise you not to try to guess which islands will have the best weather and simply to plan a trip to the ones you most want to visit.
If possible, do not take a short trip. The more days you have, the better your chances of enjoying good weather and the less likely you are to feel that a couple of rainy days have ruined your trip. We discuss this in more detail in How many days do you need in the Philippines?, but, for us, 3 weeks is ideal.
On a related note, do not make your itinerary too packed. For example, if you plan only 2 days in Bohol and it rains on 1 of them, you will feel stressed. By keeping your itinerary less packed, you will have some breathing room to enjoy yourself and also to revise your plans if necessary.
If you are thinking of traveling to the Philippines in November for 2 weeks or more, we recommend having a flexible itinerary. It is true that accommodation and flight prices may go up, but this way you can make a few adjustments if you see that the weather is going to be bad somewhere. As we mentioned above, you can plan the first week and, since there will not be as many tourists, go with the flow during the second week.
Along the same lines, you can book hotels through Booking.com with free cancellation. We especially recommend this in El Nido and Coron, where accommodation offers poor value for money.
To find out what the weather will be like, we recommend the Windy app, the red one. However, it only works well 3–4 days in advance and if you check each area individually. Forget about other websites and apps because they will probably just confuse you. It is also a good idea to check PAGASA’s Facebook page, as this is where typhoon alerts and similar warnings are issued.
If you are unlucky and your flight is canceled or changed, you should know that airlines usually rebook you on the next one. The same applies to ferries. Even so, you will save quite a bit of money if you have good travel insurance for the Philippines like ours. Why? Because in these cases, you will be reimbursed for a large share of your living expenses (food, transportation, accommodation, etc.) until you can travel again and, depending on the policy, even the cost of alternative transportation. Purchase it through OUR LINK and you will get a 5% discount.

You can read more recommendations in Tips for traveling to the Philippines.

Alegria Beach (Siargao)

Frequently asked questions about traveling to the Philippines in November

We will finish by answering the most common questions about November in the Philippines:

Is it a good idea to visit the Philippines in November?

Yes, especially as the month progresses, since the dry season will gradually settle in across almost the entire country. That said, we recommend keeping your trip flexible.

What is the weather like in the Philippines in November?

A little bit of everything, as it is a transition month between the rainy and dry seasons, and you never know when the seasons will change. The most common pattern is for periods of sunshine and heat to alternate with showers, especially toward the end of the day.

Are there typhoons in the Philippines in November?

In theory, the season should be over by then, as it usually runs from June to September/October. However, in recent years, we have seen some typhoons in the Philippines in early November.

Which islands should you visit in the Philippines in November?

Since the seasons are not clearly defined, you could travel wherever you feel most like going. There is really no particular place in the Philippines where you can say for certain that it will not rain in November.

Which month has the least rain in the Philippines?

In theory, it rains less from March to May, when the dry season prevails.