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When to Go

Best Time to Visit Philippines (Palawan & Cebu)

Southeast Asia · Month-by-month weather, seasons and what to do — from Noura's Destination Finder.

Noura's timing tip: Typhoon season (Jun-Nov, peaking Aug-Oct) can cancel domestic flights and island ferries to Palawan and Cebu—build in buffer days. Holy Week (Mar/Apr) sees mass domestic travel; book El Nido and Boracay far ahead.
Best months
Jan–Apr, Dec
Flights from the US
🟢 Non-stop options
Great for
couples · families with kids · adult group · female solo traveler
Seasons at a glance
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilDecember MayNovember JuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctober

🟢 Peak season  ·  🟠 Shoulder  ·  ⚪ Off-peak

Philippines (Palawan & Cebu) month by month

Average temperatures, sunshine and the feel of each month. Getting the timing right is half of a great trip.

MonthAvg °FSunRainSeasonWhat it's like
January 73–87°F 7h Low (20mm) Peak Cool, dry and sunny—the pick of the year for island-hopping.
February 73–88°F 8h Minimal (12mm) Peak Bone-dry, breezy and brilliant—flawless beach and diving conditions.
March 75–91°F 8h Minimal (15mm) Peak Hot, dry and dazzling—prime dry-season sun before the summer heat.
April 78–94°F 9h Low (25mm) Peak Peak summer heat and dry skies—festival season on the beaches.
May 79–93°F 8h High (155mm) Shoulder Very hot with the first monsoon showers—colorful fiesta season peaks.
June 78–91°F 6h Very High (260mm) Off-Peak Southwest monsoon (habagat) arrives—warm, wet and green with cheaper rates.
July 77–89°F 6h Very High (430mm) Off-Peak Heart of the rainy season—lush, humid and stormy with typhoon risk.
August 77–88°F 5h Very High (460mm) Off-Peak Wettest, stormiest month—frequent typhoons and flooded Manila streets.
September 77–88°F 6h Very High (385mm) Off-Peak Still deep in the wet season—green landscapes, storms and low prices.
October 76–89°F 6h High (215mm) Off-Peak Rains ease late in the month but typhoon risk lingers—shoulder-season value.
November 76–89°F 6h High (120mm) Shoulder Drying out fast—warm seas return as the dry season begins.
December 74–87°F 7h Moderate (95mm) Peak Cool, breezy and increasingly dry—festive island-hopping high season.

Data cross-referenced from climate and flight sources; conditions vary year to year.

Things to do in Philippines (Palawan & Cebu), month by month

Hand-picked ideas for every month of the year — from Noura's Destination Finder.

JanuaryPeak73–87°F
  • Island-hop El Nido's Bacuit Bay lagoons
  • Kayak the Puerto Princesa Underground River
  • Snorkel the sardine run off Moalboal, Cebu
  • Canyoneer to Kawasan Falls in Cebu
  • Sightsee Manila's Intramuros and Fort Santiago
FebruaryPeak73–88°F
  • Boat the Big and Small Lagoons of El Nido
  • Dive with thresher sharks off Malapascua, Cebu
  • Explore Coron's WWII wrecks and Kayangan Lake
  • Swim with whale sharks at Oslob, Cebu
  • Relax on Nacpan Beach, Palawan
MarchPeak75–91°F
  • Island-hop the limestone karsts of Coron
  • Snorkel Twin Lagoon and Barracuda Lake
  • Canyoneering and Kawasan Falls near Badian, Cebu
  • Beach days on El Nido's Seven Commandos
  • Tour the Tubbataha reefs' liveaboard season start
AprilPeak78–94°F
  • Dive the pristine Tubbataha Reefs, Palawan
  • Celebrate Holy Week processions in Cebu
  • Kite and beach time on Boracay's White Beach
  • Explore El Nido's hidden beaches by kayak
  • Snorkel Moalboal's sardine run and turtles
MayShoulder79–93°F
  • Join Cebu's Flores de Mayo fiesta parades
  • Early-season island-hopping before the rains build
  • Whale-shark and thresher dives off Cebu
  • Cliff jumping and canyoneering at Kawasan Falls
  • Explore Puerto Princesa's Underground River
JuneOff-Peak78–91°F
  • Independence Day festivities in Manila (Jun 12)
  • Dive Malapascua for thresher sharks between showers
  • Explore Cebu City's Magellan's Cross and Fort San Pedro
  • Waterfall trips to Kawasan on drier days
  • Visit Bohol's Chocolate Hills and tarsiers
JulyOff-Peak77–89°F
  • Explore Manila's museums and Intramuros walls
  • Chocolate Hills and tarsier sanctuary in Bohol
  • Dive calmer sites off southern Cebu
  • Waterfall chasing near Cebu on clear breaks
  • Sample street food in Binondo, Manila's Chinatown
AugustOff-Peak77–88°F
  • Museum-hop the National Museum complex in Manila
  • Underground River tour from Puerto Princesa
  • Buwan ng Wika cultural events in the capital
  • Dive sheltered sites around Moalboal, Cebu
  • Café and heritage walks in Vigan on drier days
SeptemberOff-Peak77–88°F
  • Explore Bohol's Chocolate Hills and Loboc River
  • Manila heritage tour of Intramuros and San Agustin
  • Whale-shark viewing at Oslob between showers
  • Visit the Taal volcano viewpoints in Tagaytay
  • Diving off southern Cebu's protected reefs
OctoberOff-Peak76–89°F
  • Watch the MassKara Festival in Bacolod
  • Island-hop Coron as the seas start calming
  • Snorkel Moalboal's sardine run, Cebu
  • Puerto Princesa Underground River tour
  • Explore El Nido on clearing days
NovemberShoulder76–89°F
  • Island-hop El Nido's Bacuit Bay lagoons
  • Dive Coron's WWII shipwrecks
  • Canyoneer to Kawasan Falls in Cebu
  • Swim with whale sharks at Oslob
  • Beach days on Boracay's White Beach
DecemberPeak74–87°F
  • Boat El Nido's lagoons under clear skies
  • Explore Coron's Kayangan Lake and reefs
  • Simbang Gabi Christmas dawn masses in Manila
  • Canyoneering and Kawasan Falls in Cebu
  • Sardine run snorkeling at Moalboal

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