Best time to visit the Philippines: dry season

The Philippines are made up of more than 7,000 islands and are warm all year: by day it is 27 to 33 °C in every month, and the sea is always warm. The seasons are set by rain and wind. According to the national weather service PAGASA, the dry season runs from December to May – cool and dry from December to February, hot and dry from March to May – and the rainy season from June to November. Because the islands are spread over a large area, the pattern is not equally clear everywhere: the west of the country, with Manila and Palawan, has a pronounced dry season, while the east and parts of the Visayas also get rain in winter. We analysed the weather from 2015 to 2024 at four places.

The short answer

• Best time: January to April. Dry and sunny on Palawan and around Manila, with 24 to 79 mm of rain a month.
• Hottest months: April and May, with 33 °C by day in Manila.
• Rainy season: June to November. On the west side, 230 to 400 mm a month in July to September.
• Typhoons: possible all year, but most occur between June and November.

The Philippines' climate: all 12 months

Temperature and rain: monthly averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded. A grid cell is about 25 km wide and over small islands includes a lot of sea. For Boracay and Cebu, the model shows more winter rain than is usually measured on land; treat those columns as a rough guide. For Manila and El Nido, the contrast between dry and rainy season is clear and matches PAGASA's description.

Manila is hottest just before the rains: April and May reach 33.4 °C by day. From July, clouds and rain bring the days down to about 30 °C.

The rain chart for Manila is a textbook monsoon pattern: almost dry from February to April, then a steep rise to over 400 mm in July.

The Philippines month by month

December to February: cool dry season

The north-east monsoon, called amihan, brings cooler, drier air to Luzon and the west. Manila has 29 to 30 °C by day and pleasant nights around 23 °C. On Palawan it is mostly dry from January. The east-facing coasts and parts of the Visayas can still get rain at this time, which is why Boracay and Cebu show higher values in the table. Christmas and the turn of the year are busy.

March to May: hot dry season

The driest and sunniest months in much of the country, but also the hottest: Manila reaches 33 °C in April and May. This is the classic time for island hopping around El Nido and Coron, diving and beach holidays. Holy Week around Easter is a major holiday in the Philippines, with many locals travelling.

June to November: rainy season

The south-west monsoon, called habagat, brings heavy rain to the west of the country, with Manila and El Nido at 230 to 400 mm a month from June to October. Rain often falls in long spells, not just short showers. According to the UK travel advice, most typhoons occur between June and November, and boat accidents are more frequent in the rainy season from June to December, when storms can develop quickly. Ferries and flights can be cancelled at short notice.

Which islands when

Palawan with El Nido and Coron is at its best from January to April, when the sea is calm for boat trips. Boracay has two sides: in the amihan months the wind blows from the north-east, and White Beach on the west side is sheltered; in the habagat months it is the other way round. Cebu and Bohol in the Visayas are less extreme than Manila, with rain spread more evenly through the year. Siargao in the east is known for its surf; its weather is influenced by the Pacific. Mindanao in the far south is largely outside the usual typhoon tracks, according to PAGASA.

Domestic flights connect Manila and Cebu with most islands; between them, ferries and bangkas (outrigger boats) run, so plan a buffer day in the rainy season. A transfer^* booked in advance makes arrival easier. Comparing South-East Asia? See also the best time to visit Thailand, the best time to visit Malaysia and the best time to visit Bali.

How YesTrip helps with this trip

In YesTrip you plan Manila, Palawan and the Visayas day by day on one map, including the flight and ferry days between the islands. The forecast for your travel days shows heavy rain and storms in advance, so you can move an island-hopping tour to a calmer day. The packing list suggests sun protection, a rain jacket and a plug adapter. Travelling as a group, you share the trip and log shared expenses like boat tours and transfers.

Before you go

• Entry: Check the current entry rules for British citizens on gov.uk before you travel.
• Time: The Philippines are 8 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 7 hours in summer.
• Power: 220 volts; sockets are mostly US-style (type A/B), some also take European plugs.
• Mobile data: a travel eSIM^* is usually much cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

More destinations by month: Best time to visit: where to go when.

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