Known for its hot sunshine and tropical rainfalls, the types of activities you might try in the Philippines could depend on the weather you are likely to experience. With no real ‘bad’ time of year to visit the Philippines, here is a detailed guide to how the seasons change in this incredible country and some of the best activities to try in each.
Cooler dry season (December to February)
If high heat and humidity is not for you, consider visiting the Philippines from December to February. During this period, the temperatures are generally lower than the rest of the year while you’ll enjoy cooling breezes at night and drier air thanks to the lack of rainfall compared to other times of the year.
Feeling more comfortable outside, the cooler-dry season is an ideal time for activities such as joining historical walking tours around the cities including Manila and Cebu, enjoying higher intensity physical activities like mountain hikes and cave exploration in places like Baguio and Sagada, or simply spending time relaxing or snorkelling at the beach in popular beachside hotspots such as Boracay or Palawan.
Hot-dry season (March to May)
With hot and sunny weather throughout the period of March to May, this time of year is perfect for those in search of outdoor adventure with minimal risk of rain showers and storms – from hot air ballooning in Pampanga to snorkelling the clear waters of coastal reefs. Many travellers visit the Philippines from March to May to make the most of some of the country’s beautiful beach resorts, or glamping sites in stunning natural settings.
With less stormy weather and lower rainfall, the hot and dry season is also ideal for island hopping adventures on the calmer waters with ample opportunity to cool off at some of the many lagoons and beaches you’ll visit along the way. This time of year is also ideal for visiting some of the Philippines’ mountain escapes including the Banaue Rice Terraces, Baguio and Tagaytay with the clearer skies making for spectacular views.
Wet season (June to November)
You can still experience plenty of hot sunshine during the wet season, but the frequency of rain showers at this time of year is at its highest which makes some experiences more favourable than others.
This time of year is where Siargao’s surf culture really comes to life with perfect surf conditions on the ocean much of the time. Meanwhile, June to November is a great time to see some of the spectacular waterfalls around the country at their most lively, thanks to higher volumes of water cascading over the rocks – you might consider visiting Pagsanjan Falls and Hulugan Falls in Laguna, or Tinago Falls and Maria Cristina Falls in Mindanao, among many others. Other advantages of visiting the Philippines in the wet season include the opportunity to get cheaper rates on hotels and resorts due to the low season while typically busy destinations like Cebu and Boracay and parts of Palawan are quieter than the rest of the year.
