The Philippines generally has a hot climate zone with high humidity levels. However, there may be some differences in the weather on the eastern and western sides of the archipelago.
Weather in the Philippines in various parts of the country differs in the length of the dry and rainy seasons. On some islands, precipitation can fall evenly, without reference to the season, while on others, there are dry and wet seasons. Therefore, the answer to the question of when to go to the Philippines depends on which part of the Philippines you are going to.
The weather on the west coast of the Philippines
The dry season runs from mid-November to late April on the west coast. The rest of the time, it’s raining. This zone includes the western part of Luzon, a part of the Visayas, the northwestern part of the island of Palawan (including El Nido), the islands of Busuanga, Coron, Cagayan, and the western part of Panay.
Temperature and precipitation monthly, El Nido
| Month | Jan | Febr | Marc | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Temp.max, °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
Temp.min, °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| Precipit, мм | 12 | 5 | 7 | 23 | 159 | 333 | 400 | 433 | 349 | 264 | 146 | 60 |
| Rainy days | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 6 |
Sea temp., °C | 27.7 | 27.6 | 27.7 | 28.8 | 30.0 | 29.9 | 29.4 | 28.6 | 28.5 | 29.1 | 29.3 | 28.7 |
The weather on the east coast of the Philippines
On the east coast of the Philippines, the climate can be in the absence of a dry season. The maximum amount of precipitation occurs from December to the second decade of March, and the minimum amount falls in the spring months – from the end of March to the end of May.
Seasonless weather in some areas of the eastern coast of the Philippines
Although in some areas of the east coast, it is impossible to single out a certain period of the year with a minimum number of rainy days. Precipitation can fall evenly throughout the year. This type of climate is typical for the islands of Dinagat, Siargao, and the eastern part of Mindanao.
Monthly temperature and precipitation, Siargao Island
| Month | Jan | Febr | Marc | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Temp.max, °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
Temp.min, °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Precipit, мм | 272 | 108 | 98 | 54 | 37 | 58 | 61 | 52 | 71 | 90 | 162 | 174 |
| Rainy days | 26 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 24 |
Monthly temperature and precipitation, Bohol Island
| Month | Jan | Febr | Marc | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Temp.max, °C | 28 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 |
Temp.min, °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Precipit, мм | 202 | 106 | 146 | 66 | 96 | 103 | 107 | 94 | 156 | 122 | 146 | 132 |
| Rainy days | 13 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 7 |
Sea temp., °C | 27.2 | 26.8 | 27.6 | 28.6 | 29.6 | 30.2 | 29.0 | 29.0 | 29.2 | 28.9 | 28.9 | 27.7 |
The weather in the central part of the Philippines
The weather in the central part of the Philippines is determined by a short dry season from December to February or from March to May. This zone includes the islands of Cebu, Negros, Boracay, Siquijor, Bantayan, Sibuyan, and Romblon.
Temperature and precipitation by months, Cebu Island
| Month | Jan | Febr | Marc | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Temp.max, °C | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Temp.min, °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
| Precipit, мм | 110 | 70 | 20 | 30 | 70 | 170 | 180 | 110 | 160 | 200 | 110 | 110 |
| Rainy days | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Sea temp., °C | 27.0 | 26.7 | 27.2 | 27.9 | 29.2 | 29.6 | 29.3 | 29.1 | 29.1 | 29.1 | 29.3 | 28.0 |
The northern part of Luzon, falling into the so-called typhoon zone, is considered the most problematic place in the Philippines in this regard. And on the southern islands, the likelihood of catching lousy weather is much less.
When to go the Philippines
Given these features, the best time to relax in the Philippines is the period from January to May. This is the dry season for most archipelagos, so there are many chances for bright sunshine and no storms. However, the Philippines is tropical, and anything can happen.
The best time for diving is from November to May, when it is possible to achieve underwater visibility of up to 50 m. However, you should be aware that at some dive sites these dates may shift slightly depending on the weather and geographical location. For example, on the reefs of Tubbataha, the most comfortable conditions for diving are observed in the short period between March and the end of June.
Weather in the Philippines in July and August
If you have holidays in July and August, don’t worry, you can also travel to the Philippines during these months. Although you will be at the height of the rainy season, this does not mean it will rain all day. The monsoon usually brings rain for several hours, usually in the afternoon, but the weather is very variable on the islands. Sun and rain can alternate several times a day.
In addition, it is worth noting that July and August are the best months to visit islands in the southern Philippines, such as Camiguin and Siargao. Be sure to include these great islands in your trip.
