When to Visit Philippines

The picture-postcard beauty of the Philippines truly comes alive in January. The weather is pleasant and there is a low chance of rainfall—perfect setup for sightseeing, beach visits and outdoor activities. The only downside (if you can call it that) is that popular destinations and activities are crowded, as January is part of the peak tourist season. So if you are planning a tour to the Philippines in January, book your trip and accommodations in advance.

Beaches brimming with vibrant activities, landscapes at their most lush and great weather — the Philippines in February is the most scenic of all months. No wonder this is the peak travel month when everything is all go. Tourist hotspots are busier than ever and there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, such as swimming, surfing and hiking. Whether you want to explore the urban cities of Manila and Cebu or spend some time in the popular islands of Palawan and Coron, February is the perfect time to tour the Philippines.

A trip to the Philippines in March makes for a busy time as the country enters the high travel season. It’s going to be quite hot and humid for daytime sightseeing, so it’s best to plan your tours before noon or closer to the evening. Set aside the afternoon time for beach-lounging and water sports. Popular tourist destinations like Nido, Boracay and Cebu are particularly crowded around this time. To escape the tourist hordes and high temperature, head to the mountains in North Luzon.

From attending the Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival in North Cotabato to joining a whale shark sighting excursion in Donsol and beach-lounging in El Nodo, visitors can enjoy tons of coastal adventures in the Philippines in April. This is also the time of the year to have the last holiday hurrah under the clear sunny skies before the wet season kicks off in May. Furthermore, there are several festivals and events to look forward to in April. The only caveat of taking a Philippines trip in April is that popular destinations are more crowded and expensive than usual.

The Philippines in May sees blue skies, infrequent rainfall and warm weather. But this month is also the archipelago’s hottest, so get ready to get a little sweaty. This is an excellent time to pursue aquatic hobbies. From Cebu to Bohol and Mindanao, there are many scuba diving and snorkeling sites in the Philippines. Calm weather and crystal-clear visibility makes May one of the best months to explore the technicoloured underwater world. Plunging into the ocean is a great way to escape the scorching heat. Or you could head to cooler destinations like Cordillera in North Luzon, famed for its scenic mountain landscape and the Banaue Rice Terraces.Planning to tour the Philippines in May? Keep reading to learn more.

June sees the start of the monsoon season in the Philippines, but that doesn’t mean it’ll rain non-stop every day. More likely, you’ll get a heavy downpour over a few hours in the afternoon, then warm, sunny weather for the rest of the day. June days are hot and humid when the sun is out, then cool right down when it rains.What’s more, school is back in session and most foreigners don’t dare brave a Filipino monsoon. That means you can expect thinner crowds and lower prices at the most sought-after destinations. If you want to escape the rain during your trip to the Philippines in June, try Camiguin Island or Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao. To learn more about touring the Philippines in June, keep reading.

The Philippines in July is humid and rainy, but the gentle rain breeze and the calmer weather with sparse crowds can be attractive to some. Frequent showers also unleash the verdant beauty of the islands for picturesque views everywhere you look. You can find many dry days in July on the islands of Samar, Siargao, and Cebu—the best tourist attractions during this month, perfect for a beach holiday.Keep reading for more about touring the Philippines in July.

As August falls smack in the middle of the rainy season in the Philippines, most people tend to skip the country. But for some this could be the perfect opportunity to take advantage of low crowds and affordable rates. It’s not all rain and storms in the Philippines in August. The eastern seaboard is the driest while parts of Southern Visayas, Palawan and Mindanao see frequent but short rain showers. So if you are planning to tour the Philippines in August, make sure to have a solid itinerary plan.

You’d be hard-pressed to travel around the Philippines in September without getting soaked. Situated in the center of the rainy season, this wet and wild monsoon month is bound to bring a downpour or two. The upside to all these downpours? Touring the Philippines in September means lower prices and thinner tourist crowds. The Visayas archipelago receives less than half that rainfall but not enough to spoil island-hopping trips. The inner Visayan Islands, such as Negros and Cebu, enjoy some shelter from typhoons and the monsoon. Southern highlights like Siargao, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao offer even drier weather this time of year.

From buzzing festivals to incredible hikes, visiting the Philippines in October is a traveler’s paradise. Relax on white-sand beaches, conquer Mount. Hibok-Hibok, or dance the night away at the MassKara Festival. October marks the shoulder season as it moves out of the rainy low season and toward a more favorable time for tourists to visit. During this period, hotel prices are still very reasonable, rainfall is less likely than in previous months, and temperatures remain consistently warm, making it a good time to enjoy the Philippines' beaches, hikes, and festivals to their fullest.

With the monsoon season coming to an end, the Philippines in November is a treat for all nature and adventure lovers. Relax at one of the country’s top beaches such as El Nido or Boracay, swim in the warm crystal-clear waters of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, or engage in exciting excursions in the Cordillera region, famed for its rolling hills and stunning lakes. You can enjoy all of this and more before the peak season rush.

December is a fantastic time to tour the Philippines. It is the start of the dry season and the weather is mostly clear and sunny. Whether you’re here to explore pristine coral reefs or scale ominous sky-high volcanoes, an abundance of adventures await. This sun-drenched archipelago, home to over 7,000 islands, becomes a mecca for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts during this time. The only downside of visiting the Philippines in December is that the country gets rather busy, especially towards the end of the month. This means crowded sites and higher prices for hotels and airfares.

The best time to visit the Philippines is during the dry season, which stretches from January until May. The cool dry season months include January and February, while March to May is considered the hot dry season. Expect considerably more rainfall during November and December than the dry season, though much less than the monsoon. These shoulder season months offer an enticing mix of pleasant weather, lower prices and fewer fellow tourists. The monsoon, sometimes called the ‘green season,’ inevitably brings heavy rain. Many travelers avoid visiting the Philippines between June and October as torrential downpours aren’t uncommon. Rough seas also occur during the monsoon, as do tropical typhoons.Keep reading for more information on the perfect time to tour the Philippines. Boracay might be a tiny island but you can discover the world over here.