The Philippines climate is tropical and characterised by high temperatures and high humidity levels throughout the year. November to April is the best time to travel to the Philippines when temperatures range from 24°C to 31°C.
| Travel Seasons | Min/Max Temperature | Season |
| November to May | 22-34°C | Dry season |
| June to October | 23-31°C | Rainy season |
High season: November to April
Best time to travel to the Philippines and for good weather
It is not surprising that the peak season for tourism in the Philippines corresponds with the dry season with average temperature from 22°C to 34°C.
The period from December to April sees the most number of tourists. The cool temperatures and sunny weather brings crowds to popular beach areas like El Nido and Coron.
All the remote islands and regions are also fully accessible.
I recommend to make your bookings well in advance if travelling during this period.
Shoulder season: May and October
Best time to travel to the Philippines for budget travelers
May and October constitute the shoulder season for tourism in the Philippines with average range temperature from 23°C to 34°C in May and 23°C to 27°C in October.
Shoulder season tends to be short and sweet in the Philippines, often just a month between the popular dry season and calmer rainy months.
You can expect way less people during these two months, much cheaper flights and accomodations.
Low season: June to September
The period from June to September coincides with the wet season for the Philippines. The rise in temperatures, as well as rainfall, makes the whole country hot and humid with average range temperature from 24°C to 31°C.
Obviously, low season means less crowds and cheaper accommodation prices, but more raging seas and a greater chance of bad weather as these months also face an increased possibility of typhoons.
I strongly recommand to check the weather forecast to avoid any typhoon activity during your stay.
Travel to the Philippines month by month
January – the best month to travel to the Philippines
The month of January is the best month to travel to the Philippines. One of the coolest months with temperature range from 21°C to 30°C.
Peak of dry season means you’ll have great weather so rain should be minimal and the conditions are comfortable for sightseeing, hitting the beach or for trekking.
It’s also party season: Ati-Atihan Festival, a week-long mardi gras in Kalibo on Panay. It is one of the Philippines’ most famous festivals that takes place during the third week of January
Be careful, New Year is a ‘superpeak’ period, and hotel rates can quadruple in resort areas.
February
February is pretty much the same as January. A slight increase in the overall temperatures can be expected.
The sea temperatures are rising, so February is the best month to take up water activities such as snorkelling and diving. And for the luckier, it is the time when you can contemplate butanding (whale shark).
On-land, the Chinese lunar new year in late January or early February is celebrated, with dragon dances, street parties and fireworks in Manila.
March
March sees an increase in temperatures, with average daily temperature reaching up to 33°C, but conditions are still at their peak for travel.
Take into account that Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter) is busy and may cause availability issues.
Best to avoid it if possible as accommodation will be very limited.
April
April is the last month and the hottest of the dry season in the Philippines with temperatures reaching their peak from 23°C to 34°C.
The hot, sunny days and clear, blue skies make this month an ideal time to explore the rice terraces of Banaue.
May
May is a great time to travel… If you don’t mind the heat. Paired with light winds it can make this an uncomfortable time to travel. The average temperatures often reach 36°C.
Lowland areas of the Philippines are extremely hot at this time of year, but this make a good month to travel to the mountain and coastal areas.
Key events includes Flores de Mayo and Magayon Festival.
June
June marks the start of the monsoon season in the Philippines.
The rains begin to make their way through the country this month starting from the North and gradually making their way South.
But it’s not all doom and gloom, the rice terraces of Banaue are usually at their greenest during June. And you can attend the Pintagos-Kasadyaan, a festival that celebrates the art of tattooing in Tacloban.
July
July witnesses an increased amount of rainfall throughout the country. The central areas like Cebu usually remain dry for most of the month.
July is not the most popular month to visit the country.
August
August is very similar to July. It’s the rainiest month that marks the start of the typhoon season.
The Philippines are best to avoid during this month if you are hoping for clear skies on your holiday.
If the rain is not discouraging you, you’ll be able to attend some festivals like Kadayawan sa Davao or the Rajah Baguinda Festival. You’ll also get fabulous discounts on accommodation.
September
The Philippines experiences extremely heavy rainfall in September. It is also one of the wettest months of the year.
Typhoon season is in full swing and I really don’t recommand to travel during this month.
Travelers who chance it could get lucky with a break in the rain, and be rewarded with low accommodation prices and quiet beaches.
October
In October, things start to dry out after the heavy rains of August and September. However, there is still a slight probability of typhoons.
The daily temperatures fall in a bearable range of 25°C to 27°C.
The main event of this month is MassKara Festival, a mask-making contests and marching-band competitions, followed by a mardi-gras parade.
November
November marks the official return of the dry season in the Philippines with the arrival of good, dry weather for most of the country and average temperature range from 22°C to 31°C.
There is also a considerable decrease in humidity levels.
December
The cooler temperatures of December make for a nice time to travel to the Philippines. It is also the start of the peak tourist season for the Philippines.
The average daily temperatures are in the range of 22°C to 32°C in the central and southern regions and the range of 21°C to 30°C in the Northern areas.
Travel to the Philippines: climate and seasons overview
- Warmest months in the Philippines: March; April; May
- Coolest months in Philippines: January; February
- Rainiest months in Philippines: July; August
- Driest month in Philippines: February
- Most crowded months in Philippines: December; January
- Least crowded months in Philippines: June; July; August
