Choosing the ideal time to visit the Philippines is not as straight forward as it sounds, there are lots of elements and personal preferences that come into play. Read this blog post to decide when suits you best.
The Philippines enjoys a tropical climate which is for the most part hot and humid year-round, but can be roughly divided into
Dry season: November and May
&
Wet season: June and October.
Dry Season
For most, the best time to visit the Philippines understandably runs in correlation with the dry season (November - May).
January and February: Are the coolest months but still a lot of sunny days making these months good for travelling.
March, April and May: Are very hot. Local Filipinos call these months ‘Summer’: expect sunshine (potentially some rain every few days, not lasting long) and temperatures peak to a scorching 36°C.
However this hot weather also makes it ‘peak-season’ so expect prices to increase and crowds to start forming. Positively, there is no risk of places being closed and everywhere is fully accessible. Peak season is slightly ‘easier’ to travel, if thats what you like.
Wet season
June- October: Visiting during the wet season doesn’t mean constant torrential rain, days can be hot and sunny, with short, intense downpours at dusk. Travelling during these months will mean fewer crowds, better value for money and lush green scenery, however not everything stays open during these ‘off-season’ months so keep that in mind.
November & May: It’s also worth considering the shoulder months of the dry season, where crowds thin out yet you can still be reasonably confident on good weather.
Straddling the typhoon belt, the Philippines can experience serious tropical storms and high humidity. The first typhoon can hit as early as May, although typically it is June or July before the rains really start, with July and August being the wettest months. Although it is not unknown to see a typhoon as late as January. This can cause flight cancellations and impassable roads.
The country is made up of more than 7,000 islands spread over 100,000 square miles, therefore weather systems can be diverse to say the least. The Philippines is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east and the Celebes Sea to the south-west, all of which contribute to what can be quite unpredictable weather patterns.
The eastern regions tend to suffer the majority of typhoons and central islands such as Bohol and Cebu, and western islands including Palawan, are a lot drier.
Weather can be unpredictable, so always travel the Philippines with an open mind to rainy days and keep flexible plans in case you need to dodge a typhoon, that being said, it’s worth remembering that while rain can deliver an inconvenient soaking, it’s usually brief.
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