Best Travel Time & Typhoon Season

The Philippines has a tropical climate with two main seasons. The travel time depends heavily on the region — and the dreaded typhoon season.

The Two Seasons

• Dry Season (November – May): The best travel time. Little rain, lots of sunshine, pleasant temperatures (25–32 °C). December to February is the coolest and most pleasant period. March to May it gets increasingly hot (up to 38 °C).
• Rainy Season (June – October): Regular showers, often heavy, but usually only for a few hours. The sun shines between the downpours. Cheaper prices, fewer tourists. But: Typhoon season!

Typhoon Season (July – November)

The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons per year — more than any other country in the world. The strongest storms occur between August and November, especially on the east coast of Luzon and the eastern Visayas. Palawan and the western Visayas are less affected.

Regional Differences

Region	Best Time	Rainy Season	Special Features
Manila & Luzon	Nov – Feb	Jun – Oct	Typhoons Aug–Nov, April unbearably hot
Palawan	Dec – May	Jun – Nov	Fewer typhoons than east coast
Cebu & Bohol	Dec – May	Jun – Nov	Whale sharks in Oslob year-round
Siargao	Mar – Oct (Surfing)	Nov – Feb	Best waves Sep–Nov!
Northern Luzon (Banaue)	Mar – May	Jun – Oct	Rice terraces green: Jun–Jul

Climate Table: Cebu

Month	Air °C	Rainy Days	Water Temp.	Rating
January	25–30	8	27 °C	⭐⭐⭐⭐
February	25–31	6	27 °C	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March	26–32	5	28 °C	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April	27–33	5	29 °C	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May	27–33	8	29 °C	⭐⭐⭐⭐
June	27–32	13	29 °C	⭐⭐⭐
July	27–32	14	28 °C	⭐⭐
August	27–32	13	28 °C	⭐⭐
September	26–32	14	28 °C	⭐⭐
October	26–31	15	28 °C	⭐⭐
November	26–31	12	27 °C	⭐⭐⭐
December	25–30	10	27 °C	⭐⭐⭐⭐