Author: Matt and Danielle
17 December 2024
The Philippines is a stunning country, which is packed with some of the best beaches, tropical islands and bright blue water that we have seen. It's an adventurers dream being able to explore the epic waterfalls, viewpoints and incredible white sand beaches. Like most parts of the world with a tropical climate there are good and bad times to visit. The Dry Season is full of sunny days and the ideal conditions to visit all the most popular tourist destinations. The Wet Season will have you constantly looking at the weather forecast hoping those rain clouds turn to sunshine. But, Is it really as bad as you think? And are there any positives to visit The Philippines during the wettest months?
Lets look into the best time of year to visit the Philippines and what you can expect during The Wet season.
The Philippines, like most of Southeast Asia, has a tropical climate. Their seasons aren't split into 4 distinct seasons like you may be used to in your home country, it is split into two. There are differences within those seasons, which we will get into a little later, but for the most part the year is divided into The Wet Season and The Dry Season. The Wet Season is warmer, with higher humidity and The Dry season has the coolest months with lesser humidity. You can also refer to them as High Season and Low Season, which refers to the levels of tourism you see in The Philippines during these times of year. Obviously, with nicer and cooler weather comes more tourism, and the rain usually keeps more people away, which is why that is the Low Season.
The Philippines is a large tropical country packed with some of the world's most beautiful beaches. Rainy days and beach days don't exactly go hand-in-hand, so you if you want to make sure you visit during the best time of the year then you should be looking between December and February. This is The Dry season with average temperatures around 30-degrees, but it is also the High Season with with many tourists opting to visit during these months.
If you are looking to take part in predominantly outdoor activities, and want the good weather for them, then you may have to also put up with the crowds. If you are not so set on having clear blue skies everyday, and would prefer things a little quieter then there may be a very good option for you.
Shoulder season refers to the months in between The Wet and Dry seasons. It is always a gamble, as you could still get caught in frequent rains, but there are fewer crowds...and you're just as likely to get clear skies as you are heavy rains and strong winds. We have often opted to visit places during shoulder seasons because of the fewer tourists making trips, and have usually been rewarded with some great weather. Accommodation is typically a little bit cheaper this time of year too.
If this sounds like a good time to you, then you should be looking at either the shoulder months of May or November. You are likely to avoid the typhoon and monsoon seasons, but due to climate change you can never really be sure.
Lets get into the Wet Season and Monsoon Season, they come with high humidity, heavy rainfall, and severe weather warnings. A lot of the country can also be impacted by typhoons and monsoons. Monsoon Season in the Philippines is typically between June to November, with July to October being Typhoon Season and the highest chance of seeing tropical cyclones.
This time of year definitely has lower prices for accommodation and places will be significantly quieter than during the peak season, but be prepared to have disruption to your travel plans due to weather. If you are set on visiting during this time then there are some parts of The Philippines that gets better weather than others during this time.
Statistically August is the wettest month in the Philippines, with an average rainfall of nearly 600mm. It is also the windiest month with on average 10km/h winds. If you really can brave the weather then I would take a guess and assume this is likely the cheapest month to visit also, but you are going to want to make sure you have some indoor activities lined up.
If you are visiting The Philippines during the Monsoon season, then there is still a saving grace for you. While a lot of the islands on the outside can often get hit with typhoons, monsoons and other tropical storms, you can still find a few places tucked away that are shielded from the worst of it. The best areas of The Philippines to visit during The Wet season are the islands in the Central Visayas Region. These are shielded from a lot of the worst weather, and there are some amazing islands to visit within them. Bohol and Cebu are two larger islands in this area with plenty to do and see. Some of the best waterfalls we found in The Philippines were in Cebu, and Bohol has stunning beaches, waterfalls and the famous Chocolate Hills.
Palawan, home to popular destinations like El Nido and Coron, is less likely to see typhoons but is likely to get those heavy monsoon rains. For a place that is famous for it's day trips to beautiful beaches, islands and lagoons, visiting during the middle of the rainy season in the Philippines wouldn't be the best idea.
Planning a trip to the Philippines? Check out our Ultimate Philippines Guide here!
If it's all doom and gloom with rainy days, warm temperatures and even the chance of typhoons, why do people visit places like this during The Monsoon Season? There must be some good things about it, right?!
That is right! There are a few great reasons to visit The Philippines during The Rainy Season. The biggest being that these months are the cheapest. With less tourists about hotels and guest houses often run promotions and lower their prices, even flights are cheaper. Good deals aside, the rain also brings all that luscious tropical nature to it's peak. The rice fields and towering palm trees all have a much deeper green to them at this time of year so it really can be an incredibly beautiful time to visit.
One of our personal favourites is that less tourists also means you can find yourself getting all the most incredible places to yourself. It is always a gamble as you could find yourself alone on a stunning tropical beach with it torrenting all around you, but you can also get lucky with clear blue skies! Your best bet is still to visit during the shoulder season, during the start of the Rainy season, or the end. It is still a gamble, but that gives you the best chance of good weather.
The Philippines really is the ultimate summer destination, and if you take a gamble by visiting during The Monsoon season, and it doesn't pay off, then you can be left stuck inside rather than seeing all the popular attractions. The best season for weather really is The Dry season, so anything outside of that and you could wind up travelling all that way and not physically being able to see or do much.
If you are also looking to visit anywhere slightly remote in The Philippines then it is important to remember that some parts of the country aren't even accessible during this time. Even some of the more popular islands can cancel flights and boats at a moments notice, so you really do need to be okay with your trip being incredibly flexible. Disruptions and changes can happy at a moments notice during The Wet Season, so you really do need to have a plan B, C and maybe even D just in case!
Finally, the humid weather can be a real problem for people. Not only can it be very wet, but the humidity is at it's highest during this time of year. If you want those cooler temperatures then you will want to stick to the high season.
If you have decided to brave the humid conditions and visit The Philippines during The Rainy season, then you will want to have some activities lined up for any potentially rainy days. Here are some options that will ensure you still have a great time on your trip.
Spa Day - Who doesn't love a spa day! Why not treat yourself if you can't make use of the warm weather. Book in a massage, some treatments and live the life of luxury that you deserve.
Day Club - If you can't spend your time on the beach enjoying the tropical weather then why not visit a day club for a few drinks? That way you are in a great spot for in the sunny weather does appear, even if it's only for a moment.
Shopping - You can always cheer yourself up with a little retail therapy if the weather isn't playing ball. If you are on a smaller island then you likely won't be able to visit a shopping mall, but if you are somewhere like Cebu City then you can definitely find a large indoor shopping area.
Arts & Crafts - Spend some time making your own jewellery, pottery or painting and that way you have a really great and personal souvenir to take back with you. It often takes a few hours to do these things so you can hope that the weather perks up in the meantime, or at least that heavy rainfall turns into just a little rainfall.
Restaurants, Bars & Cafe's - Food. It is always a great way to pick up most people! Go and explore some of the amazing cafe's, bakeries and restaurants in the area.
Make some friends - Why not book in at a hostel, that way you are all bunkered in together if the weather really is that bad. They always have communal spaces to hang out and you can have a few drinks, play some games and bond over the dreadful weather.
Embrace the rain - If you are the type of person who won't let a little rain stop you then why not embrace it! Visit a waterfall, sit in some hot springs or even check out some water sports...as long as there isn't a typhoon!
It is always a good idea to be prepared for any potential rain, whether you are visiting The Philippines during The Wet season or The Dry season. SE Asia can be unpredictable when it comes to weather, and even the best destinations at the perfect time of year can unexpectedly get hit by random bouts of bad weather. Here are a few things you may want to look at packing when you visit The Philippines, especially during monsoon season:
Waterproof Packing Cubes - Give your clothes the best chance at staying dry
Waterproof shoe bags - No one wants to put on wet shoes!
Quick dry clothing - If they do get wet, then having clothes that dry quickly are super helpful.
Insect repellant - The Rainy Season is when those pesky mosquitos are at their worst.
Rain coat - In case you are caught out and about.
Versatile footwear - It is great to have versatile shoes for both men & women so that you confidently brave any weather.
Dry bag - This one is great for the Philippines regardless because you will likely be planning a bunch of awesome boat trips.
Ziplock bags - Perfect for storing your phone, money, passport and all other important small items. Grab some from your local shop.
Sun cream - It is always good to be optimistic.
Micro-fiber towel - This is another general travel essential, but even more so during The Rainy Season
clothes freshener/ moister absorber - Help keep your bag free from damp.
waterproof flashlight - Power cuts can even happen during the high season, but are more likely in the Rainy season.
Thank you so much for reading our blog. We hope we covered everything you need to know about visiting the Philippines during Monsoon Season. If you need more tips on The Philippines and incredible things you can do there, then don't forget to see more of our blogs here.
Our Ultimate Philippines Guide will also help you plan the perfect trip!
Have we given you the travel bug? Book your flights, accommodation, travel e-sim and travel insurance all here.
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