All the Philippines They are an archipelago of more than seven thousand islands that offer a thousand wonders to travelers. If you like white sand beaches and turquoise waters, majestic mountains and rice fields lost in the landscape... well, your destination is this corner of the world.
let's see then What is the best time to travel to the Philippines? And what can we do there?
Philippines
The climate of the Philippines is tropical. and is characterized by very high temperatures and high humidity almost all year round. The hottest time is usually between March and October, and a slight drop in the thermometer is recorded between the months of November and February.
You can see on the map that the country is vast, but temperatures remain fairly stable throughout, with an average range of between 20ºC and 30ºC. And as it usually happens in tropical countries, here they experience only two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season.
There may be some exceptions to this, because for example, while in the west of the country these two seasons are clearly divided, in the south the dry season almost does not exist. So, in general, the dry season can be said to be from November to April while the rains affect most of the country between May and October.
Of course, we cannot fail to point out that the climate here is susceptible to the effects of phenomena such as The Boy or The Girl, so everything can either get better or worse. These phenomena are not so predictable, so we advise you to take a good look at when you want to go and do it if La Niña is not around, which is the most problematic phenomenon of both when it comes to tourism.
Let's not forget that typhoons hit the philippines every year. So is, typhoon season lasts from june to september, but there are times when someone gets up a little early and arrives in May. But of course, there are always more chances during July and August, the most humid months in the archipelago. So, in addition to the rains, the humidity rises, there are landslides and high tides everywhere.
Think that in typhoon season everything can become chaotic, traveling the routes, going to the beach, absolutely everything. People are warned to stay inside and all of that makes the holidays go to hell. Let's say then that this season should be avoided absolutely, unless you investigate a little and decide to go to other islands further away from these phenomena.
That is to say, there are more than 7500 islands far from each other and typhoons do not affect the whole country equally. In general, more are recorded from east to west, to head north later, so the islands located to the south are usually less hits by them or suffer milder effects. Therefore, if you do not have another date than the wet season to travel, then travel as far south as possible and concentrate your activities during the day, since the monsoon rains usually arrive late at night.
With all this being said, you already know that the Philippines have two very clear seasons, so choosing the The best time to travel to the Philippines is easy: the dry season, Without a doubt. From January to February the weather is cooler so it's the best if you don't like the humid heat of the tropics. It may rain, but the showers are much shorter and won't affect your travel plans. Do you think about those months in the middle of the two seasons? That is, between May and November? They are also valid.
Now, How is winter in the Philippines? En general, dry and warm. The average temperature rarely goes below 20ºC and there is little chance of rain, so it is undoubtedly the stellar season when it comes to travel.
It's the best time anywhere in the tropics to walk, sunbathe, swim, and do everything outdoors. Obviously, the only bad thing is that it is the most searched season and it calls crowds. Christmas and New Year are particularly tourist seasons, so you should know that there are people everywhere and you should book even the transport.
Visiting the Philippines in the first months of the year is great. Manila It is a wonderful city, with almost 13 million inhabitants and a lot to see. It is also a good time to head towards Cagayan de Oro, a city in the south that is great for adventure tourism, especially for rafting.
The truth is that winter is wonderful here because the skies are clear and light blue, ideal for going to the mountains, even to see Mount Pinatubo, the dormant volcano of the islands. It is also great to go to meet davao, with its sanctuaries and its night markets, the samar island with its wonderful caves or also for trekking through the jungle in Puerto Galera.
However, starting in March, temperatures gradually begin to rise throughout the country and winter gives rise to the spring. We can say that this period is even better than the previous one, since it continues without raining. March, April and May are exceptional months to go to the beach, the winds are calm and the water is warm, so you can walk, snorkel or surf. A lot of people arrive, so you also have to plan everything in advance.
In spring the temperature does not exceed 30ºC, with May being the hottest month of this season, especially in Manila. If the heat is not your thing then head north to Luzon, for example, protected by the mountain range and with cooler winds, at least before the typhoon season. The summer capital of the Philippines is, for example, the city of baguio. But there is also the Cagayan Valley and the Banaue rice terraces at an incredible latitude, the Kaparkan waterfalls or Mount Pulag National Park.
After spring comes summer, not the best time to visit the Philippines but sometimes the only one certain travelers have. Summer comes with the typhoon season and the temperatures rise, as do the clouds, so even though it is hotter, the skies are usually cloudy.
The effects of typhoons are felt much more in the north, so if you decide to travel you should know that your plans may be altered. The least affected areas may be Palawan and the central and southern part of the Visayas. What else is there to do in the summer in the Philippines?
Well, the culinary capital of the country is San Fernando Pampanga, about 70 kilometers from Manila, to the north. Easy to reach, even in the rain. Also from Manila you can go to tagaytay, with great views of Lake Taal and the volcano. If you want beaches, there is Siquijor, an island that, although it receives rain, is generally short-lived and does not take up the whole day.
Palawan can also be visited during the summer as typhoons rarely affect the area. Palawan is one of the most popular tropical destinations in the country, although it is better to go in the low season to better enjoy El Nido. June is the cutoff month if you don't like extreme heat and humidity. And another island with little rain is Siargao, where the dry season lasts until October. Is the capital of surfing in the Philippines.
Finally, if we talk about the best time to travel to philippines we can talk about autumn. At least the first months of autumn are affected by the rainy season, but they start to loosen up at the end of October. If you don't want last-minute cancellations, it's best to avoid the northern islands at this time of year. The weather continues to improve November, one of the best months to visit the Philippines.
For this time of year everything is predictable again, the temperature settles in 25ºC, the humidity begins to be tolerable. Of course, prices are increasing because we are already close to the winter season, which is the highest. During this time you can meet Cebu, and from there go to the Mactan Island or to Kawasan Falls, For example. The islands near Cebu City are also tropical gems, for example, Panay, Dinagat or Bantayan.
Finally, beyond the weather and the seasons, what else should we take into account to choose the best time to visit philippines? Well the holidays and celebrations. The culture of the islands is very rich and this type of event makes vacations even better. In this sense, the month of February is very interesting because it has the Mardi Gras parades and Carnivals. In April there is boat race – dragon and the festival of May flowers, in May.
The summer remembers the tribal origin of the island with events such as the Tinalak or Painted, and of course the christian holidays they are also great. The truth is that all corners of the country, and communities, whether they are cities or neighborhoods, have their own festivals, either in honor of the harvest or of a Christian patron saint, so there is always some cultural event. From January to May, yes, they are the main ones.
I hope all this information about what is the best time to visit the philippines.