Season guide · Cebu · Philippines
Cebu in the dry season
February–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: LMP 2001, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Sunny days, calm seas and the best conditions for beaches, island hopping and canyoneering; Holy Week is very busy. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 32 rainy days across February–May. February–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- February–May
- Temperatures
- 24°C (75°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 32
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 30°C (86°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 | 11.8 h | 3/5 |
| March | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 8 | 12 h | 3/5 |
| April | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 6 | 12.3 h | 4/5 |
| May | 33°C (91°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 9 | 12.6 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 32 of the year's roughly 153 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Chinese New Year — celebrations at the Taoist Temple and in the city (late January or February)
- March: Holy Week (some years fall in March)
- April: Holy Week — busy beaches and religious processions (March or April)
- April: Kadaugan sa Mactan — re-enactment of the 1521 Battle of Mactan (27 April)
Make the most of the weather
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Castle · Downtown Cebu City
Fort San Pedro
A small triangular stone fort by the port, begun by Miguel López de Legazpi's expedition in 1565 and rebuilt in stone in the 18th century.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Architecture · Busay hills above Cebu City
Temple of Leah
Combine it with Tops Lookout and the Sirao flower gardens on a half-day loop by car.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Viewpoint · Busay hills above Cebu City
Tops Lookout
A viewpoint at around 600 metres in the Busay hills with a panorama over Cebu City, Mactan and the Camotes Sea; at night the city lights spread out below.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Kids
Religious site · Uptown Cebu City (IT Park and Cebu Business Park)
Taoist Temple
Visitors can watch worshippers consulting oracle blocks; be quiet and respectful in the prayer halls.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Architecture
Experience · Mactan Island
Mactan island hopping
Outrigger bangka boats leave Mactan for small islands and marine sanctuaries such as Hilutungan, Nalusuan and the Pandanon sandbar, with snorkelling over reefs full of fish, and for Olango Island's wildlife sanctuary, a stopover for migratory birds.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Day trips in the dry season
- Bohol (About 2 hours by fast ferry, then 1 hour by road) — Bohol's countryside tour covers the Chocolate Hills, more than a thousand grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season, the tiny tarsiers at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River.
- Camotes Islands (About 1 hour by road plus 1.5–2 hours by ferry) — A quiet group of islands east of Cebu with white-sand Santiago Bay, the freshwater Lake Danao, swimmable caves such as Timubo and Bukilat, and little traffic.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the dry season a good time to visit Cebu?
Yes: February–May are among the best months. Sunny days, calm seas and the best conditions for beaches, island hopping and canyoneering; Holy Week is very busy.
+What is the weather like in Cebu in the dry season?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 32 rainy days over the season.