Best time to visit · Palawan · Philippines
The best time to visit Palawan
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jordan Balintac, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Palawan is from January to April, when the dry season brings calm seas, sunshine and reliable island-hopping. December and May are good but busier or hotter. From about July to October the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas that often cancel boat tours and ferries.
Key facts
- Best months
- January–April
- Shoulder season
- May and November–December
- Warmest month
- April (avg high 33°C (91°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 31°C (88°F))
- Rainiest month
- July (~19 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- July–October
Seasons
Palawan is hot and humid all year. The dry season runs from about December to May, with calm seas and the best island-hopping; the south-west monsoon brings rain and rougher seas from about June to October, when boat tours are more often cancelled. Typhoons pass north of most of Palawan, but Coron is more exposed than the south.
December–February
Cool dry season
Sunny, breezy and calm, with the most comfortable temperatures; Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks.
March–May
Hot dry season
Hot and calm with the warmest water and Tubbataha diving; Holy Week and school holidays crowd El Nido and Coron.
June–September
Wet season
South-west monsoon rain and swells, frequent tour and ferry cancellations, and the lowest prices.
October–November
Transition
Rain gradually eases and seas settle; good value with improving odds for boat trips.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C | 23°C | 7 | 28°C | 11.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 31°C | 23°C | 4 | 27°C | 11.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 32°C | 23°C | 4 | 28°C | 12 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 33°C | 24°C | 5 | 29°C | 12.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| May | 33°C | 25°C | 12 | 30°C | 12.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 32°C | 25°C | 18 | 30°C | 12.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 31°C | 24°C | 19 | 29°C | 12.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August | 31°C | 24°C | 19 | 29°C | 12.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 31°C | 24°C | 19 | 29°C | 12.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 31°C | 24°C | 19 | 29°C | 11.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 31°C | 24°C | 15 | 29°C | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 31°C | 23°C | 12 | 28°C | 11.6 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| March | Tubbataha dive season opens (usually mid-March); Holy Week — major domestic travel period, boats and rooms sell out (March or April) |
| April | Holy Week (March or April) |
| June | Baragatan Festival — Palawan's provincial festival in Puerto Princesa (usually June) |
| December | Christmas and New Year — peak domestic travel (late December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in July–October, and the sights are quietest in July–October. Many visitors avoid August.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Cool dry season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Hot dry season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Wet season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Transition | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Palawan?
The best time to visit Palawan is from January to April, when the dry season brings calm seas, sunshine and reliable island-hopping. December and May are good but busier or hotter. From about July to October the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas that often cancel boat tours and ferries.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Palawan?
Usually in July–October. Wet and windy at times, with rough seas that can cancel El Nido's outer island tours; low prices.
+What is the rainiest month in Palawan?
July, with about 19 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Palawan get?
The warmest month, April, averages highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 24°C (75°F).