The best time to visit the Philippines and all the things you can do

The best time to visit the Philippines is a question every traveller has and wants to know. It’s not always sunny in the Philippines and there are seasons when forceful typhoons strike the country, which could upset your plans when visiting the country. Check out below our recommendation of the months that you can travel to the Philippines.

Best time to visit Philippines — Image Credits: Google Images

January

January is an ideal month to visit this tropical country. Although there are chances of light rain, it’s also the time of the year when the temperature is cooler due to the Northeast Monsoon. January also brings around the country’s largest festivals. The town Cebu‘s biggest and most awaited Sinulog Festival is annually celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January, whereas the province of Aklan hosts the Ati-Atihan Festival during the 2nd week of January. Meanwhile, in central Manila province, thousands of devotees band together in Quiapo to take part in the procession to get a chance to kiss or touch the life-sized statue of the Black Nazarene.

February

The month of February raises the temperature a bit higher, compared to January. The Summer Capital’s annual event occurs on the third week of February and includes a parade of beautifully-decorated floats with flowers that captivate the viewers. When you visit Baguio, you can also visit the nearby attractions such as the man-made Banaue Rice Terraces or go trekking in Sagada. Load into your trip up north by travelling to the annual Philippines’ Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark, Pampanga where colourful hot air balloons can be viewed and ridden on. This is one of the best things to do in the Philippines.

Jeepney in Philippines — Image Credits: Google Images

March

March is the month when the temperature rises up, giving way to the upcoming summer season. However, weather conditions are still favorable for travelling. Abra region hosts the Arya! Abra Festival and the Pagsanjan region welcomes the Bangkero (Boatman) Festival in the first week of the month. But one should also be aware of the public holidays in the Philippines. The Holy Week falls during this month or early April in some cases as it differs every year, and since the majority of Filipinos are Catholics by faith, there are a lot of prior religious activities that lead up to Easter Sunday. Most of the families spend their Holy Week out of town travelling and celebrate Easter Sunday on beaches and relaxing.

April

April in the Philippines brings hot, humid weather, as the temperature and humidity levels start to go up in Manila and across the country. But having said this, this time is the best month to explore the serene and remote islands. It is the perfect weather for any adventure freak. After Easter, most of the tourists will head to the islands of Palawan and Boracay which are a must-visit on the itineraries of any traveller! If you prefer not to visit the beach and would rather explore the country’s rich and vibrant culture, some of the major events during this month are Marinduque’s Moriones Festival and Bangus Festival that takes place in Dagupan City.

May

May is still a nice time to travel to the Philippines. While the inward lowland areas may experience hotter temperatures, you can head off to the mountains to see the Chocolate Hills turn chocolate brown in colour, hence giving them their name or any of the coastal areas to cool down. If you want to avoid the crowds in Boracay, there are a lot of options such as white-sand beaches that you can visit which are just as amazing and calm as the world-famous island. Travel your way through the Quezon Province to see the colourful Pahiyas Festival, or witness how the Filipinos celebrate Flores de Mayo which is a floral offering to the Virgin Mary that brings rain to the country. You can also watch a religious procession known as the Santacruzan which usually takes place in every town.

June

As the year enters June, the rain starts pouring throughout most of the country, especially in Luzon. The best time to visit the Philippines can be considered now. The people wanting to visit beaches now can still get a tan at the southern islands but do expect moments of rain showers. A very famous festival in June is the Parada ng mga Lechon which translates to the roasted pig parade, that’s held annually in the Batangas province. Meanwhile, the Tacloban City are the proud hosts of their three-part festival that includes a sailboat race called Subiran Regatta, a religious rite known as the Balyuan, and the Pintados Festival, which shows the local’s ancient ways of tattooing. One should not miss this unique experience. If you want to visit Manila during this month, prepare yourself to get soaked at the Wattah Wattah Festival which celebrates the feast of St. John the Baptist.

July

The total volume of rainfall increases in July and the majority of the islands in Luzon are highly affected and have continuous showers due to the Southwest Monsoon, making trips to the North difficult. The best time to visit the Philippines is also a definition of this month. If you want to avoid the rain then you will need to head down south to the islands of Bohol, Cebu, and Siargao which do not experience heavy rains in July. You can go surfing and take the plunge in the Siargao water. Witness the Sandugo Festival in Bohol that remembers the blood compact between Legazpi and Sikatuna. Alternatively, you can catch the Pagoda Festival in Bulacan which celebrates the Holy Cross of Wawa found in the Bocaue River.

Pinyoday Parade Philippines — Image Credits: Google Images

August

August comes with a slight increase in rain conditions as of July. The central areas of Philippines especially the Cordillera Region and the northernmost areas of Luzon have very heavy rainfall during. Metro Manila and South Luzon aren’t exceptions to the case when the Southwest Monsoon intensifies. So due to this, it’s best to travel down south and visit the Mindanao Region during this time. Davao City, the island group’s most urbanized city, celebrates the Kadayawan sa Davao during the third week of August which has street dances, parades, and horse fights. When visiting Davao, it’s the perfect chance for you to see the Philippine Eagle and the country’s highest peak, Mount Apo.

September

In the month of September, the weather conditions could get worse and strong typhoons in all areas are highly possible. September is also said to be the peak of the wet season in the Philippines. If you do plan a trip in this month, watch for public announcements as much as possible. If you are a culture junkie, it would be best to visit museums and historical landmarks, go on a gastronomic trip or head to Bicol to see the Fluvial Parade of the Nuestra Señora Peñafrancia. Also, you can see the Mayon Volcano, which is known worldwide for its almost perfectly-shaped cone!

October

October still has a probability of rain but it will be dispersed toward the end of October. The end of October is an ideal time to travel in and around the country. There are also some public holidays during this month, so local tourists look forward to getaways during October’s final week. The main event of October is Camiguin’s Lanzones Festival, notable for its vibrant outdoor party. Also, White Island is a must-see for any tourist! If you’d like to find out why Bacolod city is known as the City of Smiles, visit their town during October and celebrate the MassKara Festival, in which the friendly locals donning elaborate masks will make you smile automatically.

Philippines lake — Image Credits: Google Images

November

November is the beginning of the dry season but there is still a chance of typhoons. It’s best to plan your trip toward the end of November for a higher chance of good weather. This is also the time when there are fewer crowds in popular destinations such as Palawan, as most of the locals are visiting malls shopping for the Christmas season! If you would like to witness a grand festival, head to Angono, Rizal and watch the Higantes or the giant paper effigies Festival.

December

December brings around cooler temperatures to make it an ideal time to visit the country. Also, the Filipinos treat Christmas season as an important time of the year. You will definitely feel the Christmas vibe in any part of the country. This is the best time. to visit the Philippines if you are a Christmas traveller. But to get the most out of the Christmas experience you have to visit the San Fernando City in Pampanga and see their Giant Lantern Festival!

Now that you have got an idea about the Philippines all year round, and the best time to visit the Philippines, we at Pickyourtrail recommend that you travel to this beautiful destination Anytime from January to June and November to January. Try to avoid July to October. Visit Pickyourtrail and customise your Philippines Vacation packages. So what are you waiting for? Plan your journey from here!