Philippines, Asia
The best time to visit Palawan
Limestone islands and lagoons where calm seas, not the calendar, decide whether your boat trip happens.
- Best months
- Jan to Apr
- Think twice
- Jul and Aug
- Quietest
- September
- Cheapest
- July
The straight answer
The best time to visit Palawan is January through April, the heart of the dry season, when seas are calmest for island hopping around El Nido and Coron.
Go from January through April. The dry northeast monsoon (amihan) brings sunny days, low rainfall, and flat water on the west side of the island, which is exactly what El Nido's lagoon tours and Coron's wreck dives need. March and April are the hottest months, with highs in the low 90s F, but also the most reliably calm.
From June to October the southwest monsoon (habagat) takes over. Rain comes in heavy bursts, the sea on El Nido's side gets rough, and the coast guard regularly cancels boat tours for days at a time. Palawan sits south of the main typhoon belt and is hit less often than Luzon or the Visayas, but it is not immune: Typhoon Rai (Odette) struck northern Palawan in December 2021.
November and December are the transition into dry season and can be excellent, though some years they carry late-season storms. Christmas through New Year and Holy Week are the Philippines' biggest domestic travel peaks, so resorts, flights, and island-hopping boats book up early.
Palawan, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryBestDry and sunny, highs near 88F (31C), breezyCalm seas and blue skies. Early January still carries holiday crowds; the second half is prime.Hotels for January →CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryBestDry, highs near 88F (31C), lowest humidity of the yearArguably the single best month: flat water, clear visibility, and comfortable heat.Hotels for February →CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchBestHot and dry, highs near 90F (32C)Excellent for island hopping and diving. Tubbataha's liveaboard season opens in mid March.Hotels for March →CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilBestHottest month, highs near 92F (33C), very dryGlassy seas and full sun. Holy Week often falls in March or April and is the busiest domestic travel week of the year.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayGoodHot and humid, highs near 91F (33C), first storms late monthStill mostly good for the first few weeks. Rains typically arrive late in the month.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneTradeoffsHumid, highs near 87F (31C), southwest monsoon arrivingRain in bursts and rougher seas. Prices drop and some days are perfect, but tours can be cancelled.CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyThink twiceWet, highs near 86F (30C), frequent heavy rainPeak southwest monsoon. El Nido tours are cancelled often when the coast guard halts boats.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustThink twiceWet and windy, highs near 86F (30C)Rough seas and grey skies on the west coast. Cheap, but you may spend days waiting for boats.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberTradeoffsWet, highs near 87F (31C), heavy rainStill monsoon season. Coron's sheltered bays sometimes fare better than El Nido's open coast.CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberTradeoffsTransitional, highs near 87F (31C), rain easingRain eases late in the month but storms are still possible. A gamble that sometimes pays.CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberGoodDrying out, highs near 87F (31C)Dry season arrives and crowds are still light. Late-season typhoons remain a small risk.Hotels for November →CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberGoodMostly dry, highs near 87F (31C), breezyGood weather, but Christmas to New Year is the most expensive and crowded stretch. Book months ahead.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book Palawan for January.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for January
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in PalawanOpens a hotel search for Palawan in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in PalawanWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in PalawanTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Palawan for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Palawan
El Nido's lagoons
Towering limestone cliffs, the Big and Small Lagoons, and hidden beaches reached by kayak or bangka boat. Some of the best island hopping in Asia.
World-class diving
Coron's sunken Japanese World War II supply ships, and Tubbataha Reefs, a UNESCO-listed marine park in the Sulu Sea reachable only by liveaboard.
The underground river
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lets you paddle into a cave system that flows straight into the sea.
Still room to escape
Port Barton, San Vicente's Long Beach, and the Balabac islands in the far south remain far quieter than El Nido and Coron.
Things to do, and when to do them
El Nido island hopping (Tours A to D)
Tour A covers the Big and Small Lagoons. Boats need coast guard clearance and are cancelled in rough seas, so book early in your stay.
Coron: Kayangan Lake and the wrecks
Kayangan's viewpoint is best early before the boats arrive. Wreck dives suit certified divers; snorkelers can see the shallower Skeleton Wreck.
Puerto Princesa Underground River
Permits are limited per day and required. Book through an accredited operator or the city permit office ahead of time.
Tubbataha Reefs
Liveaboard only, and only in the calm season from about mid March to mid June. Book a year ahead.
Port Barton
A slow village beach town between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, with island hopping minus the crowds.
Nacpan Beach
A long golden beach north of El Nido town. Go on a weekday afternoon.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Holy Week (Semana Santa)
The week before Easter, usually March or April
Filipinos travel en masse. El Nido and Coron are full, prices peak, and some businesses close on Good Friday.
Tubbataha dive season
Roughly mid March to mid June
The only window when liveaboards can cross the Sulu Sea to the reefs.
Baragatan Festival
June, around the founding anniversary of Palawan province
Puerto Princesa's provincial festival, with street dancing, trade fairs, and local food.
Christmas and New Year
Mid December to early January
The Philippines celebrates one of the longest Christmas seasons anywhere. Beaches and boats book out, with the highest prices of the year.
Beat the crowds
- Do El Nido's Tour A as early as operators allow, or charter a private boat and run the route in reverse to hit the lagoons before the big groups.
- Avoid Holy Week, Christmas to New Year, and Chinese New Year week; resorts fill and prices jump.
- Split the trip between a busy hub and a quiet base like Port Barton or San Vicente.
- Book a few buffer days. In shoulder months, boat cancellations for rough seas can knock out a day or two of tours.
Open or closed
- The coast guard cancels island hopping and ferry trips when seas are rough, most often from June to October.
- The Puerto Princesa Underground River has limited daily permits and can close in bad weather or for maintenance; confirm your slot.
- El Nido charges an environmental fee (the Ecotourism Development Fee) for island hopping; keep your receipt for the length of your stay.
- Some small resorts in remote areas close or reduce services during the rainy season.
With kids in tow
- Palawan works well with older kids who can handle long boat days and snorkeling. Very young children may find the heat and boat rides tiring.
- Island-hopping boats have life jackets, but check that they have child sizes. Reef shoes help on coral beaches.
- Van transfers between Puerto Princesa and El Nido take five to six hours. With small kids, fly directly into El Nido or Coron instead.
- For homeschool families: the underground river and Tubbataha are living lessons in marine and cave ecosystems, and Coron's wrecks are World War II history under water.
Getting there
- Fly into Manila (MNL). Philippine Airlines and United fly nonstop from several US cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Honolulu.
- From Manila, fly to Puerto Princesa (PPS) for the center of the island, to El Nido's small Lio airport, or to Busuanga (USU) for Coron.
- Ferries link El Nido and Coron in a few hours when seas allow. They are among the first services cancelled in rough weather.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Palawan timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Palawan?
February. It is dry, the seas are calm, and humidity is at its lowest. January, March, and April are also excellent.
When is the rainy season in Palawan?
Roughly June to October, under the southwest monsoon. El Nido's west-facing coast gets the roughest seas, and boat tours are often cancelled.
Does Palawan get typhoons?
Less often than much of the Philippines because it sits further south, but it does get hit. Typhoon Rai (Odette) damaged northern Palawan in December 2021. Watch forecasts from June to December.
What is the cheapest time to visit Palawan?
July to September, during the southwest monsoon. Resorts discount heavily, but you risk days of cancelled boat tours.
When should I dive Tubbataha?
Only from about mid March to mid June, when liveaboards can make the crossing. Trips sell out a year or more in advance.
When is Palawan most crowded?
Christmas to New Year, Holy Week, and the Chinese New Year period. Book flights and island hopping tours months ahead for those weeks.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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