Best months to visit
AprilMay
January to May is the classic Palawan window — driest, sunniest, calm sea, all island-hopping running. March-April is most reliable. December is bright but festive-busy. November and June are shoulder months with some rain. July-October is the wet season with occasional typhoon risk; Palawan is still the safer Philippines bet during this window. Tubbataha diving is mid-March through mid-June only.
Best for
Beach
December-May — El Nido, Coron, San Vicente and Honda Bay are calm and reliably sunny. Sea 28-30 °C; full beach service.
Hiking
January-April — Mt Tapyas (Coron), Taraw Cliff (El Nido) and the Underground River area are coolest and driest then.
Sightseeing
December-May — island-hopping in Bacuit Bay, Coron lakes (Kayangan, Barracuda), and the Subterranean River (UNESCO) most reliable.
Climate notes
- Sheltered from typhoon corridor: Palawan sits at the far western edge of the Philippines, mostly outside the main typhoon track. Direct typhoon hits happen but are notably less frequent than Cebu, Bohol or Luzon.
- Long wet season (June-December): SW monsoon (habagat) plus intermittent typhoon recurvature delivers 240-315 mm/month. September is typically the wettest month.
- Dry sunny season (December-May): the NE monsoon brings drier air; rainfall on Puerto Princesa and El Nido drops to 110-200 mm/month. March-April are statistically the driest.
- El Nido orographic effect: limestone karst cliffs around Bacuit Bay produce localised heavy showers — afternoon thunderstorms common in any wet-season month.
- Sea-temperature peak: 30-31 °C April-October. Visibility for diving best in dry-season months at the Tubbataha Reef and around Coron's WWII shipwrecks.
- Tubbataha National Marine Park (offshore central Sulu Sea): only accessible by liveaboard mid-March through mid-June (six-week diving window) — outside that the seas are too rough.
Temperature (min / max °C)
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Regional notes
- Puerto Princesa (mid-island east coast): main airport hub; gateway to the Subterranean River. Slightly drier than the north and south extremes.
- El Nido (NW): the famous limestone-karst lagoons of Bacuit Bay; island-hopping core. Wet season can be very wet (300+ mm/month) but mornings often clear.
- Coron (Busuanga, far north): limestone lakes (Kayangan, Barracuda) and WWII wreck dives. Slightly cooler dry season; peaks at slightly higher altitudes (Mt Tapyas).
- San Vicente / Long Beach (NW central): the longest white-sand beach in the Philippines; quieter than El Nido.
- Tubbataha Reef (Sulu Sea, far offshore): only accessible mid-March to mid-June by liveaboard. World-class diving — manta rays, sharks, pelagic life. UNESCO World Heritage.
- Honda Bay (off Puerto Princesa): cluster of small islets — easy half-day snorkel trip year-round, weather permitting.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Palawan?
January to May — the dry NE monsoon. March-April is driest and sunniest; February is calmest at sea. Avoid June-October if possible — wet season with occasional typhoon brushes, and many island-hopping tours suspended for weather.
Is Palawan safer from typhoons than the rest of the Philippines?
Yes — the most typhoon-sheltered major destination. Palawan sits at the far west and most typhoons recurve north before reaching it. Direct hits do happen (Typhoon Odette / Rai in December 2021 caused damage at El Nido and Coron) but they are markedly less frequent than in Cebu, Bohol or Luzon.
When is Tubbataha Reef diving open?
Mid-March to mid-June only — about a 6-8 week liveaboard season. Outside that window the Sulu Sea is too rough. Tubbataha is widely considered one of the best dives on Earth — manta rays, multiple shark species, and pelagic action. Reservations needed many months ahead.
Can I visit El Nido in the wet season?
Yes, with caveats. June-October sees frequent showers, choppy seas and occasional all-day tour suspensions. Mornings are often clear; rain peaks in afternoons. Half the price of dry season but plan flexibly. November and December are improving rapidly.
When is the best time to dive Coron's WWII wrecks?
December-May — calmest sea, best visibility (15-25 m), lowest current. The Japanese WWII shipwrecks (Akitsushima, Irako, Olympia Maru and others) lie at 25-40 m depth and are the world's most accessible wreck-diving site after Truk Lagoon.
What is the water temperature in Palawan?
28-31 °C year-round. April-May is warmest. No wetsuit needed for snorkelling; many divers wear a 3 mm shorty for longer Coron wreck dives.
Palawan vs Boracay vs Cebu — which is best?
Palawan for the driest weather and least typhoon risk; nature-rich (lagoons, karst, underground river). Boracay for the prettiest single beach (White Beach) and party scene. Cebu for diving (Moalboal sardines, Oslob whale sharks), urban access and Bohol day trips. All three have similar dry-season timing.
Is the Subterranean River a wet- or dry-season activity?
Best December-May. Heavy rains during wet season can occasionally close the river to boats; otherwise it's a year-round destination. The 8 km navigable section is the longest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Climate data: Open-Meteo · 2020–2025