Tourism Seasons by Country

Pick a country to see its tourist season month by month — high season, shoulder season and low season — along with any festivals that affect prices, crowds or closures that month.
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Philippines

Month Season Description
January December through March (Tag-Lamig/Tag-Init) is peak tourist season across most of the archipelago. Palawan (El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa) is at absolute capacity from December to February: island-hopping boat tours and cottage accommodation in El Nido book out weeks ahead, and prices are 60–90% above low-season rates. Boracay's White Beach fills with South Korean, Chinese, and European visitors. Manila's hotels see high occupancy around Christmas and New Year. Cebu and Siargao enjoy their best surf and beach conditions. Domestic airfares between Manila, Cebu, and Palawan spike substantially; book at least 3–4 weeks ahead. February is also high season as the post-Chinese New Year wave from East Asia continues.
February December through March (Tag-Lamig/Tag-Init) is peak tourist season across most of the archipelago. Palawan (El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa) is at absolute capacity from December to February: island-hopping boat tours and cottage accommodation in El Nido book out weeks ahead, and prices are 60–90% above low-season rates. Boracay's White Beach fills with South Korean, Chinese, and European visitors. Manila's hotels see high occupancy around Christmas and New Year. Cebu and Siargao enjoy their best surf and beach conditions. Domestic airfares between Manila, Cebu, and Palawan spike substantially; book at least 3–4 weeks ahead. February is also high season as the post-Chinese New Year wave from East Asia continues.
March December through March (Tag-Lamig/Tag-Init) is peak tourist season across most of the archipelago. Palawan (El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa) is at absolute capacity from December to February: island-hopping boat tours and cottage accommodation in El Nido book out weeks ahead, and prices are 60–90% above low-season rates. Boracay's White Beach fills with South Korean, Chinese, and European visitors. Manila's hotels see high occupancy around Christmas and New Year. Cebu and Siargao enjoy their best surf and beach conditions. Domestic airfares between Manila, Cebu, and Palawan spike substantially; book at least 3–4 weeks ahead. February is also high season as the post-Chinese New Year wave from East Asia continues.
April April, May, and November are transitional months. April (still dry) is hot and sees Holy Week (Semana Santa), which creates enormous domestic travel pressure: all buses, ferries, and flights fill up the week before Easter and accommodation in coastal destinations becomes unavailable at short notice — foreign travellers should book everything well ahead. May marks the beginning of the typhoon season; tourist volumes start to drop and prices moderate. November is the tail end of the typhoon risk period but already seeing returning visitors; good deals are available and the beach resorts are filling up again.
May April, May, and November are transitional months. April (still dry) is hot and sees Holy Week (Semana Santa), which creates enormous domestic travel pressure: all buses, ferries, and flights fill up the week before Easter and accommodation in coastal destinations becomes unavailable at short notice — foreign travellers should book everything well ahead. May marks the beginning of the typhoon season; tourist volumes start to drop and prices moderate. November is the tail end of the typhoon risk period but already seeing returning visitors; good deals are available and the beach resorts are filling up again.
June June through October is the typhoon season (tag-ulan). Visitor numbers drop sharply, especially in Luzon and Eastern Visayas which bear the brunt of typhoon landfalls. Palawan (largely protected by geography) and Cebu (southern Visayas) remain reasonably accessible. Hotel and hostel prices in Manila, Boracay, and El Nido drop 40–60%; walk-in rates are readily available. Many beach resorts in exposed areas reduce staff or close temporarily between July and September. Siargao remains viable for surfers as this is actually surfing peak season (August–November). Budget travellers and surf addicts find this the best value window.
July June through October is the typhoon season (tag-ulan). Visitor numbers drop sharply, especially in Luzon and Eastern Visayas which bear the brunt of typhoon landfalls. Palawan (largely protected by geography) and Cebu (southern Visayas) remain reasonably accessible. Hotel and hostel prices in Manila, Boracay, and El Nido drop 40–60%; walk-in rates are readily available. Many beach resorts in exposed areas reduce staff or close temporarily between July and September. Siargao remains viable for surfers as this is actually surfing peak season (August–November). Budget travellers and surf addicts find this the best value window.
August June through October is the typhoon season (tag-ulan). Visitor numbers drop sharply, especially in Luzon and Eastern Visayas which bear the brunt of typhoon landfalls. Palawan (largely protected by geography) and Cebu (southern Visayas) remain reasonably accessible. Hotel and hostel prices in Manila, Boracay, and El Nido drop 40–60%; walk-in rates are readily available. Many beach resorts in exposed areas reduce staff or close temporarily between July and September. Siargao remains viable for surfers as this is actually surfing peak season (August–November). Budget travellers and surf addicts find this the best value window.
September June through October is the typhoon season (tag-ulan). Visitor numbers drop sharply, especially in Luzon and Eastern Visayas which bear the brunt of typhoon landfalls. Palawan (largely protected by geography) and Cebu (southern Visayas) remain reasonably accessible. Hotel and hostel prices in Manila, Boracay, and El Nido drop 40–60%; walk-in rates are readily available. Many beach resorts in exposed areas reduce staff or close temporarily between July and September. Siargao remains viable for surfers as this is actually surfing peak season (August–November). Budget travellers and surf addicts find this the best value window.
October June through October is the typhoon season (tag-ulan). Visitor numbers drop sharply, especially in Luzon and Eastern Visayas which bear the brunt of typhoon landfalls. Palawan (largely protected by geography) and Cebu (southern Visayas) remain reasonably accessible. Hotel and hostel prices in Manila, Boracay, and El Nido drop 40–60%; walk-in rates are readily available. Many beach resorts in exposed areas reduce staff or close temporarily between July and September. Siargao remains viable for surfers as this is actually surfing peak season (August–November). Budget travellers and surf addicts find this the best value window.
November April, May, and November are transitional months. April (still dry) is hot and sees Holy Week (Semana Santa), which creates enormous domestic travel pressure: all buses, ferries, and flights fill up the week before Easter and accommodation in coastal destinations becomes unavailable at short notice — foreign travellers should book everything well ahead. May marks the beginning of the typhoon season; tourist volumes start to drop and prices moderate. November is the tail end of the typhoon risk period but already seeing returning visitors; good deals are available and the beach resorts are filling up again.
December December through March (Tag-Lamig/Tag-Init) is peak tourist season across most of the archipelago. Palawan (El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa) is at absolute capacity from December to February: island-hopping boat tours and cottage accommodation in El Nido book out weeks ahead, and prices are 60–90% above low-season rates. Boracay's White Beach fills with South Korean, Chinese, and European visitors. Manila's hotels see high occupancy around Christmas and New Year. Cebu and Siargao enjoy their best surf and beach conditions. Domestic airfares between Manila, Cebu, and Palawan spike substantially; book at least 3–4 weeks ahead. February is also high season as the post-Chinese New Year wave from East Asia continues.

Festivals & events

Sinulog & Ati-Atihan Celebration
Jan

Vibrant January street festivals in Cebu and Kalibo, among the country's biggest. Third week of January.

Panagbenga Flower Festival Celebration
Feb

Baguio's month-long flower festival with grand float parades. Usually February.

Holy Week Closures
Mar–Apr · approximate dates

The country largely shuts from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday; transport booked out. Dates late Mar–Apr.

Kadayawan Festival Celebration
Aug

Davao's thanksgiving harvest festival celebrating fruit, flowers and indigenous culture. Usually August.

MassKara Festival Celebration
Oct

Bacolod's 'City of Smiles' festival of smiling masks and street dance. Usually October.

Christmas Season High prices
Dec

The Philippines keeps the world's longest Christmas season; December brings peak demand and busy transport.