Philippines
Palawan Weather & Climate
The last frontier: Puerto Princesa's underground river and El Nido's limestone pinnacles
30°C
Max sea
32°C
Max air
January
Best month
13mm
Driest month
The last frontier: Puerto Princesa's underground river and El Nido's limestone pinnacles
Palawan has been voted the world's best island so many times by so many publications that the accolade has become almost redundant — and yet it continues to deserve it. The island stretches 450km from the northern tip of Luzon down towards Borneo, encompassing an extraordinary range of environments: the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (a UNESCO World Heritage Site navigable by boat for 8km through cave systems), the dramatic limestone karst pinnacles of El Nido and Coron, and the Tubbataha Reef in the middle of the Sulu Sea — arguably the Philippines' finest dive site.
When to go: November to May is dry season. El Nido and Coron are most accessible December to April.
The best months to visit Palawan are January, February, March. Peak season is April with the best combination of warm temperatures and low rainfall.
| Month | Air | Sea | Rain | UV | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°C | 27°C | 29mm | 8 | 14 |
| Feb | 28°C | 27°C | 17mm | 9 | 14 |
| Mar | 30°C | 28°C | 13mm | 10 | 14 |
| Apr | 32°C | 29°C | 21mm | 11 | 14 |
| May | 32°C | 30°C | 81mm | 11 | 14 |
| Jun | 30°C | 29°C | 152mm | 9 | 14 |
| Jul | 29°C | 29°C | 149mm | 9 | 13 |
| Aug | 29°C | 29°C | 136mm | 9 | 13 |
| Sep | 29°C | 29°C | 148mm | 10 | 13 |
| Oct | 29°C | 29°C | 158mm | 10 | 13 |
| Nov | 28°C | 28°C | 121mm | 9 | 14 |
| Dec | 27°C | 27°C | 56mm | 8 | 14 |
The best time to visit Palawan is January, February, March. Peak season is April when temperatures reach 32°C with virtually no rain. November to May is dry season. El Nido and Coron are most accessible December to April.
Sea temperatures in Palawan range from 27°C in January to 30°C in May. The sea is bath-warm at its warmest.
Winter temperatures in Palawan average 27°C with sea temperatures of 27°C. This makes it a great winter sun destination.
The driest month is March with 13mm. The wettest month sees 158mm. Palawan receives 1081mm annually.
Warm and very warm seas. Very little rain (29mm). UV 8. Sun protection essential.
Hot and very warm seas. Virtually no rain (17mm). UV 9. Sun protection essential.
Hot and bath-warm seas. Virtually no rain (13mm). UV 10. Sun protection essential.
Sweltering and bath-warm seas. Very little rain (21mm). UV 11. Sun protection essential.
Sweltering and bath-warm seas. Some rain (81mm). UV 11. Sun protection essential.
Hot and bath-warm seas. Moderate rainfall (152mm). UV 9. Sun protection essential.
Hot and bath-warm seas. Moderate rainfall (149mm). UV 9. Sun protection essential.
Hot and bath-warm seas. Moderate rainfall (136mm). UV 9. Sun protection essential.
Hot and bath-warm seas. Moderate rainfall (148mm). UV 10. Sun protection essential.
Hot and bath-warm seas. Moderate rainfall (158mm). UV 10. Sun protection essential.
Hot and bath-warm seas. Moderate rainfall (121mm). UV 9. Sun protection essential.
Warm and very warm seas. Very little rain (56mm). UV 8. Sun protection essential.
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