When to go
The best time to visit the Philippines as a whole runs from
February to April, since in the regions with an equatorial climate, which in any case are rainy all year round, January is a particularly rainy month. March and April are very hot months, so February is the best month of all.
In the areas with a tropical climate, where the winter drought is evident, such as in Manila,
January is also a good month; and it's often the best one because it is dry and also the least hot.
If you want to go in
July or August, you can prefer Mindanao and the southernmost islands (Basilan, Sulu, Tawitawi), which are less rainy and therefore are acceptable even in this period, and above all are generally sheltered from typhoons.
As mentioned on the climate page, the
sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
What to pack
In
winter: on the northernmost islands (Batanes and Babuyan), bring spring/autumn clothes (light for the day), but also a sweatshirt or sweater and a jacket; a raincoat or umbrella. In the north of Luzon, light clothing, a sweatshirt or sweater for the evening, a raincoat or umbrella. In Manila and the rest of the Philippines, pack light clothing, made of natural fibers, a scarf for the breeze, a light sweatshirt for air-conditioned places, a light raincoat or umbrella for the areas where it rains even in winter. In Baguio, at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), spring/autumn clothes (light for the day), a jacket and a sweater for the evening. For the high mountains, warmer clothes depending on altitude.
In
summer: throughout the plains and the coasts, bring tropics-friendly clothing, a scarf for the breeze, a light sweatshirt for air-conditioned places, a light raincoat or umbrella. In Baguio, at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), spring/autumn clothes, a jacket and a sweater for the evening, a raincoat. For the high mountains, warmer clothes depending on altitude.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
Back to the climate of
Philippines