The best gift you could give anyone (including yourself) is a life full of adventures. Planning a getaway vacation might be the most exciting part, or it could be the most problematic. You get excited for the day to come, but also you might think you have over-looked something. The climate or weather forecasts are vital to consider while planning a visit.
Puerto Princesa is on the top list of cities to visit. Its breath-taking sceneries and places to go for an adventure make it a popular tourist attraction. Puerto Princesa is a city located at Palawan, the westernmost island in the Philippines. You might want to think ahead about the weather to make things perfect for you.
What is the weather like?
The Philippines is located near the equator and has only two seasons: the wet and dry seasons. The season lasts for about six months each. The dry season starts from the end of November to late May. The wet season in the Philippines begins in the early parts of June and lasts until October.
Filipinos love the dry season, and most tourists visit the Philippines during the dry season because it is the time of the year where outdoor activities are alive!
There are two prevailing wind systems in the Philippines: Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), which is active from November to February, and Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) prevailing from July to September.
During Amihan, there is little or no rainfall with moderate temperature. This weather makes the Christmas season chilly. In contrast, Habagat comes with hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rain that brings many typhoons to the Philippines.
Watch out for the typhoons!
The Philippines is located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific area. It is visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year, five of which are destructive. But no need to worry because Palawan Island, where Puerto Princesa is located, is hardly ever hit by storms. It is also safe from other natural catastrophes such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Most visited time of the year
If you are planning on visiting Puerto Princesa from December to April or during the holidays, make sure to plan out your flights and accommodation ahead of time because hotels are usually fully-booked, and some charge their highest prices at this time of the year.
Puerto Princesa is an all-year destination. Though typhoons seldom visit it, tourists avoid going from June to October. At this time of the year, the hotels offer the best rates of up to 50%. If you will be traveling and planning to spend less, wanting to avoid crowded areas and tourist spots with lesser waiting time in lines, then June to October is the best time to visit. However, keep in mind the risk that it may still rain.
Monthly Climate to consider before booking for your adventure:
January
Temperature: 23°C to 31°C
Chance of Rain: 17%
Average Rainy Days: 5 days
The first month of the year! Locals from other parts of the Philippines love to visit around this time, just right after the holiday season. The climate and weather at this time of the year are a little chilly, like December’s. If you like outdoor activities with minimum exposure to direct sunlight, this is one of the best months to visit.
February
Temperature: 23°C to 31°C
Chance of Rain: 10%
Average Rainy Days: 3 days
February is the driest month of the year in Puerto Princesa, making it the best month to visit if you like outdoor activities with minimum exposure to direct sunlight. The air will be a little bit chilly, making it the best time to walk around Puerto Princesa.
March
Temperature: 24°C to 32°C
Chance of Rain: 13%
Average Rainy Days: 4 days
Summer in the Philippines, also the start of the hot season. If you are a water activity enthusiast, this is one of the best months to visit Puerto Princesa. A significant period to explore its beaches.
April
Temperature: 24°C to 33°C
Chance of Rain: 13%
Average Rainy Days: 4 days
The hottest month of the year! Which makes Puerto Princesa the hottest destination of the year. Just like March, it is one of the best months to visit, expecting little rainy days; it is the busiest month in Puerto Princesa, most especially the tourist destinations. If you are planning to visit around this time, please book your accommodation and flights in advance.
May
Temperature: 24°C to 33°C
Chance of Rain: 40%
Average Rainy Days: 12 days
Almost the same as April, this is one of the busiest months in Puerto Princesa, just right before the wet season. The later part of the month welcomes the wet season by having more rainy days than April. If you plan a quick getaway before the rainy season comes, Puerto Princesa can be the one on top of your list to visit.
June
Temperature: 24°C to 32°C
Chance of Rain: 57%
Average Rainy Days: 17 days
June will usually be the first month of the wet season. Expect rain on most days of the month. This month is one of the least visited months for Puerto Princesa because it will be difficult for tourists to do outdoor activities such as swimming on the beaches.
July
Temperature: 24°C to 31°C
Chance of Rain: 60%
Average Rainy Days: 18 days
Another month in the wet season, with an average of 60% chance of rain. If you plan to visit at this time of the year, the best thing to do is indoor activities such as shopping for souvenirs and enjoying the city’s food and delicacies.
August
Temperature: 24°C to 31°C
Chance of Rain: 60%
Average Rainy Days: 18 days
Just like June & July, August is another month with a 60% chance of rain. Another month where you can book your hotel and flights at the last minute, for there are only a few tourists who visit at this time of the year. The wet season is the months that have the least sunshine.
September
Temperature: 24°C to 31 °C
Chance of Rain: 57%
Average Rainy Days: 17 days
This month is another rainy month of the year. Though typhoons rarely visit Puerto Princesa, this month and October is where most of the storms pass by the Philippines. It will be pretty hard to admire the natural beauty of Puerto Princesa, for it will be raining most of the time.
October
Temperature: 24°C to 31°C
Chance of Rain: 63%
Average Rainy Days: 19 days
Just like September, typhoons will be entering the Philippines at this time of the year. It will be hard to visit beaches and do outdoor water activities because the rain will be unpredictable for the whole month. But you only need to wait for this month to pass, for this is the last month of the wet season.
November
Temperature: 24°C to 31°C
Chance of Rain: 50%
Average Rainy Days: 15 days
The early weeks of November will also have a big chance of rainy days, but the latter part of November will start the dry season. There will still be a 50% chance of rain throughout the month, so it will be a 50/50 if you want to visit around this time.
December
Temperature: 23°C to 30°C
Chance of Rain: 37%
Average Rainy Days: 11 days
Holiday season! Travel plans are usually set for this month, which makes it a busy month for the people of Puerto Princesa. Tourists that long for and also those who are excited to see the beauty of Puerto Princesa start to visit at this time because there is a little chance of rain than in previous months.
There’s the climate for each month in Puerto Princesa; I suggest visiting during the dry season, so you can fully appreciate and bask in the beauty and the breath-taking views of Puerto Princesa.