Palawan · Month comparison

May vs December

December ranks #1 overall vs May at #7. Peak season builds through December — excellent dry conditions, Christmas atmosphere, and prices rising sharply.

Palawan May — aerial view of boats near Helicopter Island in El Nido at the edge of the rainy season

May

#7 of 12 months

Best match

The rainy season begins but remains manageable — good value, fewer crowds, and boat tours still mostly running.

  • ↑Prices drop significantly from peak — El Nido resorts and guesthouses are 30–50% cheaper than January rates, and availability is abundant
  • ↑Crowds are noticeably lower; the beaches and lagoons feel more like the Palawan of the photographs rather than a managed tourist queue
Palawan December — kayaking through turquoise water surrounded by limestone karst mountains at El Nido in peak season

December

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Peak season builds through December — excellent dry conditions, Christmas atmosphere, and prices rising sharply.

  • ↑December is reliably dry at 42mm and sunny — boat tours operate every day and the water is returning to its peak-season clarity; excellent conditions
  • ↑Christmas and New Year create a genuinely festive atmosphere in El Nido town — Filipino hospitality at its most celebratory; the island is worth experiencing in the festive season
FactorMayDecember
Weather score
6
9
Value score
7
3
Crowd score
6
3
Events score
4
6
Atmosphere
5
8
Avg high temp32°C29°C
Monthly rain80mm42mm
Daily sunshine7hrs7.8hrs

May trade-offs

  • ↓Rainfall jumps to 80mm — the edge of the rainy season; some tours may be delayed or rescheduled depending on sea conditions
  • ↓Heat and humidity combine at 32°C / 80% — the shoulder of the hot-wet season is genuinely uncomfortable if you are unacclimatised
  • ↓The water begins to lose some of its peak-season clarity as rain runoff increases; snorkelling visibility can vary day to day

December trade-offs

  • ↓Prices jump sharply from the second week of December — Christmas and New Year week are the most expensive period of the year in some properties, comparable to January
  • ↓The week between Christmas and New Year brings maximum crowd pressure: boats are full, Nacpan Beach is packed, and El Nido town is at its busiest
  • ↓Pre-Christmas week (December 22–25) and New Year's Eve can feel chaotic rather than festive if you are unprepared for Filipino Christmas scale
See all 12 months for Palawan →May in detail →December in detail →
Scores compare months within Palawan. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →