Palawan July — boat at Small Lagoon El Nido, a scene unavailable to most July visitors due to monsoon cancellations

Palawan · Philippines

July

The heaviest month of the monsoon — most El Nido boat tours cancelled, typhoon risk real, strongly avoid.

Avoid

#10 of 12 months

There are better months for Palawan — see the full ranking below.

See when to go instead →

Climate

High

30°C

Low

24°C

Rain

250mm

Sun

4hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How July scores in Palawan

Weather
Very low
Value
Perfect
Crowds
Perfect
Events
Low
Atmosphere
Below average

What you gain in July

  • The absolute cheapest month to visit — rooms that cost ₱10,000/night in January are available for ₱2,000 or less; the Philippines on a backpacker budget is viable
  • Puerto Princesa's Underground River (UNESCO World Heritage Site) remains accessible regardless of sea conditions and is almost empty of tourists
  • For those willing to accept the constraints, Port Barton — quieter and more sheltered than El Nido — offers authentic community life and jungle walks

What you sacrifice

  • 250mm of rainfall is the monthly peak — sustained downpours, not afternoon showers; El Nido island-hopping tours are cancelled for most of the month and operators openly advise against booking
  • Typhoon risk peaks in July and August; while Palawan's north-south orientation provides some protection, direct hits do occur and evacuation situations are not theoretical
  • Many smaller resorts and guesthouses close entirely; the tourism infrastructure of El Nido and Coron partially shuts down

How July compares to December (best month)

FactorJulyDecember
Weather
1
9
Value
10
3
Crowds
10
3

July in other destinations

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Palawan, not across destinations. Methodology →