Palawan · Philippines
May
The rainy season begins but remains manageable — good value, fewer crowds, and boat tours still mostly running.
Best match
#7 of 12 months
There are better months for Palawan — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
32°C
Low
24°C
Rain
80mm
Sun
7hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How May scores in Palawan
Weather
Good
Value
Very good
Crowds
Good
Events
Average
Atmosphere
Above average
What you gain in May
- ↑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
- ↑Rain arrives in short afternoon bursts rather than all-day downpours — mornings are generally clear and boat tours can still run with some flexibility
What you sacrifice
- ↓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
How May compares to December (best month)
| Factor | May | December ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 6 | 9 |
| Value | 7 | 3 |
| Crowds | 6 | 3 |
May in other destinations
Lisbon (20.7°C)Barcelona (20.8°C)Tokyo (23.8°C)Bali (31.2°C)Santorini (19.8°C)Paris (18.1°C)New York (20.4°C)Marrakech (26.4°C)Amsterdam (16.4°C)Maldives (31.5°C)Rome (21.7°C)Bangkok (32.6°C)Istanbul (20.7°C)Vienna (19.7°C)Seoul (21.4°C)Dubrovnik (20.9°C)Rio de Janeiro (26.2°C)Kyoto (25.2°C)Phuket (32.6°C)Cape Town (18.9°C)Prague (21°C)Amalfi Coast (23°C)Mexico City (27°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (28°C)London (18°C)Sydney (19°C)Iceland (10°C)Tulum (32°C)Dubai (38°C)Singapore (33°C)Hoi An (33°C)Chiang Mai (33°C)Miami (30.6°C)Florence (23.1°C)Queenstown (11°C)Madrid (21.7°C)Porto (21°C)Edinburgh (15°C)Copenhagen (16°C)Budapest (22°C)Kraków (20°C)Tbilisi (23°C)Hanoi (31°C)Osaka (25°C)Goa (33°C)Cusco (20°C)Buenos Aires (19°C)Mykonos (23°C)Zanzibar (28°C)Sri Lanka (31°C)Costa Rica (27°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Palawan, not across destinations. Methodology →