Palawan October — green lake surrounded by karst mountains at Coron as the monsoon begins to ease

Palawan · Philippines

October

The monsoon eases but remains significant — a transitional month with improving conditions and low prices.

Strong option

#9 of 12 months

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

See when to go instead →

Climate

High

30°C

Low

23°C

Rain

130mm

Sun

5.5hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How October scores in Palawan

Weather
Average
Value
Very good
Crowds
Very good
Events
Below average
Atmosphere
Above average

What you gain in October

  • Rainfall drops sharply from September — 130mm is moderate rather than prohibitive, and El Nido boat operators begin tentatively resuming tours on suitable days
  • Prices are still in the affordable range with good availability — a genuinely good value window if you accept some weather uncertainty
  • By late October, calm spells are long enough for multi-day island-hopping; travellers with flexibility can pick up tours at short notice when weather opens

What you sacrifice

  • October is still in the tail of typhoon season — weather windows are improving but not reliable; same-day cancellations remain a possibility
  • Water clarity is still recovering from months of monsoon rain; the visibility in the lagoons and dive sites is not at its best
  • The tourism infrastructure is only partially reopened — some resorts are still doing seasonal maintenance and staff numbers are reduced

How October compares to December (best month)

FactorOctoberDecember
Weather
4
9
Value
7
3
Crowds
7
3

October in other destinations

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