Things to Do in Palawan in July
July weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
July Weather in Palawan
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
84°F (29°C)
High Temp
76°F (25°C)
Low Temp
0.2 inches (5 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ High UV index (8) brings serious sunburn and heatstroke risk. Proper protection saves your trip. Neglect it and you pay.
Is July Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + July turns the South China Sea into glass. The usual 90-minute boat ride from El Nido to Bacuit Bay's secret lagoons becomes a silent glide over water so clear you can see stingrays 10 meters (33 feet) down.
- + Palawan's peak season has wound down by July. The famous Instagram spots like the Big Lagoon feel surprisingly manageable. The queue for the kayak rental at Small Lagoon shrinks from an hour to about ten minutes.
- + The habagat (southwest monsoon) hasn't fully kicked in yet. Those brief afternoon showers are more of a refreshing mist that cools the air and leaves the jungle smelling of wet earth and blooming ylang-ylang. Not a trip-canceling deluge.
- + Local fishermen are hauling in their best catches of the year. You'll see bangus (milkfish) and lapu-lapu (grouper) piled high on ice at the Puerto Princesa Baywalk market, their scales glinting under fluorescent lights. They're destined for grillers at roadside carinderias.
Considerations
- − That UV index of 8 is no joke. It's the kind of sun that turns pale skin lobster-red in 20 minutes if you're not vigilant. Even shade under a coconut palm offers only partial relief from the intense, overhead glare.
- − The crowds are thinner. So is the boat schedule to more remote islands like Cuyo or the southern reefs. Operators consolidate trips. You might have to wait a day or two for a departure that fits your plan.
- − The humidity sits on your skin like a warm, damp towel from the moment you step out of air-conditioning. Hiking the 500-meter (1,640-foot) trail to the hidden beach at Nacpan is sweatier than it looks in the brochures.
Best Activities in July
Top things to do during your visit
Bacuit Bay Island Hopping Tours
July's calm seas make the classic 'Tour A' or 'Tour C' routes from El Nido not just possible, but sublime. The water in the lagoons loses its winter chop, becoming millpond-still and revealing layers of turquoise and jade you simply don't see when it's windy. Snorkeling over the coral gardens near Shimizu Island feels like floating in a giant, warm aquarium, with less current to fight. This is the month to enjoy the journey between stops, not just endure it.
Booking Tip: You can often book these tours just a day or two in advance in July. A luxury impossible in peak season. Look for operators with newer, larger bangka boats. They handle the occasional swell better. Always confirm the included lunch is fresh-grilled on a floating raft, not packed in a soggy box. See current tour options and availability in the booking section below.
Underground River Tours from Puerto Princesa
The reduced rainfall means the river's water level is lower and clearer. More, the jungle path to the boat launch is less of a muddy slog. Inside the cave, you'll hear the steady drip of water from stalactites more clearly, and the boatman's patter about the cathedral-like formations isn't drowned out by the sound of rushing water. The monkey population along the shoreline tends to be more active and visible in the drier conditions, too.
Booking Tip: Permits for the Underground River are still required but easier to secure in July. Booking through a licensed tour that includes the permit, van transfer, and buffet lunch is the only sane way to do it. Expect a full 8-hour day. Check the booking widget for operators with good cancellation policies, as the river does occasionally close due to weather even in July.
Coron Wreck Diving & Snorkeling Tours
Visibility around the famous Japanese wrecks like the Irako or the Okikawa Maru hits its annual peak in July, often extending beyond 30 meters (100 feet). Sunlight shafts through the crystal water, illuminating schools of batfish and barracuda that weave through the rusted hulls in a way that feels almost theatrical. For snorkelers, the calm surface means you can float comfortably above the shallow wrecks like the Skeleton Boat and see every detail of the coral-encrusted engines.
Booking Tip: Even in July, reputable dive shops in Coron Town fill their boats for the popular wreck sites. Booking your dives at least three days ahead is wise. For snorkeling tours, ensure the operator provides proper life vests and has a spotter in the water. The wrecks are deep. The booking section below will show current options for both diving and snorkeling expeditions.
Puerto Princesa City Food & History Tours
When a brief afternoon shower does roll in, ducking into a history and food tour becomes the perfect pivot. You'll start in the dry morning, tracing Spanish-era architecture in the city center, then move into the covered chaos of the public market where the smell of dried fish and ripe mangoes is overpowering. The payoff is tasting dishes like Tamilok (woodworm). It tastes of the sea and has the texture of a raw oyster. Or well charred chicken inasal, in the places locals have been eating them for decades.
Booking Tip: These are typically half-day walking tours. Booking a day ahead is usually sufficient. Look for tours that explicitly include the market visit and several food stops. The best ones are led by guides who explain the history behind the dish as you eat it. Current guided walks can be found in the booking widget.
Port Barton Beach & Island Relaxation Tours
For a slower, less polished pace than El Nido, Port Barton in July is quiet perfection. The village itself still feels like a fishing community that happens to have tourists, not the other way around. Island-hopping tours here are improvised. Your boatman might just point to a sandbar and say 'lunch here.' You'll often have places like Exotic Island or Paradise Island almost to yourself. The water is bath-warm and the rhythm is dictated by the tide, not a tour schedule.
Booking Tip: You don't so much 'book' a tour in Port Barton as you 'arrange' one the evening before at one of the family-run kiosks along the beach. Payment is often cash-only. It's the definition of low-key. For a more structured option, some operators from Puerto Princesa offer day trips, which you can find in the booking section.
Where to Stay in Palawan in July
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for July travellers.
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View Palawan Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Start island tours as early as operators allow, usually 7:30 AM. You'll beat the heat haze that blurs horizon views by late morning. First crack at the lagoons matters.
Skip El Nido's crowded main beach bars at sunset. Pay a boatman a small fee to reach the cliff viewing spot north of Marimegmeg Beach. Scramble up the short path. The 360-degree bay view turning gold justifies every step.
Listen when locals mention 'amihan' and 'habagat'. These are wind patterns. July ends the calm 'amihan'. Forecasts shifting to 'habagat' mean rougher seas ahead, usually by August. Plan around this.
For real local food in Puerto Princesa, find the carinderias behind city hall in late afternoon. Pick the spot packed with tricycle drivers. You'll eat the best off-the-grill pork sisig and drink the coldest Red Horse beer.
Avoid These Mistakes
Never underestimate travel time between towns. The Puerto Princesa to El Nido van ride still takes 5-6 hours on winding roads, even in good weather. Don't pair this with a flight the same day.
Don't book a beachfront hotel in Coron Town expecting pristine sand. The town sits on a busy harbor. Famous beaches need boat access. Pay for views or pay for location. Rarely both.
Never attempt the Underground River and an island-hopping tour from Puerto Princesa in one day. Each exhausts you fully. You'll ruin both experiences. Spread them out.
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Top-rated things to do in Palawan this July
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