Things to Do in Palawan in July
July weather, activities, events & insider tips
July Weather in Palawan
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is July Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Palawan's headline experiences, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, El Nido's lagoons, Coron's wreck-diving, run at a fraction of their peak-season intensity. The tour boats that leave the El Nido beachfront packed shoulder-to-shoulder in December and January carry maybe half that load in July. You're sharing Big Lagoon with fewer people, which matters enormously when you're floating in water that color.
- + The landscape looks its best. Palawan's 1,768 km (1,099 miles) of coastline and the interior karst formations around El Nido are covered in a green so saturated it almost looks edited. Low cloud often trails through the limestone towers at dawn, and the waterfalls that feed into Kayangan Lake and the jungle interior are running at full force. Dry-season visitors get postcard weather; July visitors get the version that photographers want.
- + This year's July data, around 0.3 inches (7.6 mm) of total rainfall spread across roughly 10 days, suggests a drier-than-typical habagat pattern for this part of the archipelago. Those 10 rainy days tend to front-load into short afternoon convective events, 30 to 45 minutes of actual rainfall, then the sky clears to the kind of copper sunset that Instagram filters are trying to replicate. Mornings are reliably workable for ocean activities.
- + Accommodations that require reservations months ahead during peak season have genuine availability in July, and the pricing reflects it. The resorts along Nacpan Beach in northern El Nido and the guesthouses around Coron town are booking at rates that make a longer stay feasible. If you've wanted to spend a week in one place rather than rushing between highlights, July is when that becomes financially realistic.
- − The habagat, the southwest monsoon, is technically active in July across the Philippines, and while this year's numbers look manageable, it only takes one developing low-pressure system passing north of Palawan to transform a calm sea into three-foot swells overnight. El Nido's northern exposure catches this harder than Puerto Princesa. Tour operators can and do cancel departures when PAGASA issues Small Craft Warnings, sometimes with just a few hours' notice. Flexible travelers handle this fine. Anyone with a rigid day-by-day plan will feel the friction.
- − The combination of 29°C (84°F) air temperature and 70% humidity creates a heat index that lands significantly higher than the thermometer suggests, closer to 35°C (95°F) or beyond when you're walking Puerto Princesa's city streets between noon and 3pm without shade. The humidity is the kind that turns a light cotton shirt into a damp layer within 20 minutes of leaving air conditioning. Midday becomes uncomfortable for extended outdoor activity, which means restructuring your days around early mornings and late afternoons.
- − Some inter-island boat routes reduce frequency in July, the longer crossings between Coron and El Nido. Ferries that run daily in peak season may drop to three or four times per week. If your Palawan itinerary involves moving between multiple hubs, build a buffer day at each transition point, missing a connection in July can mean a 48-hour wait rather than a 24-hour one.
Best Activities in July
Top things to do during your visit
The 8.2 km (5.1 mile) underground river at Sabang, the world's longest navigable subterranean river and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, runs year-round regardless of surface weather, which makes it one of July's most reliable activities. The river winds through a cathedral-scale cave system where stalactites and stalagmites rise 20 to 30 meters (65 to 98 ft) above the shallow water, and the sound inside is entirely its own: the drip of cave water, the rush of the river, the percussion of nesting swifts. July's lower visitor numbers mean shorter waits at the mandatory permit checkpoint, and the jungle trail leading from Sabang Beach to the cave entrance is at its most overgrown and alive, monitor lizards on the path, hornbills in the canopy overhead. The 75 km (47 mile) road from Puerto Princesa to Sabang takes about 2 hours and passes through remote forest. Permits are required and cannot be obtained on-site, book them through the Puerto Princesa City Environment and Natural Resources Office before you travel, or confirm your tour operator has handled this step. See current tour options in the booking section below.
El Nido's tour circuit, the officially designated Tour A, B, C, and D routes through Bacuit Bay, is the reason most travelers come to Palawan. Big Lagoon's walls of karst limestone drop straight into water that shifts from teal to deep jade depending on the angle of light; Small Lagoon requires swimming or kayaking through a narrow opening in the rock, and the temperature shift inside is immediate and strange, warmer and still. In July, the boats are half-full, meaning you're not jostling for position at the lagoon entrances, and morning departures between 7am and 8am catch the bay before afternoon cloud builds. Shimizu Island's coral garden, part of the Tour C circuit, tends to have better underwater visibility in the morning than later in the day regardless of season. The 70% humidity and 29°C (84°F) air temperature make the water, which stays around 28°C (82°F) year-round, refreshing rather than merely wet. See current island-hopping tour options in the booking section below.
Coron sits on Busuanga Island in northern Palawan and has its own distinct microclimate and appeal. Kayangan Lake, accessible by a 10-minute climb up 200 steps cut into the karst hillside, then a descent to a lake enclosed entirely by limestone cliffs, is one of those places where photographs fail to communicate the scale. The water is layered: a warm, clear freshwater lens floats above a colder, denser saltwater layer below, and the boundary between them is visible as a shimmering blur when you dive down. Barracuda Lake, nearby, has a similar layered system with water that turns noticeably warmer at around 5 meters (16 ft) depth. Above water, Coron Bay holds the wreck of the Japanese fleet sunk by American aircraft in September 1944, the wrecks sit at 10 to 40 meters (33 to 131 ft) depth, and the marine life that has colonized them over 80 years makes for snorkeling that outcompetes many purpose-built reef sites. July's weather affects Coron differently than El Nido, Busuanga's orientation provides slightly more shelter from the southwest monsoon, making it a viable fallback option if El Nido has rougher conditions. See current tour options in the booking section below.
About 24 km (15 miles) south of Puerto Princesa, the Iwahig River winds through mangrove forest that hosts one of the Philippines' largest firefly colonies. Evening boat tours depart around 6:30pm as the light fails and the synchronous flashing of thousands of Pteroptyx tener fireflies begins, the trees pulse in waves of cold green light, and the river surface catches and doubles it. The effect is better experienced than described. July's warm, humid nights are precisely the conditions fireflies require, and the sanctuary tends to have noticeably more activity in the wet months than the dry season. The tour itself runs about 90 minutes on the water, and the mangrove tunnel sections, where the fireflies are thickest, are completely dark except for the insects. Bring mosquito repellent. The mangrove environment earns it. This is one of the few Palawan activities where July's humidity actively improves the experience. See current evening tour options in the booking section below.
Honda Bay sits 12 km (7.5 miles) northeast of Puerto Princesa and offers island-hopping across a cluster of small islands, Starfish Island, Cowrie Island, Pambato Reef, in water that's sheltered from the open South China Sea. This makes it one of the most weather-resilient options in July. The bay's enclosed geography means boat tours run on days when El Nido or the open water between islands would be choppy. Pambato Reef has a coral garden in the shallows that hosts sea turtles regularly enough that spotting one is a realistic expectation rather than a lucky bonus. The snorkeling depth ranges from 1 meter (3.3 ft) at low tide over the reef flat to 6 meters (20 ft) in the channels between islands. Starfish Island's floor is scattered with cushion stars in numbers that feel almost theatrical. The entire bay is calmer and quieter than El Nido's circuit, which makes it the right call if you're traveling with children or if you simply want a low-stakes ocean day without complex logistics. See current tour options in the booking section below.
Puerto Princesa's central market on Malvar Street runs at full capacity before 8am and has largely wound down by noon, which maps well onto July's pattern of clear mornings and afternoon showers. The stalls sell fresh tanigue (wahoo) landed that morning, talangka (tiny river crabs that Palaweños crack and eat by the dozen), tamilok (woodworm harvested from mangrove driftwood with a texture somewhere between oyster and cold butter, worth trying once), and suso (river snails braised in ginger broth). The smell is salt water and slightly sweet rot and charcoal smoke in proportions that make sense only in proximity to a working fish market. Beyond the market, the Rizal Avenue restaurant strip, the cluster of eateries between Malvar Street and the traffic circle, operates a kind of informal open-air food court from 6pm onward. Tuna jaw grilled on charcoal, kare-kare made with peanut sauce thick enough to stand a spoon in, and the local version of croaker fish sinigang using tamarind from trees that grow 10 minutes from where you're sitting. July's afternoon rain tends to pass by 5pm, leaving evenings cool enough by local standards to sit outside. See current food tour options in the booking section below.
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See All Palawan Tours on ViatorFrequently Asked Questions
What is Palawan like in July?
July falls squarely in Palawan's wet season, driven by the southwest monsoon (habagat), but the day-to-day reality is more nuanced than that label implies — mornings are often bright and clear, with heavy rain arriving in the afternoon and typically blowing through within an hour. It's low season, so prices at resorts in El Nido and Coron drop 20–40% from peak rates and the crowds that pack the islands from November to April are largely absent. The genuine trade-off is rougher seas and a higher chance of island-hopping tours being cancelled on blustery days, so build flexibility into your itinerary.
What is the weather like in Palawan in July?
Expect daytime temperatures of 27–29°C (81–84°F) with high humidity throughout July. The southwest monsoon delivers the bulk of Palawan's annual rainfall during this stretch — El Nido typically sees 200–300mm over the month, with west-facing coastlines bearing the brunt. Seas can be choppy, particularly around Coron and the Bacuit Archipelago, which may limit access to more exposed dive sites and outer islands; always confirm tour departures with operators the evening before, as conditions can change quickly.
What is Palawan like as a destination overall?
Palawan is a long, narrow island in the southwest Philippines, consistently rated among the world's best islands for its combination of dramatic limestone karst scenery, turquoise lagoons, and outstanding marine biodiversity. The main draws are El Nido in the north (island hopping through the Bacuit Archipelago), Coron in the northeast (wreck diving and crater lakes), and Puerto Princesa in the center (gateway to the UNESCO-listed Underground River). It's more rugged and less developed than Boracay or Cebu, which is precisely why many travellers prefer it.
What is the weather in Palawan in June?
June marks the start of Palawan's full wet season as the southwest monsoon takes hold, with conditions broadly similar to July — temperatures hovering around 27–29°C, increasing rainfall, and building humidity. June is generally slightly drier than July or August, making it a reasonable shoulder-season option if you want lower prices without committing to peak rainy-season risk. Seas begin to roughen noticeably by mid-June, so schedule any island-hopping for the first few days of your trip rather than the last.
What is the weather in Palawan in September?
September is one of Palawan's wettest months, sitting near the peak of the southwest monsoon; rainfall is heavy and frequent, and typhoon activity across the broader Philippines is at its highest during this period. Palawan's western position in the archipelago does afford some shelter compared to islands like Samar or Leyte, but many smaller resorts close for maintenance in September and liveaboard dive operations often reduce their schedules. If you visit, treat it as an adventure travel month rather than a beach holiday, and buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers weather cancellations.
What is the weather in Palawan in October?
October sits at the tail end of the wet season in Palawan, and conditions typically begin improving noticeably compared to the August–September peak. Rainfall decreases through the month as the southwest monsoon weakens, and by late October seas start calming enough for reliable island-hopping in El Nido and Coron. Prices are still at low-season rates in early October, making it an appealing sweet spot — improving weather without the peak-season crowds and costs that arrive from November onward.
What is the weather in Palawan in February?
February is prime dry season in Palawan and widely considered the best month to visit — the northeast monsoon (amihan) keeps skies clear, seas calm, and daytime highs at a comfortable 28–30°C (82–86°F). Island-hopping tours run reliably, dive visibility is at its annual best, and the Underground River is consistently accessible. The trade-off is peak-season pricing and crowds: resorts in El Nido fill weeks in advance, and the most popular lagoon tours can feel busy by mid-morning.
What is Puerto Princesa like in September?
Puerto Princesa, Palawan's capital and the base for visiting the Underground River, is quieter and cheaper in September than at any other time of year. The Underground River itself remains open — it sits inside a cave system and is far less weather-dependent than open-water activities — though very heavy rainfall can occasionally affect the access road and boat conditions, so confirm the morning of your visit. Hotels in Puerto Princesa are easy to book and noticeably discounted, making it a practical and affordable base for the inland and river attractions even in the wet season.
What is the weather like across the Philippines in July?
July is the height of the rainy season across most of the Philippines, with the southwest monsoon affecting western coastlines archipelago-wide; it is also the most active month of typhoon season for Luzon and the central Visayas. The Pacific-facing east coast — including parts of eastern Mindanao and Siargao — tends to be drier in July, sheltered from habagat. Palawan, sitting on the western fringe of the Philippines, does get significant rain in July but is statistically less frequently hit by direct typhoon strikes than northern or central islands, making it one of the more reliable wet-season choices.
Is El Nido worth visiting in July despite the rain?
Yes — with realistic expectations and a flexible schedule. El Nido in July offers dramatically lower prices (budget bungalows from around ₱800–1,500 per night, mid-range from ₱2,500–4,500), far fewer tourists on the lagoon tours, and a lush, intensely green landscape. Tour routes in sheltered parts of the Bacuit Archipelago (particularly Tour B and portions of Tour D) operate more reliably than the outer-island routes, and booking through a licensed local operator who will proactively reschedule rather than cancel outright makes a significant difference to the experience.
Which activities in Palawan hold up best during the July wet season?
Inland and freshwater attractions are your most weather-proof options: the Puerto Princesa Underground River, Kayangan Lake and Maquit Lake in Coron (accessible when seas permit the short boat ride), and the Iwahig Firefly River tour near Puerto Princesa are all excellent in July regardless of rain. Coron's World War II wreck dives are largely sheltered from surface chop and remain world-class throughout the wet season. For beach time, aim for Nacpan Beach near El Nido on mornings after the weather clears — it's long enough that it never feels crowded even in high season, and in July you may have it almost to yourself.
How much cheaper is Palawan in July compared to peak season?
Accommodation rates in El Nido and Coron typically drop 30–50% from their November–March peak in July — a beachfront cottage that costs ₱5,000 per night in February can be found for ₱2,500–3,000 in July, and many resorts quietly add free-night deals or meal inclusions to fill rooms. Flights from Manila to Puerto Princesa or the El Nido area (via Busuanga for Coron) also tend to run cheaper, particularly when booked four to six weeks out. Tour prices for island hopping are often set by local tourism boards, but operators in July are more willing to add extras — snorkelling gear upgrades, private boat departures — than they would be in a fully booked February.