Philippines in November 2026: The Short Answer
Thinking about the Philippines in November? Good timing. November sits right at the turn of the seasons: the summer monsoon is over, cooler northeast winds are arriving, and the country is moving into its Christmas season. You get fewer crowds than in December, cool mornings in the mountains and calm days on the west-facing beaches. The trade-off is that the rainy season isn’t officially over, so a little flexibility goes a long way.
Here are the key facts for November 2026:
- Weather: PAGASA, the state weather bureau, declared the start of the northeast monsoon (amihan) on October 27, 2026. It expects cooler weather, cold surges and rough seas in places, and tropical cyclones can still affect the country.
- Long weekends: under Proclamation No. 1006, November 1 (Sunday, All Saints’ Day) and November 2 (Monday, All Souls’ Day) are special non-working days, and November 30 (Monday, Bonifacio Day) is a regular holiday. That gives you two three-day weekends: October 31 to November 2 and November 28 to 30.
- Big event: the WSL Philippines Pro surf contest at Cloud 9, Siargao, has a competition window of October 31 to November 10, 2026.
- Plan ahead: the Giant Lantern Festival competition in San Fernando, Pampanga, is set for December 19, 2026.
Good News Before Your November Trip
Before you pack, a bit of good news. At the World Travel Awards Asia gala in the Maldives on September 27, 2026, the Philippines was named Asia’s Leading Dive Destination for the eighth year in a row. It also won Asia’s Leading Island Destination, and the official winners list shows it as Asia’s Leading Beach Destination 2026 too. Boracay took Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination, and the City of San Fernando in Pampanga beat Kyoto, Seoul and Beijing to win Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination.
There’s more. The country climbed eight places to 57th out of 110 economies in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index, with gains in sustainability, transport and safety, Philstar reports. And visitor arrivals reached about 4.7 million from January to October 12, up 3.43% year on year, according to Department of Tourism (DOT) data cited by BusinessMirror.
Award-winning islands are easy to find on this site too. Start with our El Nido travel guide.
Is November a Good Time to Visit the Philippines?
Mostly yes, as long as you plan around the weather. PAGASA’s climate overview splits the year into a rainy season from June to November and a dry season from December to May, with the cool dry months running from December to February. November is the last month of the wet season and the first month of the amihan, so it often feels like a bridge between the two.
What that means on the ground:
- Cooler air: the amihan brings lower temperatures, which you’ll notice most in Northern Luzon and the mountains.
- Some rain and rough seas: PAGASA says the shear line, the Intertropical Convergence Zone and tropical cyclones can still shape the weather during the amihan season. Boat trips and ferries may be cancelled when seas get rough.
- Typhoons are possible: tropical cyclones can still form and affect the country in November. Follow PAGASA bulletins in the days before you travel and before any boat ride.
November 2026 holidays and long weekends
Undas (All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day) is when many families travel home to visit their loved ones’ graves, so roads, bus terminals and airports get very busy around those days. The Bonifacio Day weekend (November 28 to 30) is quieter but still popular for short trips. If you want either weekend, book transport and rooms now.
Where to Go in the Philippines in November
So, where to go in the Philippines in November? Pick places that do well in the early amihan: beaches that are sheltered from the northeast wind, cool highlands, and events you can only catch this month.
Boracay
Our Boracay travel guide explains why November works so well here. When the northeast monsoon blows, White Beach on the west coast is sheltered and calm, and November to early December comes before the big holiday crowds. On the east side, Bulabog Beach turns into the island’s kitesurfing hub. Learn how it works in our kitesurfing guide, or end the day on a paraw sailboat at sunset.
Siargao, if you’re coming for the surf
The WSL Championship Tour comes to Cloud 9 from October 31 to November 10, 2026, and our Siargao Surfing Competition 2026 guide covers how to watch it. Be honest with yourself about the weather, though. Siargao has no true dry season, and November brings more rain, so this is a trip for surf fans, not for guaranteed sunshine.
Palawan, with flexible dates
El Nido and Coron usually have their calmest seas from about December to May. Late November can be lovely and quieter, but leave a spare day in case boat tours are called off.
Cool Mornings in the Highlands
If you love sweater weather, head north. The amihan brings cooler air to Northern Luzon, and November is the start of the best season for a sunrise above the clouds.
- Baguio: pine trees, cool evenings, parks and markets make it an easy long-weekend trip. See our Baguio guide for what to do there.
- Sagada and the sea of clouds: our sea of clouds hike guide names November to March as the months with the best chance of a cloud inversion at dawn. A cold night followed by a dry morning gives you the best odds.
- Banaue and Batad: the Ifugao rice terraces are a few hours further on and make a great add-on for a longer trip.
Mountain mornings can be properly cold, so pack a fleece and a rain jacket. On narrow trails, hire the local guides that each town recommends, keep to marked paths, and carry your trash back down. These communities live here all year, so treat their rules as part of the trip.
Christmas Starts Early in Pampanga
In the Philippines, Christmas starts long before December. Star-shaped parol lanterns go up in homes and malls from the “ber” months, and nowhere does it bigger than the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines.
That reputation just won international recognition. When the city was named Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination 2026, the Department of Tourism’s Central Luzon office pointed to the Giant Lantern Festival, its ancestral houses, historic streets, Kapampangan food and kalesa rides, Daily Tribune reports.
Giant Lantern Festival 2026
The festival, locally called Ligligan Parul, is a contest between barangays, each building one giant lantern that flashes in time with music. City officials began preparing in September for the competition on December 19, 2026. The 2025 edition took place at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga with 10 barangays and lanterns about 20 feet across, and the lanterns then went on show until New Year’s Day, Inquirer reported. The 2026 venue, showtime and exhibition schedule hadn’t been announced when we wrote this, so check the city government’s channels before you book.
Why visit in November
November is when the workshops are busiest. San Fernando is about 66 kilometers north of Manila along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The city is the center of handmade parol production in the Christmas season, and lantern workshops can be found in barangays such as Del Pilar, Santa Lucia, San Jose and Dolores. Buying a parol straight from the makers is a lovely souvenir that supports local craft.
Deals and Booking Tips for November
The DOT’s “Discover More to Love” domestic tourism campaign runs from July to November 2026, and its deals platform on the DOT website collects offers from hotels, airlines, tour operators and attractions. You can filter by destination, category or discount, and you book directly with each partner. As examples, TTG Asia reported on October 20 that Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel on Mactan Island listed 48% off room bookings and Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort Panglao listed 55% off, both running until November 2026. Discounts and dates can change, so read each offer’s terms and check that your travel dates are covered before you pay.
Heading to Bohol for one of those deals? Our Bohol guide has the essentials.
Smart booking tips
- Book the long weekends first. Transport for Undas and Bonifacio Day sells out quickly.
- Keep a buffer day. Put boat trips and island hopping early in your trip, so you have a spare day if the sea is rough.
- Watch the weather. Check PAGASA before you travel, and get travel insurance that covers weather delays.
- Travel lightly on the land. Bring a refillable bottle, use reef-safe sunscreen, and book DOT-accredited operators when you can.
FAQ: Philippines in November
Is November a good time to visit the Philippines?
Yes, for most trips. It comes before the December crowds, the weather is getting cooler, and west-facing beaches like Boracay’s White Beach are usually calm. Keep your plans flexible, because November is still part of the rainy season.
What is the weather like in the Philippines in November?
It’s a mix. The northeast monsoon (amihan) brings cooler air, especially up north, while the shear line and passing storms can bring rain and rough seas. PAGASA declared the amihan onset on October 27, 2026.
Is November typhoon season in the Philippines?
Yes, tropical cyclones can still affect the Philippines in November, as November is the last month of the rainy season. Follow PAGASA bulletins and avoid boat trips when warnings are up.
Where is the best place to go in the Philippines in November?
Boracay is great for calm beaches, Baguio and Sagada for cool weather and the sea of clouds, Siargao for the WSL surf contest, and Pampanga for an early taste of Christmas.
Are there holidays in the Philippines in November 2026?
Yes. November 1 and 2 are special non-working days, and November 30 (Bonifacio Day) is a regular holiday, which gives you long weekends from October 31 to November 2 and from November 28 to 30.
When is the Giant Lantern Festival 2026?
The competition in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, is scheduled for December 19, 2026. The venue and showtime are still to be announced.
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