March is one of Palawan's most underrated months. The dry season is fully established, seas are calm and clear, and El Nido's lagoons are every bit as beautiful as in January — but the post-Chinese New Year retreat of visitors makes the island noticeably more relaxed. Accommodation prices soften, island hopping boats aren't packed to capacity, and it's possible to have Hidden Beach's emerald waters to yourself for a few minutes. The warming sea temperatures hit 28°C — the warmest, most comfortable swimming of the year.
23–31°C (73–88°F)
Air temp
28°C (82°F)
Sea temp
Very Low
Rainfall
High
Crowds
why go
what's on
Holy Week Approach
Late March if Easter is in early AprilFilipino Holy Week (Semana Santa) falls in March or April. If Easter is in April, the week before (Palm Sunday) brings domestic Filipino visitors to Palawan. El Nido and Coron accommodation books out for this period.
travel tips
March is the ideal month for an El Nido sunrise kayak — rent a kayak from your guesthouse and paddle into the Big Lagoon at dawn before the island hopping boats arrive. In March, you can still have the lagoon largely to yourself at 6:30 am.
Sea temperatures hit their annual peak in March–April. If open-water or freediving is on your list, conditions don't get better than this.
Always withdraw cash in Puerto Princesa — the ATM shortage in El Nido applies year-round, though peak season pressure eases somewhat in March.
common questions
March is one of the best months — equivalent weather to January and February but with meaningfully fewer tourists. The sea is calm, El Nido's lagoons are beautiful, and Coron's dive sites have excellent conditions. If you want peak-quality conditions without peak-season crowds, March is the answer.
Yes — a ferry runs between El Nido and Coron (approximately 4–5 hours, PHP 2,500+). March is a good time for this route as seas are calm and the crossing is comfortable. Many travellers do Puerto Princesa → El Nido → Coron → Manila, spending 3–4 days in each area.
Nacpan Beach — a 4km undeveloped sweep of sand 45 minutes north of El Nido by habal-habal motorbike (PHP 200–300) — is at its finest in March: calm water, white sand, and far fewer visitors than January. You can often walk the full length of Nacpan and count the other people on one hand.
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