May marks the arrival of Palawan's southwest monsoon. The west coast and El Nido's Bacuit Bay — facing west — begins to receive increased swell as southwest winds build. Island hopping tours shift to weather-dependent scheduling: calm mornings often allow tours to run, but rougher afternoons can disrupt return trips. Prices drop 30–50% from peak. The island gets quiet quickly, and the natural beauty of Palawan's rainforests and rivers becomes more accessible for those willing to plan around the weather.
24–32°C (75–90°F)
Air temp
28°C (82°F)
Sea temp
Moderate–High
Rainfall
Low
Crowds
why go
what's on
Labour Day
1 May1 May is a Philippine national holiday — a brief surge of domestic visitors to Palawan is possible over the long weekend.
travel tips
El Nido island hopping in May is weather-dependent — go with the morning tours (departures at 7–8 am when seas are typically calmer) and be prepared for possible cancellation. Always ask your guesthouse the morning of your planned tour.
Puerto Princesa Underground River (8.2km, UNESCO World Heritage) is accessible year-round and largely unaffected by monsoon — an excellent May activity when sea conditions are rough.
El Nido's interior waterfalls and hiking trails are at their best after May rains begin — lush green jungle and flowing waterfalls as opposed to the dry-season trickles.
common questions
Yes, but with caveats. El Nido is reachable by van from Puerto Princesa or AirSWIFT flight year-round. Island hopping tours within El Nido's Bacuit Bay become weather-dependent — calmer days in May still allow tours, but rough days result in cancellations. The iconic lagoons (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon) can often still be visited in morning calm windows.
Both have pros and cons in May. Coron faces the South China Sea (east coast orientation) while El Nido faces the Sulu Sea to the southwest — El Nido tends to have rougher conditions from southwest monsoon than Coron in May. Coron's Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon are land-accessible and less affected by sea conditions. May is slightly better for Coron than El Nido.
May is the transition month — the monsoon is establishing rather than fully developed. Some days in May are completely calm with clear skies; others bring significant swell and rain. Generally, mornings are calmer than afternoons. June–August are wetter and rougher than May. May is challenging but manageable for flexible travellers.
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