Rainy Season in El Nido — When It Is & What to Expect

Rainy season
May to January
Wettest month: October (365.5mm)

El Nido has a distinct rainy season covering May to January, when roughly 1813mm of rain falls — the bulk of the annual total. The wettest month is October (365.5mm over about 28 rainy days). Outside these months rainfall drops sharply, which is why the best time to visit is All year.

El Nido — Monthly Rainfall

0mm100mm200mm300mm400mmJan: 121.8mmJan122Feb: 30.0mmFeb30Mar: 51.5mmMar52Apr: 66.7mmApr67May: 128.6mmMay129Jun: 192.4mmJun192Jul: 256.6mmJul257Aug: 184.9mmAug185Sep: 302.6mmSep303Oct: 365.5mmOct366Nov: 118.4mmNov118Dec: 141.9mmDec142

Average monthly rainfall in millimetres, calculated from 2020–2023 data. Highlighted bars mark the rainy season.

Rainfall in El Nido month by month

MonthRainRainy daysHighRating
January Wet 121.8mm 16 28.7°C 9/10
February 30.0mm 8 29.0°C 10/10
March 51.5mm 12 30.3°C 10/10
April 66.7mm 18 30.7°C 10/10
May Wet 128.6mm 23 30.9°C 9/10
June Wet 192.4mm 26 30.0°C 9/10
July Wet 256.6mm 27 29.6°C 8/10
August Wet 184.9mm 22 29.8°C 9/10
September Wet 302.6mm 27 29.4°C 8/10
October Wet 365.5mm 28 29.3°C 8/10
November Wet 118.4mm 22 29.8°C 9/10
December Wet 141.9mm 18 29.4°C 9/10

Should you visit El Nido during rainy season?

It can still work. Rain in the wet season often falls in short, intense bursts rather than all-day washouts, prices are lower and crowds thinner. But expect high humidity, disrupted boat trips and island transfers, and the occasional flooded street — October in particular is best avoided.

Best time to avoid the rain

The driest, most comfortable window is All year — see the full best time to visit El Nido guide for the month-by-month breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is rainy season in El Nido?

Rainy season in El Nido runs May to January, peaking in October with 365.5mm of rain.

What is the wettest month in El Nido?

October — averaging 365.5mm of rain over roughly 28 rainy days.

Can you visit El Nido during rainy season?

It can still work. Rain in the wet season often falls in short, intense bursts rather than all-day washouts, prices are lower and crowds thinner. But expect high humidity, disrupted boat trips and island transfers, and the occasional flooded street — October in particular is best avoided.

When is the dry season in El Nido?

The driest, most comfortable months are All year — see the best time to visit El Nido guide.

Travelling in the wet season anyway?

Pack right for it — the full checklist is on our sister site.

El Nido packing list →
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Check your El Nido packing list at 247PackingList for a full wet-season checklist. For country facts, see our Philippines guide at 247CountryInfo.

Wet season essentials for El Nido

FLIGHTS

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AMAZON

Compact travel umbrella

Windproof, fits in a daypack, dries fast — non-negotiable in monsoon season.

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AMAZON

Packable waterproof jacket

Light enough for the humidity, sealed enough for the downpours.

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AMAZON

Dry bag

Keeps phones, passports and cameras dry through boat trips and sudden storms.

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More wet-season travel gear

AMAZON

El Nido travel guide

Plan around the wet season with an up-to-date guidebook.

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Quick-dry travel clothing

Lightweight and quick-drying — ideal for high-humidity wet seasons.

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Packing cubes

Waterproof packing cubes keep clothes dry even in downpours.

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Last updated:

Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.