Things to Do in Philippines in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Philippines
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Christmas atmosphere meets tropical weather - you'll find massive lantern festivals (parol displays) lighting up Manila's streets while wearing shorts and flip-flops. December temperatures averaging 23-30°C (73-86°F) mean you can enjoy holiday festivities without winter coats, and the Filipino Christmas season (starting September but peaking in December) creates an energy that's genuinely unique in Southeast Asia.
- Peak diving and island-hopping season in Palawan and the Visayas - December sits right in the dry season for these regions, with visibility underwater reaching 20-30 m (65-100 ft) and calm seas making boat transfers actually pleasant. While Manila gets occasional rain, places like El Nido and Coron are experiencing their best weather of the year, with minimal rainfall and consistent sunshine.
- Lower crowds than January-February despite good weather - December catches that sweet spot before the Chinese New Year rush and Western spring break crowds hit. You'll still need to book ahead for Christmas week (December 20-26), but early and mid-December sees reasonable availability and pricing. Hotels in Boracay and Palawan typically run 20-30% cheaper than their January peak rates.
- Misa de Gallo dawn masses and noche buena feasts offer genuine cultural immersion - for nine days before Christmas (December 16-24), locals attend 4am masses, and many tourist areas organize these with traditional Filipino breakfast afterward. It's one of the few times you can participate in deeply local traditions that happen in public spaces, and Filipinos are exceptionally welcoming to visitors who show interest in their Christmas customs.
Considerations
- Manila and northern Luzon still get significant rainfall - those 10 rainy days and 488 mm (19.2 inches) aren't evenly distributed. Manila typically sees 3-4 days of heavy downpours that can flood streets and disrupt transportation. If your itinerary focuses on Manila, Baguio, or northern areas, expect afternoon thunderstorms that last 1-3 hours and occasionally cancel domestic flights. The weather splits the country: Palawan and the Visayas are mostly dry, while Luzon's northern regions stay wet.
- Christmas week (December 20-26) sees domestic tourism surge and everything books solid - Filipinos take Christmas incredibly seriously, and millions travel home or vacation domestically. Domestic flights can cost 2-3x normal rates during this week, beach resorts in Batangas and La Union fill with Manila families, and restaurants require reservations. If you're traveling December 20-26, book accommodations and inter-island flights at least 8-10 weeks ahead or expect to pay premium prices for whatever's left.
- Typhoon season technically extends through December, though storms are less frequent - while the peak typhoon months (July-October) have passed, December still averages 1-2 typhoons annually, and they can disrupt travel plans with 24-48 hours notice. Most pass north of the Philippines or weaken before landfall, but it's worth having flexible bookings and travel insurance. The bigger issue is the tail-end effect: occasional tropical depressions bring heavy rain even when storms don't make landfall.
Best Activities in December
Island-hopping and diving tours in Palawan
December is genuinely the best month for Palawan - El Nido and Coron experience their driest weather with calm seas and exceptional underwater visibility. Water temperatures sit around 27-28°C (81-82°F), comfortable for 2-3 hour snorkel sessions without a wetsuit. The northeast monsoon hasn't kicked in fully yet, so boat rides between islands stay smooth rather than the stomach-churning experience you'd get in July. Tour operators run full schedules, and you'll actually see the limestone karsts without rain clouds obscuring them.
Volcano hiking in Bicol and Batangas
December's cooler mornings (23°C/73°F at dawn) make volcano treks significantly more manageable than the scorching March-May summer. Mount Mayon near Legazpi offers sunrise hikes that start at 3am when temperatures are actually pleasant, and the clearer December skies mean better summit views. Taal Volcano near Manila is accessible as a day trip, and the 30-45 minute hike up the crater rim doesn't feel like a death march in December temperatures. That said, northern Luzon volcanoes might see rain - focus on Bicol region and Batangas for better weather odds.
Manila's Christmas markets and simbang gabi experiences
December transforms Manila into something worth spending 2-3 days exploring, which is unusual for a city most travelers rush through. Greenhills Shopping Center and Divisoria Market explode with Christmas vendors selling lanterns (parol), and the energy is genuinely infectious. More interesting culturally: simbang gabi (dawn masses) from December 16-24 at 4am, followed by traditional Filipino breakfast - bibingka (rice cakes) and puto bumbong (purple rice) sold by vendors outside churches. It's participatory tourism that doesn't feel performative because locals are doing it regardless.
Boracay beach activities and water sports
Boracay in December offers the island's famous white sand without the oppressive heat of summer or the crowds of Chinese New Year. Water temperatures around 27°C (81°F) make swimming comfortable all day, and the Amihan (northeast wind) season brings consistent winds perfect for kiteboarding and windsurfing on Bulabog Beach. White Beach stays calm enough for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. December also means clearer water - the island implemented strict environmental regulations in 2018, and December's conditions show it at its best.
Banaue rice terraces and Cordillera cultural tours
December sits right after the October-November harvest, so the terraces show their carved earthwork structure rather than the green rice you'd see in July. This actually makes the engineering more impressive - you see exactly how the 2,000-year-old irrigation system works. Temperatures in the Cordillera highlands run 15-22°C (59-72°F), which is jacket weather by Filipino standards but pleasant hiking weather. The downside: December still sees rain in northern Luzon, so this is a calculated risk. You might get stunning clear mountain views or spend two days in fog.
Siargao surfing and island exploration
December marks the start of Siargao's surf season as the northeast monsoon swell begins arriving. Cloud 9, the island's famous reef break, starts getting consistent 1-2 m (3-6 ft) waves, though it's not yet the peak February-March size. For intermediate surfers, this is actually ideal - challenging but not terrifying. The island stays relatively quiet in early December before the January rush, and the lagoons and rock pools around the island (Sugba Lagoon, Magpupungko) are accessible in calmer December seas. Water temperature around 28°C (82°F) means boardshorts only.
December Events & Festivals
Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) in San Fernando, Pampanga
Held on the Saturday before Christmas Eve, this festival features massive rotating lanterns up to 6 m (20 ft) in diameter competing for the most elaborate design. Eleven barangays (villages) spend months constructing these electric parol with thousands of lights synchronized to music. It's genuinely spectacular and not touristy because it's a serious local competition. The event draws huge crowds, so arrive early afternoon for the evening display.
Simbang Gabi (Misa de Gallo) - Nine-day dawn mass tradition
From December 16-24, Filipinos attend 4am masses in a tradition dating back to Spanish colonial times. Churches across the country hold these services, and the atmosphere outside afterward - vendors selling bibingka, puto bumbong, and hot chocolate - is where the cultural experience happens. Major churches in Manila, Cebu, and provincial capitals welcome visitors. Completing all nine masses is considered to grant a wish, so you'll see dedicated locals attending every morning.
Noche Buena - Christmas Eve feast tradition
December 24 after midnight mass, Filipino families gather for Noche Buena, a feast featuring ham, queso de bola (Edam cheese), fruit salad, and various regional dishes. While this is primarily a private family celebration, many restaurants and hotels offer special Noche Buena menus, and some homestays include guests in their celebrations. It's worth experiencing at least the food traditions even if you're not invited to a family gathering. Expect most businesses to close December 24-25.