Things to Do in Philippines in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Philippines
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
86°F (30°C)
High Temp
73°F (23°C)
Low Temp
19.2 inches (488 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Late-season typhoons possible through mid-December. Monitor PAGASA weather alerts if visiting Manila or Bicol regions. Check daily. Change routes.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December is dry season in most of the Philippines. You'll get 8 hours of daily sunshine. Afternoon rain clears within 30 minutes. Island hopping becomes reliably doable.
- + Christmas season transforms every town with parol lanterns and simbang gabi dawn masses. The air smells of bibingka rice cakes cooking over charcoal outside churches at 4 AM.
- + Whale shark and manta ray encounters peak in Donsol and Cebu waters. Cooler currents bring plankton blooms. Visibility hits 30 m (98 ft) on calm mornings.
- + Room rates are 30-40% lower than Chinese New Year peak (January-February). Weather is nearly identical. You get the same perfect beach days without the premium pricing.
Considerations
- − Christmas week (December 23-January 2) sees domestic flights triple in price. Every decent hotel books solid. Locals working overseas all come home at once.
- − Typhoon risk lingers through mid-December. While Boracay and Palawan sit in the shelter zone, Manila and Bicol can still get hammered by late-season storms.
- − The humidity plus 86°F (30°C) highs means your clothes never fully dry. Pack twice the underwear you think you need. This matters when island hopping between destinations.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Palawan Underground River Kayak Tours
December's minimal rainfall keeps the Puerto Princesa Underground River's water levels good for kayaking 8.2 km (5.1 miles) into cathedral-sized chambers. The limestone caves echo with swiftlet birds. Sunlight shafts through collapsed chambers create natural spotlights on 20-million-year-old rock formations. Morning tours beat both crowds and afternoon showers.
Booking Tip: Book 7-10 days ahead through licensed operators. The national park limits daily visitors to 900 people. Morning slots (8-10 AM) have the calmest waters and best cave lighting. See current tour options in booking section below.
Cebu Whale Shark Snorkeling Trips
December plankton blooms in the Tanon Strait attract whale sharks to Oslob and Donsol waters. The early morning light filtering through 25 m (82 ft) visibility creates that perfect National Geographic shot. You need to be in the water by 6 AM before tourist boats arrive. The water temperature sits at 27°C (81°F). Warm enough for 3-hour sessions without a wetsuit.
Booking Tip: Licensed operators depart 5:30 AM for the best encounters. Small groups (6 max) get longer in-water time than larger boats. Current tour schedules appear in booking widget below.
Banaue Rice Terrace Trekking Routes
December's harvest season turns the 2,000-year-old Ifugao terraces into a mosaic of gold and green. The morning mist lifts by 8 AM to reveal terraces stepping down 1,500 m (4,920 ft) into the valley. Temperatures drop to 18°C (64°F) at dawn, good for hiking. Local guides know which trails avoid the tour bus viewpoints. They lead to village homes serving freshly-harvested mountain rice.
Booking Tip: Overnight in Batad village rather than day-tripping from Banaue. The 16 km (10 mile) dirt road takes 2 hours each way. Local guides typically arrange homestays with Ifugao families. Check current trekking options below.
Manila Chinese-Filipino Food Walking Tours
December blends Filipino Christmas traditions with Chinatown's winter solstice celebrations. The Binondo district - world's oldest Chinatown founded 1594 - serves hopia moon cakes alongside puto bumbong purple rice cakes steamed in bamboo. Food tours navigate 400-year-old alleys where family restaurants serve pancit canton noodles that predate Spanish colonization. All while dodging Manila's notorious traffic.
Booking Tip: Evening tours (6-9 PM) catch both dinner rush and cooler temperatures. Look for guides who speak Hokkien and Tagalog. They access kitchens closed to other tours. Current food tour options in booking section.
Boracay White Beach Sunset Sailing
December's northeast monsoon creates perfect sailing conditions. Steady 15-knot winds push paraw outriggers along the 4 km (2.5 mile) white sand beach. The sun drops into the Sulu Sea. The wind keeps temperatures feeling like 24°C (75°F) even at midday. The beach faces west for those Instagram-worthy sunset shots that made Boracay famous before the 2018 closure.
Booking Tip: Sunset sails (5-6 PM) include 45 minutes on the water plus hotel pickup. Morning sails have calmer seas for swimming stops. See current sailing options in widget below.
Where to Stay in Philippines in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
December 16-24
Simbang Gabi Dawn Masses
Nine days of 4 AM masses starting December 16 transform church plazas into pre-dawn food markets. Vendors sell puto bumbong (purple rice steamed in bamboo) and bibingka (rice flour cakes cooked over charcoal). Locals eat while still warm, wrapped in banana leaves. The air fills with coconut smoke and Christmas carols sung in Tagalog.
Late December
Giant Lantern Festival
San Fernando, Pampanga hosts a Christmas lantern competition where 6-meter (20-foot) parols spin with thousands of lightbulbs synchronized to traditional music. The competition runs all night December 23. Families set up picnic blankets and lechon whole pig roasts in the streets surrounding the city plaza.
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View Philippines Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Book domestic flights for Christmas week by September. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines release seats then. Prices triple by November.
The 'ber' months (September-December) mean San Miguel beer gets replaced by Red Horse in most bars. It's stronger. Locals drink it with ice. Expect the switch everywhere. Order it by the bottle.
Learn 'Merry Christmas' in Tagalog ('Maligayang Pasko'). You'll hear it 50 times daily. Locals appreciate the effort. Say it back. Smile wide.
Island ferry schedules collapse December 23-26. Plan to be wherever you want to spend Christmas by December 22. After that, you're stuck. No boats run. Book early.
ATM withdrawal limits drop to ₱5,000 during Christmas week. Bring US dollars to exchange at local 'money changers' for better rates than banks. Lines grow long. Cash is king.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming 'dry season' means no rain? December gets 19.2 inches (488 mm) of rain. Storms come fewer, heavier. Pack a poncho. Dry hours still happen.
Booking Manila connections too tight? Christmas traffic adds 2-3 hours to airport transfers. Domestic terminals require shuttle buses. Leave half a day. Miss nothing.
Wearing revealing clothing to churches for Simbang Gabi? Bring a scarf to cover shoulders for dawn masses. Locals take religious protocol seriously. Dress modest. Blend in.
Expecting Western Christmas timing? Filipinos celebrate Noche Buena on Christmas Eve midnight, not Christmas morning. Most restaurants close early. Eat late. Stay up.
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Top-rated things to do in Philippines this December
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