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# Philippines in November 2026: Weather, Crowds, Prices and Data
- URL: https://blog.fizen.io/philippines-in-november-2026/
- Published: 2026-10-13T09:59:39.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T16:34:43.000Z
- Description: November is the swing month between the Philippine rainy and dry seasons. Here is what the weather, crowds and prices actually do, plus how to land at NAIA with maps and a ride app already working.
- Author: Quinn Dao
- Tags: eSIM, Guides, Philippines

**Quick answer:** For the traveller booking a first Philippines trip for November, the month is a transition window, not a washout: Manila averages 30C highs with 70 mm of rain over 5 rainy days, and the northeast monsoon starts pushing the country toward the dry season (Highlights Travel, accessed 06 October 2026). Book it, but land with data already installed, because the first thing you will need is a ride app at NAIA and the SIM counter queue is the slowest part of the airport.

**Key takeaways**

- **November is a swing month, not a bad month.** Manila runs about 30C by day and 24C at night with 70 mm of rain across 5 rainy days, per Highlights Travel, accessed 06 October 2026.
- **Rain is regional, so your island choice decides your trip.** Palawan takes 100 mm across 16 rainy days while Boracay takes 180 mm across 13, per Highlights Travel, accessed 06 October 2026, so the two islands behave nothing like each other even in the same month.
- **Crowds and prices sit between the two peaks.** November is the start of the tourism high season, so accommodation and airfare climb, but it stays far quieter than the first months of the year, per Highlights Travel, accessed 06 October 2026.
- **Land with data, not with a queue.** A travel eSIM installed at home on Wi-Fi means maps, your ride app and messages work the moment you switch the line on after landing, and your home number stays live for bank SMS.

You are booking the Philippines for November and you cannot tell whether you are buying a beach week or a storm week. The answer depends on which island you pick, and on one thing nobody mentions in the booking flow: your phone has to work the moment you land at Manila or Cebu, because the taxi queue is where the trip either starts or stalls.

## Is November a good month for the Philippines, or am I booking into the tail of the rainy season?

November is the handover month. The rainy season runs roughly June to late October or early November, and the dry season starts around mid-November, according to Travel Around the Philippines (travelaroundthephilippines.com, accessed 06 October 2026). There is no fixed switch date, so you are booking into a transition, not a guarantee.

The northeast monsoon, the Amihan, is what ends the rain. It can take over in October or in November depending on the year, the same source says. That is why two travellers in the same week can describe November completely differently.

- Rainy season: roughly June to late October or early November (Travel Around the Philippines, accessed 06 October 2026)
- Dry season: around mid-November to late May, cooler half November to mid-March (Travel Around the Philippines, accessed 06 October 2026)
- Nationwide November averages: 30°C high, 24°C low (Highlights Travel, accessed 06 October 2026)
- Verdict: good month, unpredictable first half

## What does November weather actually look like in Manila, Palawan, Cebu and Boracay?

Rainfall is the number that decides your itinerary, and it varies by island, not by month. Manila gets 70 mm across 5 rainy days in November, Palawan 100 mm across 16 days, Cebu 85 mm across 15 days, and Boracay 180 mm across 13 days, per Highlights Travel (accessed 06 October 2026).

| Destination | Avg high    | Avg low     | November rainfall | Rainy days |
| ----------- | ----------- | ----------- | ----------------- | ---------- |
| Manila      | 30°C (86°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (3 in)      | 5          |
| Palawan     | 29°C (84°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (4 in)     | 16         |
| Cebu        | 29°C (84°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 85 mm (3.5 in)    | 15         |
| Boracay     | 29°C (84°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 180 mm (7 in)     | 13         |

Read the table as a plan, not a forecast. Palawan and Cebu rain on more days but in shorter bursts. Boracay takes the most water in the fewest days.

## Are typhoons still a risk in November, and which islands get hit?

Yes, and this is the part most booking pages leave out. The typhoon season typically runs June to September, but Highlights Travel (accessed 06 October 2026) notes that devastating storms developing late into the year in November have become more common.

Frequency drops after September. It does not reach zero. Travel Around the Philippines (accessed 06 October 2026) describes November as a transition month where the monsoons change gradually and no fixed pattern applies.

- Standard pattern: Luzon, Visayas, Palawan (Travel Around the Philippines, accessed 06 October 2026)
- Reversed pattern: Siargao, Leyte, Samar (Travel Around the Philippines, accessed 06 October 2026)
- Late-year storms: possible, less frequent than June to September (Highlights Travel, accessed 06 October 2026)
- Check local forecasts on arrival, not just at booking

## Do I need data the moment I land, and what does it cost for a November trip?

Yes, and November is exactly why. NAIA Terminal 3 is the country's busiest gateway, and airport delays are common enough that you may land hours late with a driver already waiting and no working phone. Buy and install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, keep your home SIM in the phone for bank SMS, and switch the travel line on after landing. That costs nothing extra and works even if the airport counter is shut.

| Option                        | Data and validity  | Source and date                                                    |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Smart prepaid tourist SIM     | 8 GB, 15 days      | Travel Sim Expert, accessed 06 October 2026                        |
| Typical tourist SIM in store  | varies by plan     | Travel Sim Expert, accessed 06 October 2026                        |
| Airalo Philippines eSIM       | 5 GB, 30 days      | Airalo Philippines eSIM plans, accessed 06 October 2026            |
| eSIM range in the Philippines | varies by provider | Travel Sim Expert, accessed 06 October 2026                        |
| Fizen Philippines eSIM        | 1 GB, 7 days       | the Fizen eSIM catalogue (fizen.io/esim), accessed 06 October 2026 |
| Fizen Philippines eSIM        | 3 GB, 15 days      | the Fizen eSIM catalogue (fizen.io/esim), accessed 06 October 2026 |
| Fizen Philippines eSIM        | 5 GB, 30 days      | the Fizen eSIM catalogue (fizen.io/esim), accessed 06 October 2026 |
| Fizen Philippines eSIM        | 10 GB, 30 days     | the Fizen eSIM catalogue (fizen.io/esim), accessed 06 October 2026 |
| Fizen Philippines eSIM        | 20 GB, 30 days     | the Fizen eSIM catalogue (fizen.io/esim), accessed 06 October 2026 |

## What does a local tourist SIM cost in the Philippines, and when does it beat an eSIM?

Travel Sim Expert puts a Smart prepaid tourist SIM at 8 GB valid 15 days, with a general tourist SIM in store varying by plan, accessed 06 October 2026\. Smart is available in convenience stores and Smart stores, and the same source rates Smart as the network with the best coverage of the three operators, which matters on Palawan and the smaller islands. Globe is described as extensive, and Dito as the newest operator with significantly worse coverage, recommended only to extreme budget travellers who avoid remote areas.

If you are in the Philippines for 7 to 10 days in November, size for the delay day and buy 8 to 10 GB before you fly. Fizen's own Philippines range runs from 1 GB over 7 days to 20 GB over 30 days, per the Fizen eSIM catalogue (fizen.io/esim), accessed 06 October 2026, so a 10 GB plan over 30 days covers a two-week trip. The shop page carries the current price. Pay by card at fizen.io/esim.

## Frequently asked questions

#### Is November a good time to visit the Philippines?

Yes, with a caveat. It is a transition month between the rainy and dry seasons, so expect warm days and passing showers rather than a settled dry week. Crowds are lighter than January to April and prices are climbing but not at peak.

#### Does it still rain in the Philippines in November?

Yes, but less. Manila averages 70 mm over about 5 rainy days, Palawan about 100 mm, and Boracay about 180 mm, per Highlights Travel, accessed 06 October 2026\. Showers are usually short rather than all-day.

#### Are there typhoons in the Philippines in November?

The core season runs June to September, but late-season storms do develop into November. Check the local forecast daily rather than assuming the month is clear, and keep one flexible day in any island-hopping plan.

#### How much data do I need for a two-week Philippines trip?

There is no single official figure, so treat this as a planning estimate rather than a sourced fact. If you use maps, a ride app, messaging and short video, a common rule of thumb is 1 to 1.5 GB per day, which for two weeks is roughly 15 to 20 GB. Size for the whole trip because an eSIM plan cannot be topped up.

#### Can I use my credit card everywhere in the Philippines?

In Manila, Cebu and Boracay, usually yes. On smaller islands, at markets and with tricycle drivers, cash is still the norm. Carry pesos and treat card acceptance as a bonus rather than a plan.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/04/ee/04eee3a6-7d95-474c-80a5-48f84338363b/content/images/2026/10/philippines-in-november-2026-1.png) 

#### Land at NAIA with data already on

Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before you fly and switch the line on after landing. Paying in USDT instead? Open the app, where new users get US$10 of eSIM credit added automatically in the eSIM tab, no code, valid 12 months, in-app purchases only.

[Get your Philippines eSIM](https://fizen.io/esim?ref=blog.fizen.io) 

### Terms and conditions

- **Information only.** This article is information only. It is not an offer or sale, and it is not advice.
- **For readers in the United States.** This is information only, not an offer or sale, and not advice. Fizen is not offered to US Persons.
- **Data-only product.** The eSIM is a data-only product. It does not provide a local phone number and does not support voice calls or SMS.
- **Dates and prices.** Weather, crowd and price figures were checked on 06 October 2026 and can change. Always confirm current conditions and costs before booking.

### Sources

- [Travel Around The Philippines](https://travelaroundthephilippines.com/november-philippines-travel/?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Discover The Philippines](https://www.discoverthephilippines.com/where-to-go-in-the-philippines-in-november/?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Jon to the World](https://jontotheworld.com/festivals-in-november-in-the-philippines-complete-list/?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Things To Do In Philippines](https://thingstodoinphilippines.com/month/november/?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Weather and Climate](https://weather-and-climate.com/averages-Philippines-November?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Highlights Travel](https://www.highlightstravel.com/philippines/weather-in-november?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Travel Sim Expert](https://travelsimexpert.com/philippines-sim-cards/?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Airalo Philippines eSIM plans](https://www.airalo.com/philippines-esim?ref=blog.fizen.io)

All weather, crowd, price and network facts in this post were checked on 06 October 2026\. Where a source was accessed on a different date, that date is stated next to the citation.

### Related reading

- [Best travel eSIM for the Philippines](https://blog.fizen.io/best-travel-esim-for-philippines-2026/)
- [Best eSIM for Manila](https://blog.fizen.io/best-esim-manila-2026/)
- [Best eSIM for Southeast Asia](https://blog.fizen.io/best-travel-esim-for-southeast-asia-2026/)
- [Airalo alternative](https://blog.fizen.io/airalo-alternative-2026/)
- [Best travel eSIM 2026](https://blog.fizen.io/best-travel-esim-2026/)