Ask any El Nido local when to visit and a surprising number will say November. It is the month the dry season clicks into place — the Habagat south-west monsoon ends, the Amihan north-east trade wind begins, and the skies over Bacuit Bay transform from overcast to crystal blue almost overnight. Crowds are at their lowest. Prices are at their lowest. And yet conditions are genuinely good enough to do every island-hopping tour. November is the best-kept secret in El Nido’s calendar.
- El Nido November at a Glance
- November Weather: The Season Transition
- Why November Has the Best Prices of the Year
- The November Advantage: Lush Scenery
- Island-Hopping in November
- November vs Other Months
- Who November Is Perfect For
- Practical Tips for November
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Plan Your November Trip
El Nido November at a Glance
| Factor | November Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good (improving) | Dry season establishing; early month variable |
| Sea conditions | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good-excellent | Calming rapidly through the month |
| Snorkelling visibility | ⭐⭐⭐ Good (improving) | 10-18 m; rises sharply through December |
| Crowds | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lowest of year | Post-wet season; pre-Christmas rush |
| Accommodation prices | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best of year | Lowest rates; widest availability |
| Tour availability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Easy | Same-day booking; rarely full |
| Lush vegetation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Peak | Jungle greenery at its most vibrant post-rain |
| Overall verdict | ✅✅ Highly recommended (esp. late Nov) | Best value month; conditions worthy of the trip |
November Weather: The Season Transition
November marks the transition from the wet Habagat season to the dry Amihan season. This transition is not always clean — early November can still bring occasional showers and unsettled days — but by mid-to-late November, the north-east trade wind is established and the weather pattern shifts decisively to dry season conditions.
| Metric | Early November | Late November |
|---|---|---|
| Average temperature | 27-30°C | 26-29°C |
| Sea temperature | 28-29°C | 27-28°C |
| Average rainfall | 80-120 mm | 40-70 mm |
| Rainy days | 8-12 days | 5-8 days |
| Sunshine hours | 5-7 hrs/day | 6-8 hrs/day |
| Sea conditions | Moderate (calming) | Light chop to calm |
| Tour cancellations | Occasional (early Nov) | Rare (late Nov) |
The November variance: November 1-10 is the riskiest window — the tail of the wet season can linger with multi-day rain episodes that occasionally cancel tours. From November 15 onward, conditions improve rapidly. By November 25-30, El Nido feels like peak dry season. The safest November visit is the final two weeks.
Why November Has the Best Prices of the Year
November is the lowest-demand month of the year for El Nido, sandwiched between the tail of the wet season (which depresses arrivals) and the December Christmas surge (which hasn’t started yet). The result: lowest accommodation rates, best availability, and tour operators hungry for business.
| Category | November Price | vs December peak | vs March |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget hostel | 500-800 PHP/night | -35-40% | -15-20% |
| Mid-range hotel | 1,800-3,500 PHP/night | -40-50% | -20-30% |
| Boutique hotel | 4,000-7,500 PHP/night | -35-45% | -15-25% |
| Island resort | $220-400 USD/night | -35-45% | -15-25% |
| AirSWIFT flight (Manila) | 3,500-7,000 PHP | -40-50% | -20-30% |
| Shared island-hopping tour | 1,400-1,600 PHP | -10-15% | Similar |
For budget-conscious travellers, November offers the best overall Palawan value of any month with acceptable conditions. A 7-day trip in November can cost 30-45% less than the same trip in December or January with only marginally worse weather.
The November Advantage: Lush Scenery
One genuinely underrated aspect of November is the visual quality of the landscape. After five months of rain, every surface in El Nido is saturated with colour: the jungle on Cadlao Island is an impossibly deep emerald, waterfalls visible from tour boats are at their most dramatic, and the contrast of vivid green cliffs against blue water is more striking than in the dry-season peak when vegetation fades.
- Photography: November light (partly cloudy skies diffusing direct sun) is actually preferred by many photographers over the harsh midday brightness of April-May
- Waterfalls: Several seasonal waterfalls visible from Tour A and Tour C are only flowing in November-December
- Mangroves: The mangrove firefly tour (5:30 PM departure) is particularly spectacular in November when firefly populations are dense after the wet season
Island-Hopping in November
All four tours operate in November, but with important caveats by timing within the month:
- Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon): Runs throughout November. The lagoons are more photogenic with lush green cliff faces after the rain season. Early November occasionally sees cancellations; from November 15 onward, reliable
- Tour C (Helicopter Island, Hidden Beach): The open-water crossing to Helicopter Island can be rough in early November. Late November crossings are fine. Tapiutan Strait snorkelling visibility is 10-15 m — good, though not yet at December-April peak
- Tour D (Cadlao Lagoon): The most sheltered tour; runs reliably throughout November. The lush Cadlao Island jungle at its seasonal peak makes the lagoon walls particularly dramatic. Strongly recommended in November
- Tour B (Snake Island, Cathedral Cave): Runs throughout November; less weather-dependent than Tour C
November tour booking tip: Same-day booking is easy in November — the tourism office rarely fills. This gives you flexibility to choose tour days based on the weather forecast rather than committing the day before.
November vs Other Months
| Month | Conditions | Crowds | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (improving) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lowest | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cheapest | Budget travellers, value seekers, photographers |
| December | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ Very high | ⭐⭐ Highest | Best conditions if cost is not a factor |
| January | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ High | ⭐⭐⭐ High | Post-New Year sweet spot (mid-Jan) |
| February | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low-mod | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good | Couples, divers, manta season |
| March | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good | Best overall dry season value after November |
| April | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Holy Week) | ⭐⭐⭐ Mid | Best visibility; avoid Holy Week |
Who November Is Perfect For
- Budget backpackers — the cheapest beds, cheapest flights, and same tour experiences at 10-15% less per tour
- Photographers — lush green scenery, dramatic skies, manageable light conditions, almost no competing tourists in shots
- Slow travellers — no pressure to book ahead; stay flexible; extend if you find a place you love
- Repeat visitors — El Nido feels completely different in November than peak season; a new perspective on the same destination
- Digital nomads — co-working cafes have tables; accommodation negotiates longer-stay rates readily; town is quiet and productive
Practical Tips for November
- Visit late November if possible — aim for November 15-30 for the best balance of dry conditions and low-season prices; early November is genuinely unpredictable weather-wise
- Pack a light rain layer — even late November can produce brief showers; a packable rain jacket weighs nothing and prevents a ruined tour day
- Negotiate accommodation — November is the one month where mid-range hotels accept negotiation on longer stays (4+ nights); ask directly
- Book the firefly tour — mangrove firefly populations peak post-rainy season; November firefly tours are exceptional and run at full schedule
- No advance tour booking needed — walk up on the morning; choose based on weather; the flexibility is one of November’s genuine advantages over peak season
- Check surf reports if crossing to Coron — the El Nido to Coron passage boat occasionally suspends in early November; late November service is reliable
Frequently Asked Questions
Is November a good time to visit El Nido?
Yes, especially from the 15th onward. November offers the lowest prices, smallest crowds, and most available accommodation of any month. Conditions are variable in early November but become reliably good by mid-month. Late November (20-30) is when November is at its best — dry season conditions have arrived, prices are still at their low-season floor, and the landscape is strikingly green from the rainy season.
Does it rain a lot in El Nido in November?
Early November (1-10) can see significant rainfall as the wet season winds down — averaging 8-12 rainy days in the first half. By late November, rain drops to 3-6 days and showers are typically brief. The risk of a full-day tour cancellation is low from November 15 onward but higher in early November than any other dry-season month.
Is El Nido cheaper in November than December?
Significantly cheaper — 30-45% less for accommodation, 40-50% less for flights. November is the lowest-priced month of the year for El Nido. A mid-range hotel that costs 5,000 PHP/night in December can be booked for 2,500-3,500 PHP in November. AirSWIFT direct flights are at their cheapest of the annual cycle in November.
Are island-hopping tours available in November?
Yes — all four standard tours (A, B, C, D) operate in November. Tour D (Cadlao Lagoon, sheltered waters) is the most reliable in early November. Tour C has occasional cancellations in the first two weeks due to open-water conditions but runs reliably from mid-November. Same-day booking is the norm in November — no need to plan tours the day before.
Plan Your November Trip
Resources: where to stay · budget guide · 7-day itinerary · El Nido in December · full best time to visit guide
