Rainy Season in the Philippines: 6 Best Gloomy Weather Destinations and Activities to Try

The rain never bothered us anyway.
by Ina Louise Manto | July 05, 2023

Gone are the sweltering summer days. The rainy season is upon us and don’t let the gloomy weather stop you from keeping the adventurer in you alive. In fact, some travel activities are best enjoyed during the rainy season! From adventure-filled experiences to cozy staycations, here are some destinations and activities to try this season:

Museum hopping

 

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Let’s begin the list by doing the first thing to come to mind when the downpour starts: retreat indoors and wait until it stops. We have plenty of museums around the metro; some of which are free within walking distance from each other. If you’ve already visited the National Museums in Manila, you can branch out to unique ones, such as the Omniverse Museum in Glorietta or the Space Museum in SM North Edsa.

Relax in a hot spring

 

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Got some aching muscles to soothe or simply want to close your eyes and enjoy a relaxing bath? The Philippines is home to volcanoes and mountains, which means there are plenty of hot spring destinations to enjoy. From the metro, you can easily drive to Pampanga to visit Puning Hot Spring or to Laguna for Hidden Valley Spring Resort.

If you’re flying farther, there are hot spring resorts in Camiguin, Negros Oriental, and Bicol Region as well.

Surfing

@steady_p #foryou #foryoupage #surfing #aurora #baler #saferide ♬ Slow Motion – Trey Songz

While surfing during the summertime is fun, you’ll experience the best waves during the rainy season. This is due to stronger winds that create bigger waves, and you can best experience this in the birthplace of surfing in the Philippines: Baler, Aurora.

Other top surfing spots in the country include La Union, Siargao, and Zambales.

Whitewater Rafting

Here’s to thrill seekers who want to take their travel activities to the next level: give whitewater rafting a try. The country is also home to rivers with strong rapids, which you’ll experience best in Cagayan De Oro. It’s the Rafting Capital of the Philippines and you can try it all year round. Tourists can experience three levels of rafting at Cagayan River: beginner, advanced, and extreme, with up to 21 rapids to go through.

Go on a staycation

While staying in on a rainy day is enough, we all deserve to spend some time away from home. Relaxing just ~hits differently~ when you’re elsewhere, preferably with an idyllic nature view surrounding you. Baguio and the Cordilleras are still ideal even during the rainy season – just imagine waking up to a foggy morning with the scent of fresh pine trees.

If you don’t want to drive or commute for a long time, you can head to Tagaytay, Rizal, or Quezon and experience the same vibes.

Indulge in a food crawl

 

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What’s with the sudden increase in appetite during the rainy season? You just want to have endless servings of hearty meals, especially soups! From sweet champorado for breakfast to sinigang for lunch, and sopas for merienda, Filipino cuisine just has everything. And one of the best destinations to visit is Pampanga, the country’s Culinary Capital. Other than savory dishes, the province also has plenty of Korean restaurant options and IG-worthy cafes.

What are your favorite rainy season activities? Sound off in the comments below!

Looking for other places to explore? Join WindowSeat.ph’s official Facebook community What’s Your Trip PH for more recos!