| Month · weather | Day / night °C* | Rain days** | Sea*** | Crowds | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan – Breezy, frequent showers | 28 / 25 | 12 | ~28 °C, choppy | busy around New Year and the Santa Fe fiesta | Plan a buffer day for the ferry |
| Feb – Drying out, windy | 28 / 25 | 9 | ~28 °C, choppy at times | fairly quiet | Bring a light jacket for boat trips |
| Mar – Dry and sunny | 29 / 26 | 7 | ~28 °C, calmer | very busy in Holy Week (some years in April) | Best weather – skip Holy Week for quiet beaches |
| Apr – Driest month, getting hot | 31 / 27 | 5 | ~30 °C, calm | peak summer season | Book ferry and room early; weekdays are calmer |
| May – Hottest month, first thunderstorms | 31 / 27 | 9 | ~31 °C, calm | busy | Swim and island-hop in the morning |
| Jun – Rainy season starts | 30 / 26 | 13 | ~31 °C, calmest | medium; Bantayan fiesta and Bantayan Day at the end of June | Keep plans flexible |
| Jul – Wet and warm | 30 / 26 | 15 | ~31 °C, mostly calm, small boats may be stopped | quiet | Check PAGASA and the Coast Guard before island hopping |
| Aug – Wet and warm | 30 / 26 | 13 | ~31 °C, mostly calm | quiet; long weekend at the end | Keep plans flexible |
| Sep – Wet | 30 / 26 | 14 | ~31 °C, mostly calm | quiet | Keep plans flexible |
| Oct – Wettest month | 29 / 26 | 15 | ~31 °C, mostly calm | low search interest | Bring a rain jacket and enough cash |
| Nov – Wet, storm risk rises | 29 / 26 | 12 | ~30 °C, rougher | low search interest; busy ferries around 1–2 Nov | Watch PAGASA wind signals |
| Dec – Wet, windy, storm risk | 29 / 26 | 14 | ~29 °C, choppy | peak 24–31 Dec; Madridejos fiesta | Book Christmas trips early, keep a buffer day |
* Model values for Santa Fe 2016–2025 (Open-Meteo); at the PAGASA station on Mactan Island daytime highs are about 2 °C higher. ** PAGASA station Mactan Island, 1991–2020 – no official station on Bantayan. *** Approximate model estimates from a short record (2022–2025). Crowds from search interest and our events calendar – there are no official visitor counts per month.
Bantayan is warm all year – about 28 °C to 31 °C by day. What changes from month to month is the rain, the wind and the number of visitors. The chart and table above are based on ten years of model weather data for Santa Fe and 30 years of official PAGASA records from the nearest station on Mactan Island.
The short answer
- Driest: late February to May. At the PAGASA station on Mactan Island, March and April average only 7 and 5 rain days.
- Hottest: May, with average daytime highs around 31 °C.
- Calmest sea: usually May and June, with water around 31 °C (approximate model values).
- Lowest search interest: For searches from the Philippines (Google Trends), October, with September and November close behind – but these months are wet and in storm season. We have not found official monthly visitor counts.
- Storm months: November and December. Most storms that came close to Bantayan from 1991 to 2025 passed in these two months.
- Busiest: Holy Week, the summer holidays in April and May, and Christmas to New Year. Exact dates are in our events calendar.
Dry season and rainy season
- Dry season (about February to May): the northeast wind (amihan) fades and rain becomes rare. April has the least rain, May is the hottest month.
- Rainy season (about June to January): the southwest monsoon (habagat) brings rain from June. October is the wettest month, with about 15 rain days at the Mactan station. Keep outdoor plans flexible in these months.
- Windy months (December to February): strong gusts are most common, so the sea is choppier and small boats may stay in port.
Typhoon season on Bantayan
Storms can come in any month, but near Bantayan most pass late in the year. From 1991 to 2025, 21 of the 37 tropical storms that came within 200 km of the island passed in November or December (own count from NOAA storm tracks). For the Philippines as a whole, PAGASA names July to October as the peak of the typhoon season, but those storms mostly pass further north.
8 November 2013
Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) crossed Bantayan.24 December 2019
Typhoon Ursula passed about 60 km away; reports described ferry suspensions in the Visayas over Christmas (original report not yet verified).16 December 2021
Typhoon Odette (Rai) hit central and southern Cebu; reports listed Santa Fe’s pier among the affected ports (original report not yet verified).4 November 2025
Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) passed about 45 km away; Cebu province declared a state of calamity.
When PAGASA raises a wind signal for northern Cebu, the Coast Guard stops ferry trips. Live storm information is on our home page; our weather page links to the official PAGASA and Coast Guard updates.
Ferries and the weather
Ferries between Hagnaya and Santa Fe stop when a tropical cyclone wind signal is raised on the route, and small boats can be stopped in strong wind and rough seas – for example on 9 July 2026. Storm and wind patterns suggest allowing extra time from November to February; we have not found a complete record of cancellations. If you have a flight, plan a buffer day in these months. Times and fares are on our ferry page.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Bantayan Island?
Late February to May. These are the driest months – at the nearest PAGASA station, on Mactan Island, March and April average only 7 and 5 rain days. Avoid Holy Week if you want quiet beaches.
What is the rainy season on Bantayan?
Roughly June to January. October is the wettest month, with about 15 rain days at the Mactan station.
When is typhoon season on Bantayan Island?
Storms can come in any month, but near Bantayan most pass in November and December – 21 of 37 tropical storms within 200 km from 1991 to 2025.
How warm is the sea around Bantayan?
Roughly 28 °C from January to March and 31 °C–31 °C from May to October, according to model estimates from a short record (2022–2025).
Do ferries to Bantayan get cancelled because of the weather?
Yes. The Coast Guard stops trips when a wind signal is raised and can stop small boats in strong wind. Plan extra time from November to February, when storms and strong wind are most common.
What is the quietest month to visit Bantayan?
For searches from the Philippines (Google Trends), interest in Bantayan is lowest in October, with September and November close behind, but these months are wet and in storm season. We have not found official monthly visitor counts.
Is Bantayan crowded during Holy Week?
Yes, it is the busiest week of the year. Expect heavy traffic at the ports and allow extra time for both crossings. The dates for each year are in our events calendar.
Keep exploring.
Weather · Tides · Typhoons
Weather, tides and typhoons on Bantayan
Current weather in Santa Fe, high tide at Hagnaya port (loading may pause), and where to find official typhoon and sea travel warnings.
Events · calendar
Events and fiestas on Bantayan Island
Fiestas, festivals, Holy Week and holidays on Bantayan Island month by month, with travel tips for full ferries and rooms. Dates to confirm locally.
History · 1580 to today
History of Bantayan Island
How Bantayan Island grew from a fishing and pearl island to three towns: the 1580 mission, raids, the egg industry, Typhoon Yolanda and the 2025 earthquake.
Local guide check pending