Vitamin D in Philippines: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Philippines are March, April. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot in May and rainy or stormy from June to February.

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Philippines month by month

Philippines is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Bad weather	7.4 h	7.2	7 min	14 min	29°C	21/30
February	Bad weather	7.8 h	8.1	7 min	12 min	30°C	19/30
March	Excellent	8.4 h	8.7	6 min	11 min	31°C	13/30
April	Excellent	8.5 h	8.9	6 min	11 min	32°C	14/30
May	Too hot	8.4 h	8.5	6 min	12 min	34°C	14/30
June	Bad weather	8.1 h	8.0	7 min	13 min	31°C	28/30
July	Bad weather	7.4 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	30°C	28/30
August	Bad weather	8.0 h	8.4	6 min	12 min	30°C	26/30
September	Bad weather	7.0 h	7.4	7 min	14 min	29°C	26/30
October	Bad weather	6.8 h	7.3	7 min	14 min	30°C	26/30
November	Bad weather	7.6 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	31°C	23/30
December	Bad weather	6.2 h	6.1	9 min	16 min	28°C	26/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Philippines

Why go

The Philippines has more than 7,000 islands, with white-sand beaches, limestone lagoons, great diving and friendly English-speaking locals.

Best for

Divers, island hoppers, couples and backpackers.

What to expect

A dry season from December to May, with the best weather in February to April. June to November is typhoon season, and getting between islands can mean boats and short flights.

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Places in Philippines

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Boracay best: Excellent

Famous white beach with sunset sailing and nightlife.

Best for couples, groups, families

Best months March, April · Avoid rainy or stormy from May to February

A 10-km-long island featuring white sands, one of the country's best-known resort areas.

El Nido best: Excellent

Limestone cliffs, lagoons and island hopping tours.

Best for couples, kayakers, photographers

Best months January to April · Avoid too hot in May; rainy or stormy from June to December

Dozens of limestone islands that form a stunningly beautiful karst topography permeated by crystal-clear bays and lagoons,…

Coron best: Excellent

Wreck diving and a crystal-clear lake, set among limestone cliffs.

Best for divers, adventure travellers

Best months January to April, November · Avoid too hot in May; rainy or stormy from June to October and in December

Puerto Princesa best: Excellent

Gateway to the underground river.

Best for nature lovers, transit stays

Best months January to March, May · Avoid rainy or stormy in April and from June to December

Cebu City best: Excellent

Large city and the hub for beaches and whale shark trips.

Best for transit stays, families

Best months March, April · Avoid rainy or stormy from May to February

The "Queen City of the South" was the first Spanish base in the Philippines and is a major center for commerce, industry, culture…

Moalboal best: Excellent

Sardine run snorkelling just off the beach.

Best for snorkellers, divers

Best months April · Avoid too hot in May; rainy or stormy from June to March

Bohol best: Excellent

Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and quiet beaches.

Best for families, nature lovers

Best months March, April · Avoid too hot in May; rainy or stormy from June to February

Panglao best: Excellent

Resort beaches and diving near Bohol.

Best for divers, couples, families

Best months May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to April

Siargao best: Excellent

Surf island and laid-back beach life.

Best for surfers, backpackers

Best months May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to April

Dumaguete best: Excellent

Easy-going university town with great diving nearby.

Best for divers, retirees

Best months March to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to February

Manila best: Excellent

Huge, loud capital of malls, history and traffic.

Best for transit stays, city lovers

Best months January to March, November · Avoid too hot from April to June; rainy or stormy from July to October and in December

Donsol best: Excellent

Seasonal whale shark encounters.

Best for wildlife lovers

Best months January to April, November · Avoid too hot in May; rainy or stormy from June to October and in December

The Whale Shark Capital of the world, dive and see whale sharks.

Malapascua best: Excellent

Island known for thresher shark dives at dawn.

Best for divers

Best months January to May, November · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to October and in December

Island features a beautiful white sand shoreline and coral gardens.

Anilao best: Excellent

Macro diving capital with a variety of small sea creatures.

Best for underwater photographers, divers

Best months January to March, May · Avoid too hot in April; rainy or stormy from June to December

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in Philippines

When is the best time to visit Philippines for vitamin D?

The best months for vitamin D in Philippines are March, April. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Philippines in December?

Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 9 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 6.2 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Philippines?

In March, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 11 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Philippines?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot in May and rainy or stormy from June to February.

What is the best place in Philippines for vitamin D?

In March the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Malapascua. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.