What's on in Dumaguete, Philippines through the year

Busy — Year-end break in Philippines, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Rule

  Apo Island sanctuary fee

  1 Jan – 31 Dec

  Everyone landing on the island pays an entry fee, with a higher one to snorkel or dive the sanctuary. It pays for the wardens, and the boat crews collect it before you get in the water. Source ↗

Still on: Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — Holy Week, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Holy Week

  20 Mar – 20 Apr · usuallyCrowdedClosuresBook early

  Ferries and the Dauin beach resorts fill with Cebu and Manila families, and the town's shops and dive shops keep short hours from Thursday to Sunday. Source ↗

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Peak crowds — Holy Week, End-of-school-year break in Philippines

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Holy Week (20 Mar – 20 Apr (usually)), Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — End-of-school-year break in Philippines, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — End-of-school-year break in Philippines, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  1 Jun – 30 NovClosures

  Negros Oriental sits on the sheltered side and most systems pass north, but the ones that do come through cancel the Apo Island boats and the Cebu ferries for a couple of days. Source ↗

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Peak crowds — Sandurot Festival, Term 1 wellness break in Philippines

• Festival

  Sandurot Festival

  1–30 Sep · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The city's own festival — a reenactment of the arrival of its early settlers, street dancing along the boulevard and a week of stalls. Smaller and friendlier than the provincial one. Source ↗

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Buglasan, festival of festivals, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Buglasan, festival of festivals

  1–31 Oct · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Every town in Negros Oriental brings its own festival to the provincial capitol grounds for the month, which is the cheapest way to see all of them at once. Source ↗

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Year-end break in Philippines, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Amihan, the dry months

  1 Dec – 15 May · usuallyDry season

  The northeast trade brings flat water and the crossings to Apo Island run most mornings. By late April the boulevard is too hot to walk before dark.

Still on: Apo Island sanctuary fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec)