While the Philippines has two seasons – wet and dry season, it feels like it’s summer throughout the year because of the humidity and high temperature. The average yearly temperature is around 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) and can go as high as 40 °C (104 °F) especially during the months of March to May.
A tropical country like the Philippines is definitely a great destination for people who love the great outdoors but high temperatures can be uncomfortable and detrimental even to the “coolest” person. Here’s a list on how you can beat the heat in the Philippines and remain safe while you’re exploring the country.
Stay Hydrated
This is definitely number one on the list on how to beat the heat in the Philippines. Aside from keeping the body temperature down, water helps prevent dehydration symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, dizziness, low energy levels, and impaired mood. All of these symptoms will surely prevent you from enjoying and making the most of your trip.
To keep yourself hydrated, make sure to drink adequate amounts of water by taking a sip constantly throughout the day, even when you’re not thirsty. Carry a reusable bottle with you to help lessen plastic waste which will eventually end up in the landfills and oceans. You can have your bottle refilled at the hotel or water refilling stations which are often abundant in popular tourist spots in the country.
If for some reason you’re not able to carry a bottle of water with you, you may opt to have hydration salts or tablets as they’re more convenient to carry around.
Wear appropriate clothing
Leave your thick clothes at home and pack loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothes for your trip to the Philippines. Clothes made of fabrics such as cotton, rayon, chambray, and linen are highly recommended for they are breathable and cool.
Just bring a scarf or jacket you can use when in spaces with lower temperature such as planes or air-conditioned buses.
Cool down
One fun way to cool down is to indulge in frozen treats like ice cream, ice candy, or halo-halo, a Filipino dessert made up of shaved ice, evaporated milk, sweetened beans, pinipig, purple yam, fruit slices, coconut strips, and topped with a scoop of ice cream. It’s easy to find these treats in tourist destinations and restaurants. Other cold treats you can easily get your hands to for quick refreshment include buko juice, fruit shakes, smoothies, and sago’t gulaman.
Another option to cool down without these oftentimes sugary treats mentioned is to use an ice pack and place it in your body particularly the neck, wrists, ankles, armpits, and behind the knees.
Take a swim
If you’re near the beach or have access to a swimming pool, it’s time to don that swimsuit and go for a swim. Of course you can also take a shower and stay in the tub for a few minutes if swimming isn’t possible.
Choose cool destinations
More than half of foreign tourists visit the Philippines for its stunning beaches. However, if you do not enjoy beach bumming or has low tolerance to heat, you may opt to visit cool destinations like Baguio City, the summer capital of the country. Other destinations with cool temperatures are Tagaytay which is just outside Manila, Sagada, Batanes, and Bukidnon.
Arm yourself with cooling remedies
Use a portable fan for that instant cooling relief. These fans can be battery-operated or chargeable and can be bought at the grocery stores or some convenient store. You can also go old school with the traditional hand fan which is quite common in Filipino households.
The use of cooling sprays can give you instant relief from heat weather, too.
Protect your skin
The sun transmits UVA and UVB rays that are harmful to the skin especially when exposed to it for an extended period of time. Make sure to protect your skin from damage by using sunblocks and sunscreens that contain SPF 50 and above.
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