The dry season runs from November through April, making it the most comfortable time to visit. The wet season (May–October) brings heavy rain but also the city's biggest event.
The Peñafrancia Festival takes place over nine days in the third week of September. Book accommodation months in advance — the city fills completely during this period. If you can tolerate the crowds (and the rain), the atmosphere is extraordinary: street processions, candlelit vigils, and the final fluvial parade make for one of the Philippines' most memorable travel experiences.