El Nido, on the island of Palawan, is a true tropical paradise. Turquoise lagoons, fine sand beaches, crystal-clear water, friendly locals, sunny weather… everything is there for a dream vacation. That said, as always, perfection isn’t of this world. There are a few things you should know before arriving to avoid any bad surprises and make your stay a truly memorable one.

1) Withdrawing money in El Nido

For a long time, there was no ATM at all in El Nido, which forced travelers to plan ahead by withdrawing cash in Puerto Princesa. Good news: the situation has changed a lot. Several ATMs are now available in town, and a few banks have set up there (BPI, BDO, Metrobank).

The one piece of advice to remember: always go for bank ATMs, which charge a fixed fee of around 250 PHP per withdrawal, rather than the very common “private” ATMs that take 10 to 11.5% of the amount. For everything you need to know, head over here: Where can you withdraw money in El Nido?

2) Finding a place to stay in El Nido

During the high season (December to March/April), El Nido is very busy and finding last-minute accommodation can prove tricky. You’ll probably find something, but maybe outside your initial budget.

To avoid any bad surprises, it’s better to book your hotel in advance. You can check out our selection here: Booking.com — Hotels in El Nido. And don’t hesitate to contact the hotel directly on Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp before booking — these are the most-used channels in the Philippines, usually far more responsive than email for getting a clear answer.

3) Internet and Wi-Fi in El Nido

Here too, the situation has improved enormously in recent years. Most hotels, cafés and restaurants now offer free Wi-Fi, and 4G/5G coverage is available almost everywhere thanks to the operators Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, whose prepaid SIM cards are very affordable.

That said, you are on an island at the edge of the Philippines: don’t expect a connection as fast as in Europe or in Manila. For all the details on your options (hotel Wi-Fi, local SIM, eSIM, Starlink for demanding nomads), see: Where to find a good Internet or Wi-Fi connection in El Nido?

4) Medical care in El Nido

Nobody likes to think about it on vacation, but it’s better to know: for a long time, El Nido didn’t have any hospital infrastructure. The situation has improved significantly with the opening of the El Nido Community Hospital, which handles many common cases. For the detailed list of useful contacts (doctors, clinics, pharmacies), see our dedicated article: Where to find a doctor in El Nido?

For very specialized care or serious emergencies, patients are still transferred by van to Puerto Princesa (about 5 hours away), where more complete facilities are available. As with any trip, good travel insurance covering overseas medical expenses remains essential. For long-term travelers and digital nomads, SafetyWing is a popular option with online sign-up in just a few minutes.

5) The streets of El Nido

You’ll quickly notice that there are no “official” sidewalks in El Nido. But that doesn’t mean you can walk in the middle of the street! There’s a lot of traffic in town — motorbikes, tricycles, cars, trucks — and walking right down the middle of the road disturbs drivers and exposes you to accidents.

The right reflex: watch the locals. You’ll see they walk on the sides of the road and stay alert to vehicles coming from behind (they step a bit further aside when needed). By doing the same, you’ll avoid being honked at every 30 seconds and you’ll gain in peace of mind.

6) Power cuts in El Nido

Until October 2014, El Nido wasn’t even powered 24/7 — electricity was only available between 3pm and 6am. Today, you have continuous power, but blackouts are still quite frequent. Most of the time they last a few hours, sometimes a bit longer, often linked to tropical storms or maintenance work.

The real discomfort is at night: if your fan stops working, the heat can quickly become stifling. The best-equipped hotels have their own generator, so if you’re staying in a higher-end place, you’ll barely notice these outages.

7) The cost of living in El Nido

Let’s be transparent: El Nido is probably one of the most expensive places in the Philippines. Transport, restaurants, bars, hotels — everything costs a bit more than elsewhere on Palawan, simply because it’s a very touristy destination. Of course, this is still nothing compared to the touristy destinations in Europe or North America.

A few good habits to keep your budget under control: favor the local karinderyas (small neighborhood eateries) in addition to the pricier beachside restaurants, always ask whether credit card is accepted before ordering (few places take it, and those that do often add a 3 to 5% commission), and withdraw your cash at a bank ATM rather than a “private” ATM (see above).

8) El Nido remains a tropical paradise

These few practical points aside, El Nido fully delivers on its promise: breathtaking landscapes, warm welcome, simplicity of life. After your first island-hopping tour, you’ll most likely be reassured that you made the right choice.

By organizing yourself well (and in particular by favoring private tours or off-the-beaten-path itineraries), you’ll be able to fully enjoy the beauty of the place without being drowned in the crowd. Chances are that as you leave El Nido, you’ll have only one wish: to come back as soon as possible!

Conclusion

If you think we’ve forgotten something important to know before arriving in El Nido, feel free to let us know in the comments. And if we can help you organize your trip or if you have questions, you can use this form to get in touch. We’ll be delighted to help make your stay in El Nido a great memory!