El Nido FAQ

There is two commercial banks in El Nido and there are a few ATM's around El Nido. Sometimes they run out of money, especially on weekends and during holidays. Bring enough cash. Credit cards, Gcash, Paypal are accepted in some establishments. You can change money next to the Tourism Office, the Palawan Pawnshops changes USD. Here at El Nido Boutique Artcafe we change all major currencies.

Since 2018, El Nido has taken steps to ban single use and styrofoams, under ordinance 004-2013. You can help keep El Nido clean by refusing any kind of plastics! Avoid drinking bottled water and ask for free service water. Refill your bottles at your hotel, or at El Nido Boutique Artcafe for a small fee. Avoid takeaway food and drinks (lots of plastic) and dine at restaurants instead. Help us save our beaches and landfills from plastic! Plastic bottles are also banned on all boat tours. Tourists are always encouraged to bring a tumbler when going on tours. Most tour operators will provide free drinking water.

El Nido and its 45 island with hundreds of white sand beaches, many lagoons, limestone cliffs, caves and forests. The reefs are very fragile and it requires no touch, no step on and no throwing of anchors. Underwater photography need to be extra careful, not to damage. Some areas are difficult to get in and the conditions can be challenging. Sometimes rough seas can make it more difficult. Make sure you are able to cope with this challenges. Do not step on corals and do not touch anything or pick up star fish for photos. Leave no trash behind. Don't leave lunch leftovers on the beach. Also bring everything back to your hotel. Also pick up some trash that got washed up from the sea, please.

There is no drinkable tap water coming out of faucets anywhere in El Nido. Water is not safe to drink. Stick to purified water available in restaurants and resorts. Avoid getting sick by eating in proper, clean establishments and drinking safe water. Do not buy ice from small stores, unless they can proof it is certified. Stay hydrated all day long and avoid excessive sun, especially those who rent motor bikes. Heat strokes and dehydration are common. Drink lots of water.                

The distance to Puerto Princesa is 280km. A shuttle van takes about 5-6 hours and a bus about 7-8 hours.

If you traveling within the town it's P20 per person and if you are alone, pay at least P50 for a short ride. Outside of town rental fares P100-200 and to the airport it's P300 for the tricycle.

Internet ranges between 20-40mbps on LTE and there are several hotels on fiber internet that run up to 300mbps. Artcafe has a highspeed internet through free Wifi for customers.

There are many bars around town with Live Music, Dj's and Special events are frequently organized. Highlights are in Sirena Street, Calle Hama, at the Beach front, in Corong Corong, at Maremegmeg beach and Lio Estate. There are few Karaoke bars as well. There regular live-music session here at Artcafe every night a week from 7pm to 10pm and a Dj on Sunday.

The is two public gyms in town and there is a Crossfit at Vanilla Beach. Some hotels have inhouse private gyms and pool for their guests.

There are several hotels around El Nido that will allow non-guests to use the pool for a consumable fee.