The one rule
Bring cash. Bring it from Cebu. Bring more than you think you need.
Malapascua does have ATMs, which surprises people who read older guides. But they share the island's infrastructure, which means they stop working whenever the power drops or the internet connection goes down, and both happen. If you arrive with an empty wallet and a bank card, you are gambling on the grid. If you arrive with pesos for your whole stay, you can forget about money entirely and get on with the island.
ATMs: there, but not dependable
- There are ATMs on Malapascua.
- They are functional when the power and connectivity are up.
- They go down during brownouts and when the connection drops, and you will not get a warning.
Treat them as a backup, not a plan. If one is working when you walk past, it is reasonable to top up. Just do not schedule your trip around a withdrawal, and never leave paying a large bill (your resort, your dive package) until a morning when the machine might be dark.
Cards, GCash and cash
Cash is king. Most resorts, dive shops and restaurants accept Philippine pesos and nothing else. Do not expect to tap a card for dinner.
GCash (the Philippine mobile wallet) is accepted at some establishments, but coverage is inconsistent. If you already have a working GCash account it is a useful second option for the places that take it. It is not a substitute for cash, and it depends on the same mobile data that can be slow on the island. See WiFi, signal and power.
Foreign currency is not useful here. There are no money changers on Malapascua. Exchange your dollars, euros or whatever you carry in Cebu City, where rates are better and the counters exist.
What you will pay for on arrival
Before you have even checked in, you will need cash in hand:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Public boat, Maya to Malapascua | ₱240 per person |
| Luggage fee (large or heavy bags) | ~₱50 to 100 |
| Environmental or conservation fee | ₱100, one-time |
Add the road from Cebu: around ₱350 for the Ceres bus, or around ₱6,000 per vehicle for a hired van. None of these take cards. Keep small notes separate so you are not trying to break a large bill at the port. Full transport details are in how to get to Malapascua and on the ferry page.
Daily budgets
These are built only from the price ranges we have verified for the island. They are per person, per day, and they assume you are sharing a room where that makes sense. Use them as a starting point, then check current prices with your resort and dive shop.
| Spend | Frugal | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per night) | ₱400 to 600 dorm, or ₱600 to 1,000 guesthouse | ₱1,200 to 2,000 guesthouse, or ₱2,000 to 4,000 beach resort | ₱5,000 to 15,000 beach resort |
| Food (three meals) | ₱150 to 300 at local eateries (₱50 to 100 a meal) | ₱450 to 1,800 at restaurants (₱150 to 600 a meal) | ₱1,800 to 3,000 (₱600 to 1,000 a meal) |
| Drinks | ₱50 to 80 a beer | ₱80 to 120 a beer, ₱250 to 350 a cocktail | ₱120 to 150 a beer, ₱350 to 500 a cocktail |
| Water (1.5L) | ₱25 to 40 | ₱25 to 40 | ₱25 to 40 |
| Diving (per dive, certified) | ₱1,500 to 2,500 | ₱1,500 to 2,500 | ₱1,500 to 2,500 |
Three worked examples
Frugal non-diver. A dorm bed (₱400 to 600), three eatery meals (₱150 to 300), a couple of beers (₱100 to 160), water (₱25 to 40). Roughly ₱700 to 1,100 a day, before any trips.
Mid-range diver. A guesthouse room at ₱1,200 to 2,000, two dives a day (₱3,000 to 5,000), restaurant meals (₱450 to 1,800), a beer or two (₱160 to 240), water. Roughly ₱4,800 to 9,100 a day. Diving is the big line.
Comfortable couple, one diving. A beach resort at ₱5,000 to 15,000 split two ways, two dives for one person, restaurant meals and cocktails for two. Easily ₱6,000 to 12,000 per person a day at the lower end of resort pricing, more at the top.
Extras to budget on top, if they appeal:
- Open Water course: ₱15,000 to 22,000.
- Kalanggaman island hopping: ₱1,500 to 2,500 per person.
- Scooter rental: ₱300 to 500 a day (the island is walkable, most people skip this).
- Laundry: ₱50 to 80 per kg.
Prices for accommodation are on costs and the resorts directory; for food, see the restaurants directory and food and nightlife.
How much to actually carry
Take your daily number, multiply by your nights, then add:
- Arrival costs (boat, luggage, environmental fee).
- Departure costs (boat and the road back to Cebu).
- Any dive package or course you intend to pay for on the island.
- A cushion of at least a day or two's spending for the unexpected: a cancelled boat, an extra night, a trip you did not plan.
Yes, that can be a lot of pesos. It is normal here, and it is far better than the alternative.
Keeping cash safe
- Split it. Some in your day bag, some in your luggage, some in a resort safe if there is one.
- Keep small notes for boats, tricycles and eateries. Large notes are hard to change at a sari-sari store.
- Carry it in a dry bag on the boat. Wet pesos are still pesos, but they are not fun to count.
- Leave the bulk of it in your room when you go diving.
Tipping and small change
The knowledge base does not set tipping rules and we will not invent them. Tipping is appreciated rather than expected in the Philippines generally, and rounding up for a boat crew or a dive guide who looked after you well is common courtesy. Ask your dive shop how they handle crew tips if you want to do it properly.
Summary
- ATMs exist on Malapascua but go down with power and internet, so do not depend on them.
- Cash in pesos is how nearly everything is paid. GCash works in some places.
- No money changers on the island; exchange in Cebu City.
- Carry your full budget plus a cushion, and pay the big bills early.
Read this alongside what to pack and common mistakes before you leave Cebu.
Questions people ask
Are there ATMs on Malapascua?
Yes, there are ATMs on the island and they do work, but they go down during power outages and when the internet connection drops. Bring enough cash from Cebu so you are never depending on them.
Can I pay by card?
Mostly no. Resorts, dive shops and restaurants are largely cash only, in Philippine pesos. Some places take GCash, but coverage is patchy.
Can I change money on the island?
No. There are no money changers on Malapascua. Exchange your currency in Cebu City before you travel.
How much cash should I bring per day?
It depends on how you travel, but a rough range built from local prices runs from a few hundred pesos a day for a frugal non-diver to several thousand for a diver staying in a mid-range resort. See the budget table in this guide.