On a remote island in the middle of The Philippine Sea where no stable internet exists and electricity is intermittent, how on earth can you get cash!? Getting cash on Siargao is the source of many travellers’ nightmares. Ours included, until we realised there’s a VERY SIMPLE WAY! Read on to find how.
Can You Use The Cash Machines?
There are three cash machines (ATMs) in Dapa (Siargao’s capital) but that is NOT how we got our cash. No siree, because none of these machines worked for us.
- EastWest Rural Bank accepts Filipino cards only.
- DBP appears to work correctly but never actually gives cash.
- Cantilan Bank ATM never worked.
All of the banks have two armed guards and it is unlikely you’ll ever be allowed to enter. If this changes, let me know!
Book Accommodation On Siargao Island
We stayed just off Cloud 9 and had the best time! Click here to see where we stayed.
The Only Answer Is To Send Yourself CASH on Siargao!
After despairing with the cash machines (we weren’t the only foreigner looking bereft and scared next to the cash machines) we discovered Worldremit.
Download the app here (opens in new link). By creating an account for yourself, you can send yourself a maximum of 200,000 pesos and collect it in either General Luna or Dapa.
The internet on Siargao is pretty diabolical as it all comes from sim cards so I’d recommend downloading the app and creating an account prior to landing there. Our internet was not strong enough to load the online page on our laptops but we were able to use the phone app with no problem.
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Where Can You Collect The Money?
In order to collect the money you’ll require a photo ID. We took a passport and a driving licence as well as the bank card we’d used for transferring (although we weren’t asked for it). Cash was available within 30 minutes to 24 hours. We actually did this twice whilst here.
Collection of the money can be from two different points in General Luna; M Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop.
We chose M Lhuillier because we thought it looked safer and we had NO PROBLEMS. We didn’t get any money from Dapa so we can’t comment on collection points etc.
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We left Siargao and flew to Siem Reap in Cambodia for $56.
Click here to see how much flights to and from Siargoa might cost you.
What Else Could You Do On Siargao Island
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