← Part of the Ecuador money guide
Ecuadorchecked Jul 2026Do I need cash in Ecuador, or can I use cards?
Short answer: cards cover the cities, but you will want dollars in hand for the everyday and rural side, and cash is essential in the Galapagos. Here is how to pay, and how to carry money safely.
At a glance
Currency
US dollar
Cards
Fine in the cities
Cash for
Taxis, markets, small towns
Galapagos
Cash only, no ATMs
Both, with cash for more than you might expect. Because Ecuador uses the US dollar, there is nothing to convert. Cards work in the cities, Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, at hotels, better restaurants, malls and tours, but taxis, markets, buses, small towns and tips run on cash, and the Galapagos park and transit fees are cash only. Pull dollars from a bank ATM inside a branch or mall, carry small, clean bills, and keep only 50 to 100 dollars on you at a time.
Where cards work, and where they do not
In the cities, Visa and Mastercard are fine at hotels, better restaurants, malls and tour operators, with Amex less consistent. A few places add a small surcharge for card use. Since prices are in US dollars, there is no currency conversion on your card.
Beyond the cities, and for taxis, markets, buses, street food and small shops, it is cash. Assume cash the moment you leave the main tourist areas.
Getting cash, safely
Use bank ATMs (Banco Pichincha, Banco Guayaquil, Produbanco, Banco del Pacifico). Expect a fee of about 3 to 5 dollars plus your home bank's, with limits often around 300 to 500 dollars per withdrawal.
For safety, use machines inside a bank branch or a shopping mall, not street-facing ones, withdraw during the day, and carry only what you need. Bring clean, smaller bills, since worn notes can be refused and change for 50s and 100s is scarce.
The Galapagos is a cash island
Plan cash carefully for the Galapagos: the 200 dollar park fee and 20 dollar transit card are cash only, and there are no ATMs at the island airports, so bring dollars from the mainland.
For the full money picture, tipping and the taxes to expect, see the Ecuador money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Can I use US dollars in Ecuador?
Yes, everywhere, because the US dollar is Ecuador's official currency. There is nothing to exchange and no conversion, and the country mints its own centavo coins worth the same as US cents. Bring small, clean bills for taxis and tips, and get more from a bank ATM.
Do I need cash in Ecuador?
Yes, more than in a card-first country. Cards cover city hotels, restaurants, malls and tours, but taxis, markets, buses, small towns and tips need cash, and the Galapagos fees are cash only. Carry small, clean dollar bills and keep only what you need on you.
Where should I get cash in Ecuador?
From a bank ATM, and for safety use one inside a branch or a mall rather than a street-facing machine. Banco Pichincha, Banco Guayaquil, Produbanco and Banco del Pacifico are common. Expect a fee of about 3 to 5 dollars plus your home bank's, and limits around 300 to 500 dollars.
Do I need cash for the Galapagos?
Yes. The 200 dollar national park fee and the 20 dollar transit control card are both cash, and there are no ATMs at the island airports, so bring the money in clean dollars from the mainland along with extra cash for daily spending, since cards and machines are limited on the islands.
More on Ecuador
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in EcuadorIn Ecuador, a 10% service charge is often already on your restaurant bill, and the whole thing is in US dollars, so there is no conversion to think about. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do US citizens need a visa for Ecuador?Short answer: no visa for a normal visit, and entry is easy. The costs that catch people are not at the border but on the way to the Galapagos. Here is what you need, and what to budget.
- Taxis and ride apps in Ecuador, done safelyGetting around Ecuador is cheap, but hailing a taxi off the street carries a real safety risk in the big cities. Here is which apps to use, how to handle the airport, and the habits that keep it simple.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Galapagos National Park Directoratethe cash-only park entrance fee
Our own readCard acceptance, ATM fees and withdrawal limits are our read from recent traveler and bank reports, not a single official table, so treat the figures as a planning guide. Checked July 2026.