What is the currency in Galapagos, Ecuador and methods of payment are accepted?

Published on January 27, 2023

| Updated on July 26, 2026

The US dollar was made legal tender in Ecuador as of March 2000.
Most places accept US dollars, traveler’s checks and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express), but some merchants add a 6-8% surcharge for credit card use.
Ecuadorian ATMs increasingly accept foreign credit and debit cards.
Banks and Casas de Cambio (currency exchanges) are the best places to change money if necessary.

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