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Money & Payments in Galápagos

Good to know

Good to Know

  • ATMs in Galapagos are unreliable and may run out of cash during peak season—withdraw a full week's budget from mainland Ecuador before arriving.
  • Large bills ($50–$100) are extremely difficult to change; bring mostly $5s and $10s in pristine condition.
  • Card processing fees for tour operators and boats can exceed 10%; paying in cash is significantly cheaper.
  • The Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100) and Transit Control Card ($20) must be paid in cash only upon arrival; ensure you have this cash ready.
  • Credit cards work onboard some cruise ships but not on day-trip boats; confirm in advance with your operator.
  • Your home bank may block your card on first use in Galapagos if you haven't notified them of travel—call ahead.
  • During peak season (June–August, December–January), ATMs frequently run out of money; plan cash withdrawals strategically.
  • Smaller islands (Isabela, Floreana) have virtually no ATM access; withdraw money in Puerto Ayora or Puerto Baquerizo Moreno before island-hopping.

Card Acceptance

Overview
Limited compared to mainland Ecuador; accept only at select mid-to-high-end establishments
Card Surcharge
$5.00

Typical credit card surcharge of 5–10% when accepted

Key Limitation
Smaller shops, local eateries, ferries, and many tour operators accept cash only
Venues Accepting Cards
Tourist shops, upmarket restaurants, some hotels, some mid-range tour operators

Accepted Cards

  • Visa
    Acceptance Level
    most common
    Notes
    Accepted at some hotels, restaurants, and tour operators in main port towns
  • Mastercard
    Acceptance Level
    most common
    Notes
    Accepted at some hotels, restaurants, and tour operators in main port towns
  • American Express
    Acceptance Level
    rarely accepted
    Notes
    Avoid bringing as primary card

ATM Availability

General Status
Limited; unreliable, often run out of cash during peak season

Main Locations

  • Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island)

    Banks

    • Banco Del Pacífico
      Hours
      Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
      Address
      Avenida Charles Darwin across from the fisherman's wharf
      ATM 24hr
      24-hour ATM also available
    • Banco Pichincha
      Hours
      Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
      Address
      Avenida Baltra, between Española and Genovesa Streets
    • Proinsular Supermarket ATM
      Address
      End of Avenida Charles Darwin, past the post office
  • Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal Island)

    Banks

    • Banco Del Pacífico
      Hours
      Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
      Address
      Corner of Avenida Hernán Melville and Ignacio
      Notes
      24-hour ATM; also exchanges Euros to USD
  • Puerto Villamil (Isabela Island)

    Banks

    • One ATM
      Notes
      Very limited access; plan ahead

Withdrawal Limits

Typical
$300 per day
Varies By Bank
Yes
Note
Some ATMs restrict withdrawals to $300; limits vary by issuing bank

ATM Access

Availability
Few ATMs on islands. Limited reliability and frequent stock-outs during peak tourist periods.
Card Acceptance
Mastercard, Visa, Diners, Cirrus, Plus, BanRed, Maestro, and Nexo accepted
Withdrawal Limits
Typically $300 per day per machine

Locations By Island

Isabela Puerto Villamil
Only one ATM. Notorious for being unreliable - frequently out of cash or offline.
Puerto Ayora Santa Cruz
Highest concentration of ATMs. Multiple machines from Banco del Pacífico and Banco Pichincha plus ATM inside Proinsular Supermarket. Most reliable location.
San Cristobal Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
At least one ATM from Banco del Pacífico. Withdrawal limits around $300 per day.

Local Banks

  • Banco Del Pacífico
    Type
    Private Bank
    Services
    Exchange traveler's checks for commission, ATM operations 24 hours
    ATM Daily Limit
    $300 per day (typical)
    ATM Availability
    ATMs in Puerto Ayora and San Cristóbal
  • Banco Pichincha
    Type
    Private Bank
    ATM Availability
    ATMs in main towns including Puerto Ayora

ATM Fees

Fee Avoidance
Some neobanks (Revolut, Wise) offer fixed $5 fee per withdrawal, making larger withdrawals proportionally cheaper
Home Bank Fees
$3.50

Your own bank may add $2–$5 (or EUR 5–15) per transaction, plus possible currency conversion markup

Total Typical Cost
$5.00

Combined $1.50–$3.00 (local) + $2–$5 (your bank) = roughly $5–$8 per withdrawal

Ecuadorian Bank Fees
$1.50

Most Ecuadorian banks charge $1.50–$3.00 per withdrawal for foreign cards

Cash Only For

Cash Only For

  • Entrance fee to Galapagos National Park ($100 per adult foreign visitor; cash only at airport arrival)
  • Transit Control Card ($20; must be purchased before/at arrival)
  • Markets and street food
  • Small local shops and family-run establishments
  • Ferry transport between islands
  • Tips (always preferred in cash)

Tipping Norms

Taxis

Note
Not customary; rounding up to nearest dollar is common practice

Restaurants

Status
10% is customary where service is good
Note
Check your bill first—10% service charge and 15% IVA tax are often already included

Housekeeping

Gratuity
$1.50

$1–$3 per night

Porters Bellhops

Gratuity
$1.00

$1–$2 per bag

Guides And Drivers

Note
Galapagos tipping is higher than mainland due to higher cost of living

Galapagos Cruise Crew

Gratuity
$13

Boat crew: $10–$15 per person per day, or $5–$10 per day for day-trip boats

Tour Guides Land Based

Gratuity
$5.00

Land-based day tours: $5–$10 per person per guide

Galapagos Cruise Guides

Gratuity
$15

Naturalist guides on cruises: $10–$20 per person per day (higher for luxury vessels)

Local Currency

Code
USD
Name
US Dollar

Cash Requirements

Status
Essential
Recommended Approach
Plan to use cash for 80–90% of purchases; ATM access limited and unreliable

Bill Denominations

Avoid
Bills over $20 are difficult to change and often refused
Condition
Must be pristine — torn, creased, or marked bills will be rejected
Preferred
$5 and $10 bills
Acceptable
$20 bills

Cash Handling

Avoid
$100 bills not readily accepted anywhere. Difficult to change $100 bills even in banks.
Coins
Ecuador mints its own centavo coins (1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢) which circulate freely with US coins
Bill Condition
Crisp, untorn bills only. Worn or written-on bills get rejected.
Currency Notes
US dollars in small denominations ($1, $5, $10, $20) essential

Recommendation

Withdraw sufficient cash before arrival. Bring USD cash from mainland Ecuador, not from archipelago.

Account Opening

Difficulty
Challenging for short-term nomads and tourists
Processing Time
1-3 weeks from first visit to functioning account in most cases. Some banks require 3-10 business days initial review, with potential 2-week compliance review extension.
Language Barrier
Few bank staff speak English. Spanish-speaking companion or translator recommended.
In Person Requirement
Yes, account opening must be done in person at a branch. Online account opening for foreigners does not exist in Ecuador.
Requirements Tourists
Generally requires cedula (ID document) or residency. Tourist-visa-only applicants typically turned away by major banks.
Requirements Residents
Cedula, visa in process, proof of address, proof of income/funds, and often a bank reference letter from your home country. Multiple documentation copies required.
Practical Note
Galapagos banking infrastructure is underdeveloped compared to mainland Ecuador. Most nomads rely on ATM withdrawals rather than opening local accounts.

Credit Card Use

Surcharge
5-10% surcharge common when credit cards accepted
Acceptance
Only accepted at handful of businesses: tourist shops, upmarket restaurants, hotels
Practical Use
Not reliable for most transactions. Cash is primary payment method.

Currency Status

US Dollar is official currency (dollarized since 2000). Same exchange rate as USD.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.galapaguide.com
  2. 2.realdreamsecuador.com
  3. 3.galapatours.com
  4. 4.theportuguesetraveler.com
  5. 5.galapagosunbound.com
  6. 6.royalgalapagos.com
  7. 7.countingourfootsteps.com
  8. 8.happygringo.com
  9. 9.terrasurtravels.com
  10. 10.realdreamsecuador.com
  11. 11.incaexpert.com
  12. 12.voyagers.travel
  13. 13.galapagostravelplanner.com
  14. 14.tripadvisor.com
  15. 15.link.springer.com
  16. 16.noonsite.com
  17. 17.gov.uk
  18. 18.galapagosscience.org
  19. 19.globalrescue.com
  20. 20.galapagosinsiders.com
  21. 21.nomedic.co
  22. 22.myecuadorvisa.com
  23. 23.galapatours.com
  24. 24.terrasurtravels.com
  25. 25.thinkgalapagos.com
  26. 26.galapagosinsiders.com
  27. 27.galapagosislands.com
  28. 28.tradingeconomics.com
  29. 29.geocountries.com
  30. 30.en.wikipedia.org
  31. 31.cato.org
  32. 32.exiap.com
  33. 33.monito.com
  34. 34.quitotrip.com
  35. 35.campus-adventures.com

More About Galápagos

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.