South America

Money, cards and tipping in Ecuador

Capital: QuitoSpanishUpdated October 2026

USDDollar

Money in Ecuador

Mixed: cards and cash Uses US dollars. Carry $1–20 notes; many shops refuse $50 and $100 bills. Cards work in city restaurants, hotels and malls, cash elsewhere.

Key facts

Tipping: Sit-down restaurants usually add a 10% service charge; extra is optional. Tip guides, drivers and Galápagos boat crews.
ATMs: Bank ATMs take foreign cards but charge a fee and have modest limits. Use machines inside banks or malls.
Paying by phone: Contactless cards and phone wallets work in chains; local QR apps like DeUna need an Ecuadorian bank account.
Price level: about 42% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Quito	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in malls, hotels and many restaurants; cash for markets, almuerzos, buses and taxis. Carry small notes, since $50 and $100 bills are often refused.
Galápagos Islands	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and tour offices, often with a surcharge; ATMs are few and sometimes empty. Carry cash for taxis, markets and small restaurants.
Cuenca	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in restaurants and shops in the center; cash for markets, buses, small cafés and taxis. Carry small notes.
Baños	Mostly cash	Mostly cash. Cards work at some hotels and tour agencies, often with a fee. Use bank ATMs near Parque Central, since a few run out of cash on weekends.
Montañita	Mostly cash	Mostly cash. Some restaurants and hostels take cards with a fee; the few ATMs often run dry on weekends, so bring cash.
Guayaquil	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in malls, hotels and many restaurants; cash for markets, buses and small shops. Withdraw cash only inside banks or malls, in daylight.
Otavalo	Mostly cash	Mostly cash. Cards work at some hotels and bigger shops; markets, buses and small restaurants are cash only. Withdraw before your visit.
Mindo	Mostly cash	Mostly cash. Hostels and bigger restaurants take cards with a fee; the one or two ATMs in town can run out, so bring cash from Quito.
Vilcabamba	Mostly cash	Dollars are the currency. Cash is needed for buses, markets and small shops; cards work only in larger hotels and shops, and ATMs are few.
Puerto López	Mostly cash	Dollars are the currency. Carry small notes for mototaxis, markets and small shops; cards work only in some hotels and tour offices, and ATMs are few.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Ecuador?

Sit-down restaurants usually add a 10% service charge; extra is optional. Tip guides, drivers and Galápagos boat crews.

Is Ecuador cashless?

Mixed: cards and cash. Uses US dollars. Carry $1–20 notes; many shops refuse $50 and $100 bills. Cards work in city restaurants, hotels and malls, cash elsewhere.

What currency does Ecuador use?

The Dollar (USD).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.