FAQs about Galapagos: What forms of payment do you accept?

There are a couple of ATM’s in Puerto Ayora and San Cristobal, but sometimes they ran out of cash to withdraw, therefore is recommended to bring enough cash (U.S. Dollars) from the Mainland for peace of mind and be able to pay for additional matters during your trip. You will find ATM’s at Quito and Guayaquil’s Airports and on main tourism districts on both cities.

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean about 1000 kilometers (563 miles) from Ecuador, South America. The 19 Islands are distributed on both sides of the Equator surrounding the Western Hemisphere to the west of Continental Ecuador.

Upon arrival to Baltra or San Cristobal Islands as per your tour’s itinerary, you will be prompted to pay US$200 per person in Cash at the established booth to get your visitor pass to the Galapagos National Park.

On some luxury class cruises you can buy wonderful souvenirs and pay with your preferred Credit Card as major ones are accepted: MasterCard, Visa, Amex, among others; also you can pay for souvenirs at local shops in Puerto Ayora or San Cristobal with your Credit Card, but some of them will only accept cash payments. On board other category of cruises, payments must be done in cash (U.S. Dollars) for souvenirs and consumption.

Choosing the right cruise is critical if you are susceptible to seasickness; large vessels are the best choice as they’re very stable when sailing. If you do not like large vessels, then we recommend choosing a nice catamaran (twin-haul), which also offer smooth sailing for passengers’ comfort.

You can also ask your doctor to prescribe you medicine to help you contrast the effect of the motion when sailing; it is also important to be properly hydrated during your cruise as this also helps prevent the effects.

In Ecuador Mainland and the Galapagos Archipelago, U.S. Dollar has been established and used as main and only currency since the year 2000. When making payments for your trip, you may do so in your local currency at up-to-date conversion.