MONEY:
Ecuador,
and the Galapagos Islands, have officially been "dollarized." U.S.
dollars and travellers checks are accepted on the islands. Mastercard
is the most commonly accepted credit cards while Visa and American Express
are not usually used.
The
only bank on the islands is called El Banco del Pacifico.
El
Banco de Pacifico in Puerto Ayora:
Will
exchange traveler's checks for a 5% commission (it doesn't make sense,
we know!). The bank is open Monday to Friday 8:00 - 3:30 and Saturday
9:30 -12:30. Personal checks are not accepted. The ATM operates between
7 am-11: 30 pm and accepts, VISA, Cirrus and Mastercard. The ATM is
not totally reliable but if it is not working you can ask the bank teller
to make a cash-withdrawal with your Mastercard or VISA(not with a Cirrus
card).
The
islands are not cheap by any means, and so budget for at least $30.00/day
per person for basic lodging and food. Everything else is extra. Keep
in mind that it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, and so don't miss
out on anything extraordinary because of poor budgeting! Lodging ranges
from $5.00/night per person to over $100.00/night per person. If you
intend to stay several nights in one place, oftentimes you can work
out a deal. Be prepared, though, to pay about double what you pay on
mainland Ecuador.
FEES
AND TAXES: Upon arrival to the islands, everybody must pay a
park entrance fee of $100.00. In the past, they accepted student cards
to give a discount, but now they don't. The only ones exempt from this
exorbitant fee are the residents of the islands, residents of Ecuador,
or those in the pacto-Andino (and they still have to pay $50.00).
The
entrance fee helps fund the maintenance of the parks and other national
projects.
The
park entrance fee is distributed as follows: 40% Galapagos National
Park; 20% Galapagos Municipalities; 10% Galapagos Province Government;
10% Galapagos National Institute (INGALA); 5% Galapagos Marine Reserve;
5% Galapagos Province Inspection and Quarantine System; 5% INEFAN (National
Park Service); 5% National Army. In total, these fees assist in the
protection and preservation of the Islands.
Islas
Galapagos (Spanish)
Islands
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