🇪🇨 This is the deep-dive ATM guide for Quito and the anchor for the Ecuador cluster. Because Ecuador uses the US dollar, the no-FX rule and the flat-fee math hold nationwide. For card acceptance, transport and where cash matters, see the Quito Money Guide. For packing USD and the wider picture, see the Ecuador Money Guide. For brand detail, see the Banco Pichincha and Banco del Pacifico guides. Flying in? Quito (UIO) currency guide.
💳 Pack Small USD Bills
Ecuador uses the US dollar, so just bring clean small bills for taxis, markets and the Galapagos. CEI ships pristine new-series notes if you want them.
Order USD Bills → CEI Currency ExchangeThe Quito ATM reality: no exchange, a small flat fee, del Pacifico wins
Ecuador is one of the simplest countries in the world for a US traveler: it has used the US dollar as its official currency since 2000. There is nothing to exchange and no FX markup at all: a US card withdraws and spends dollar-for-dollar.
The one cost is the operator fee Ecuadorian bank ATMs charge foreign cards, typically $2 to $3 flat. Banco del Pacifico usually has the lowest fee and the highest per-withdrawal cap, so it is the pick for a larger pull; Banco Pichincha has the widest network. A Charles Schwab card refunds the fee entirely. Use a bank machine rather than a standalone unit that adds a DCC pitch.
The Ecuador-specific rule is cash for the local half of the economy: taxis, the Otavalo and Saquisili markets, neighborhood restaurants, and above all the Galapagos, where on-island restaurants, water taxis, gear rentals and the cruise tip pool consume small-bill cash and ATMs are few and pricey. Pull cash on the mainland (del Pacifico for the highest cap) before flying to the islands.
Where to get US dollars in Quito, by area
La Mariscal (Plaza Foch): The tourist and nightlife hub has bank ATMs (Pichincha, del Pacifico, Guayaquil, Produbanco) along Avenida Amazonas and around Plaza Foch. Restaurants and hostels take cards, but the craft market (Mercado Artesanal) and taxis want small-bill cash. Use branch machines and stay aware at night
Centro Historico (Old Town): Quito's UNESCO old town is card-friendly in its boutique hotels and the pricier restaurants, but the plazas, church-entry counters, and street vendors around La Ronda lean on cash. Pull a float from a bank ATM on the Avenida Guayaquil edge before exploring
La Carolina & Avenida Amazonas: The modern business and shopping corridor around Parque La Carolina, the Quicentro and CCI malls has dense in-mall bank ATMs and total card acceptance. The easiest, safest place to pull a larger amount; del Pacifico for the highest cap
Cumbaya & Tumbaco: The affluent valley suburbs (on the way to the airport) have bank ATMs in the Scala and Paseo San Francisco malls and card-accepting restaurants; useful if you are staying out here near UIO
La Floresta & Gonzalez Suarez: The cafe-and-boutique La Floresta district and the upscale Gonzalez Suarez hotel strip have bank ATMs and good card acceptance; keep small cash for taxis and the smaller cafes
Quito Airport (UIO, Tababela): Your first dollars come from a Banco Pichincha, del Pacifico or Guayaquil ATM in arrivals. Note UIO is about 43 km from the city, so budget for the shuttle or taxi. Full detail in our Quito (UIO) guide
Markets & the Galapagos: The big cash holdouts. The Otavalo and Saquisili markets, intercity buses, and the Galapagos on-island economy (Puerto Ayora restaurants, water taxis, gear, and the multi-day cruise tip pool) want small-bill US dollars, and island ATMs are scarce and expensive. Withdraw on the mainland before you go, budgeting $100-200 in small bills for a Galapagos cruise
What it actually costs to get US dollars in Quito, by method
| Option | Where | Markup | Cost on $100 (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banco del Pacifico ATM + Schwab (fee refunded) | Malls, citywide | Dollar-for-dollar, fee refunded | ~$100 |
| Spending directly on a no-FX card | Anywhere | Dollar-for-dollar, no fee | ~$100 |
| Banco del Pacifico ATM (lowest fee, highest cap) | Citywide | No FX; ~$1-2 flat operator fee | ~$98-99 |
| Banco Pichincha / Guayaquil ATM | Citywide | No FX; ~$2-3 flat operator fee | ~$97 |
| Standalone / Galapagos independent ATM with DCC | Hotels, islands | Operator fee + DCC pitch | ~$90-95 |
There is no exchange rate to lose on in Ecuador; the only ATM cost is the flat $2-3 operator fee, lowest at Banco del Pacifico and refundable with a Schwab card. Ecuador has no Bank of America Alliance partner. Withdraw on the mainland before the Galapagos, where machines are scarce.
⚠ The one thing to get right: decline DCC. Even in a dollarized country, a machine (especially a standalone one in the Galapagos) may offer to 'charge in US dollars' at a marked-up rate, which is nonsense. Decline it and, if asked, choose local (Ecuador) processing so your bank handles it at par. See our DCC explained page.
Best card pairing for Quito
Banco del Pacifico for the low fee, Schwab to refund it
Because Ecuador uses the US dollar, there is no FX markup: a Wise or any no-FX card spends at par. The only ATM cost is the $2 to $3 flat fee, lowest at Banco del Pacifico, and a Charles Schwab card refunds it worldwide, effectively making withdrawals free. Make one larger withdrawal at a del Pacifico machine before the Galapagos, pack small bills, and decline DCC.
Get the Wise Card →Withdraw for the Galapagos on the mainland
The Galapagos runs on small US-dollar cash and has few, expensive ATMs. Before flying out from Quito or Guayaquil, withdraw your island budget (budget $100-200 in $1, $5 and $10 notes for a 4-7 day cruise tip pool and on-island spending) from a Banco del Pacifico machine, which has the highest cap and lowest fee. This is the key Ecuador cash move.
del Pacifico for the biggest, cheapest pull
Since the operator fee is flat and there is no FX cost, one larger withdrawal is cheapest per dollar, and Banco del Pacifico usually offers the lowest fee and the highest cap. Use branch and mall machines (Quicentro, CCI) rather than standalones, and a Schwab card refunds the fee entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Quito ATMs charge foreign cards?
Yes, a flat $2-3 fee (no FX, since Ecuador uses USD). Banco del Pacifico is lowest and has the highest cap; a Schwab card refunds the fee. Avoid DCC standalones.
Is there any exchange rate to worry about in Ecuador?
No. Ecuador uses the US dollar, so there is no exchange or FX markup. The only ATM cost is the flat $2-3 fee. Ignore the airport exchange counters.
Which Quito bank ATM is cheapest?
Banco del Pacifico: lowest fee (~$1-2) and highest cap, best for a big pull. Pichincha has the widest network. A Schwab card refunds the fee at any bank.
Why do I need small US-dollar bills for the Galapagos?
The Galapagos runs on small-bill cash with scarce, pricey ATMs. Budget $100-200 in small notes for a cruise and withdraw on the mainland (del Pacifico) before flying out.
Is there a Bank of America Alliance partner in Ecuador?
No BoA Alliance partner in Ecuador. With no FX cost, a Schwab card (refunds the fee) plus small USD bills is the cleanest setup.
del Pacifico + Schwab for Quito
No FX in Ecuador (it uses USD); the only ATM cost is the flat $2-3 fee, lowest at Banco del Pacifico, refunded by Schwab. Pack small bills for the Galapagos.
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