LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Money & Costs
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Costs in Ecuador have risen since the official currency was changed to the US dollar, but it’s still affordable. Budget travelers can get by on $15 per day, staying in the cheapest hotels, eating almuerzos (set lunches) and cheap dinners, and taking buses rather than taxis. Bump it up to $30 per day, and you can stay in modest but comfortable hotels, take cab rides when you’re feeling lazy, eat in better restaurants, visit museums, go out at night and cover the occasional $10 national park fee. Spending $50 to $70 per day will allow you to sleep and eat in style and do all the aforementioned fun stuff.
Things get expensive when you start adding tours (climbing, mountain-biking, bird-watching and other tours cost $35 to $80 per day), staying at jungle lodges or haciendas and – priciest of all – when you visit the Galápagos Islands.
HOW MUCH?
Bus travel per hour about: $1
American breakfast: $3-6
Set lunch: $1.50-3
Short cab ride in Quito: $2
One-way mainland flight: $50-70
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
