Money at Guayaquil–José Joaquín de Olmedo International (GYE)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Guayaquil uses the USD ($). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly US$5–US$10. USD is the local currency; small bills essential.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Guayaquil–José Joaquín de Olmedo International (GYE)?
Ecuador uses the USD ($). Airport ATMs dispense USD directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from GYE to the city cost?
Expected fare on the GYE → Centro route is roughly US$5–US$10. Around US$20+ is already high, and US$30+ unauthorized is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at GYE?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Ecuador don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at GYE?
USD is the local currency; small bills essential. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of USD notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at GYE?
Only if you need $10–20 of USD to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.