The Ali Shungu
Mountaintop Ecolodge
Mountaintop Ecolodge
Otavalo, Ecuador
PRINTABLE VERSION
MONEY
The country changed its currency to the US dollar twelve years ago but there is much uncertainty if it will remain the national currency. The wireless infrastructure in Ecuador is now excellent! ATM machines are reliable and consistent, especially in larger towns and cities. Most businesses will not accept traveller's checks. A common eccentricity in Ecuador is that almost no one will admit that they have change. Even the banks may not give you change. Bring small denomination US. dollar bills (ones, fives, tens and twenties). Do not bring old or torn US bills. The Ecuadorian banks will not accept any torn, ripped in even the smallest way, or old bills; consequently, the people will not accept them either. In our experience, only Supermaxi and the gas stations will accept beat up dollar bills. Expect to pay 10% to 14% additional to use your credit card in Ecuador. Most tourist services will add 22% on to youir bill for sales tax and service.
TELEPHONES, INTERNET AND E-MAIL
Ecuador's phone service has come a long way in the last few years! Internet cafés and public cellular phone centers are now located everywhere and are very efficient and economical for local and long distance calls.
Interprovincial calls can be made by using any one of six area codes.
Dial 02 before all calls to the province of Pichincha and Quito,
Dial 03 before calls to the provinces of Bolivar, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Pastaza, and Tungurahua, and the cities of Banos, Ambato, Puyo and Riobamba.
Dial 04 before numbers to the province of Guayas and the cities of Guayaquil and Salinas.
Dial 05 before numbers to the Galapagos and the provinces of Los Rios and Manabi and the cities of Manta, Portoviejo, Quevedo and Babajoyo.
Dial 06 before numbers to the provinces of Carchi, Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Napo and Sucumbios and the cities of Esmeraldas, Tulcan, Ibarra, Otavalo, Latacunga, Tena, Coca, and Lago Agrio. (So, for example, to call the Ali Shungu Mountaintop Lodge (in Otavalo) from Quito, you would have to dial 06-890509945).
07 before numbers to the provinces of Azuay, Canar, El Oro, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe, and the cities of Cuenca, Machala, Azogues, Gualaceo, Loja (Vilcabamba) and Zamora.
TOURS
There are huge numbers of tour offices all over the country, especially in Quito. If you are planning to go to the Galapagos or the jungle, and if you are an adventurous person, you might want to wait until you arrive here in Ecuador to visit some of the agencies that offer Galapagos and Jungle trips yourself. Prices are very, very competitive and many places will be open to bargaining with you. Especially in light of the fact that there have not been a record high number of tourists here the last few years. The more middle men that are involved in your Galapagos or Jungle trip, the higher the price will be. It's always a good idea to ask other travellers who they recommended and to read the guide books. A place that was first rate some time ago, may not be that way now, or perhaps has even closed down, and new businesses and services are constantly opening. Again, the South American Explorer's Club has invaluable information-they have a "book of comments" so you can see what other travellers have to say about everything. Also as a member you have access to all their trip reports. Beware of any hotel or agency who may want to control your whole itinerary. Chances are they are making huge commissions on every leg of your vacation and what is "set up" for you may or may not be in your best interest. If you have read about a hotel and would like to make a reservation, it's always a good idea to call yourself and speak directly. Most places have an english-speaking representative and some hotels are even owned and run by Americans themselves. Most upscale places now use email for reservations. Making reservations through a third party can become jumbled with misunderstandings. When contracting a tour or trip with an agency, get EVERYTHING in writing-what you are paying, and what you are receiving. Try to cover and understand every detail of your trip before forking over your money, and don't forget to get a receipt.
MONEY
The country changed its currency to the US dollar twelve years ago but there is much uncertainty if it will remain the national currency. The wireless infrastructure in Ecuador is now excellent! ATM machines are reliable and consistent, especially in larger towns and cities. Most businesses will not accept traveller's checks. A common eccentricity in Ecuador is that almost no one will admit that they have change. Even the banks may not give you change. Bring small denomination US. dollar bills (ones, fives, tens and twenties). Do not bring old or torn US bills. The Ecuadorian banks will not accept any torn, ripped in even the smallest way, or old bills; consequently, the people will not accept them either. In our experience, only Supermaxi and the gas stations will accept beat up dollar bills. Expect to pay 10% to 14% additional to use your credit card in Ecuador. Most tourist services will add 22% on to youir bill for sales tax and service.
TELEPHONES, INTERNET AND E-MAIL
Ecuador's phone service has come a long way in the last few years! Internet cafés and public cellular phone centers are now located everywhere and are very efficient and economical for local and long distance calls.
Interprovincial calls can be made by using any one of six area codes.
Dial 02 before all calls to the province of Pichincha and Quito,
Dial 03 before calls to the provinces of Bolivar, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Pastaza, and Tungurahua, and the cities of Banos, Ambato, Puyo and Riobamba.
Dial 04 before numbers to the province of Guayas and the cities of Guayaquil and Salinas.
Dial 05 before numbers to the Galapagos and the provinces of Los Rios and Manabi and the cities of Manta, Portoviejo, Quevedo and Babajoyo.
Dial 06 before numbers to the provinces of Carchi, Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Napo and Sucumbios and the cities of Esmeraldas, Tulcan, Ibarra, Otavalo, Latacunga, Tena, Coca, and Lago Agrio. (So, for example, to call the Ali Shungu Mountaintop Lodge (in Otavalo) from Quito, you would have to dial 06-890509945).
07 before numbers to the provinces of Azuay, Canar, El Oro, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe, and the cities of Cuenca, Machala, Azogues, Gualaceo, Loja (Vilcabamba) and Zamora.
TOURS
There are huge numbers of tour offices all over the country, especially in Quito. If you are planning to go to the Galapagos or the jungle, and if you are an adventurous person, you might want to wait until you arrive here in Ecuador to visit some of the agencies that offer Galapagos and Jungle trips yourself. Prices are very, very competitive and many places will be open to bargaining with you. Especially in light of the fact that there have not been a record high number of tourists here the last few years. The more middle men that are involved in your Galapagos or Jungle trip, the higher the price will be. It's always a good idea to ask other travellers who they recommended and to read the guide books. A place that was first rate some time ago, may not be that way now, or perhaps has even closed down, and new businesses and services are constantly opening. Again, the South American Explorer's Club has invaluable information-they have a "book of comments" so you can see what other travellers have to say about everything. Also as a member you have access to all their trip reports. Beware of any hotel or agency who may want to control your whole itinerary. Chances are they are making huge commissions on every leg of your vacation and what is "set up" for you may or may not be in your best interest. If you have read about a hotel and would like to make a reservation, it's always a good idea to call yourself and speak directly. Most places have an english-speaking representative and some hotels are even owned and run by Americans themselves. Most upscale places now use email for reservations. Making reservations through a third party can become jumbled with misunderstandings. When contracting a tour or trip with an agency, get EVERYTHING in writing-what you are paying, and what you are receiving. Try to cover and understand every detail of your trip before forking over your money, and don't forget to get a receipt.
Your Private Balcony over Otavalo
