Gotta get Ecuadorian money … While prepping for my trip to Ecuador, I discovered there was no need to get foreign currency. Ecuador, like Panama, are the only two countries also using US currency as we do in this country. Yeah, one less thing to do on my checklist! But, be sure to use small bills and coins as a $20.00 bill is easier to get change with your purchase.
Ecuador switched over to US currency in 2000. What I found interesting though, Ecuador receives all their bank notes/bills from the USA and some coins. Ecuador can print their own coins for any denomination less than a dollar. Those coins are similar to ours; however, they lack the rough edges found on our US-made coins. Their coins are not accepted in the USA.
Ecuador gets their bills and dollar coins from the US. Notice Sacagawea’s portrait on the coin below. Ecuadorian’s prefer that coin, over the US one-dollar bill, because it resembles Ecuadorian women. Coins also are more durable in tropical climates than paper bills, so many more one-dollar coins are in Ecuador than the USA.
Below are photos of the front and back of dollar coins. I enjoyed having those coins in my pocket as many things were easily purchased for a dollar and the coins were quicker to access than any bill. Whatever your preference, remember to check your coins before you come back to the USA … no Ecuadorian con will be valid here.
I’ve recently been studying bills and coins that may be worth money due to errors. It was interesting to find that Ecuador is using US insignias. I guess I should look for errors there also😀.
They get bills from USA and can make their coins, if they wish, from what I understand. Yet no Ecuadorian coin is accepted in the USA.
Ecuador’s use of US currency makes travel easier—no need to exchange money! 💵 But here’s the twist: Ecuadorians love $1 coins, especially the Sacagawea ones, as they’re durable in tropical climates and resemble Ecuadorian women. Just remember, Ecuadorian-minted coins under $1 won’t work back in the US! 🪙✈️
Yes!