“Lots of cash in the form of travelers cheques (these are insured)”

Just be aware, despite the marketing of traveler’s checks as being generally accepted worldwide, that was not my experience in Ecuador, even in the capital, Quito.

On my first visit there in 2000, I carried mainly traveler’s checks, with cash (Ecuador uses the US Dollar as currency) for some of the more remote areas to which I knew we would travel. At several of the hotels in the bigger cities, we tried to pay with traveler’s checks and were told they would not accept them. We even went to several banks, that also refused them and were told only the Central Bank in Quito would cash/exchange them for cash. After that I never carried traveler’s checks to Ecuador again.

When traveling to a new country, it is best to touch base with others who have visited the country, as to what are and what are not acceptable forms of payment.

Pete