Accommodation
Hotels
Hotel rooms should be booked at least one week in advance. Outside the main towns, a more or less standard price is charged per person for one night in a provision residencia, or a hotel. There is, however, a minimum charge per person. A 10 per cent service charge and 5 per cent tax are added to upper- and middle-range hotel bills. Cheaper hotels usually charge 5 per cent at the most. Hotel accommodation is very limited on the Galpagos Islands. Further information is available through the national hotel association, Federacin Hotelera del Ecuador (AHOTEC), Avenida Amrica 5378 y Diguja, Edificio San Francisco, Piso 2, Quito (tel: (2) 244 3425; fax: (2) 245 3942; e-mail: ahotec@interactive.net.ec). Grading: Hotels in Ecuador have been graded into three main categories according to standard and price bracket. All categories provide at least basic facilities.
Camping/caravanning
Camping facilities in Ecuador are run by US or European agencies, but these are very limited. Camping is prohibited on the Galpagos Islands except in one of the three designated campsites. A permit is required and can be obtained from the park offices.
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