Tour payments

Happy Gringo accepts the following payment methods:

1. INTERNATIONAL BANK WIRE: Opt for the utmost convenience by utilizing your bank account for this transaction. Our bank is situated in the USA, but you have the flexibility to initiate the transfer from any corner of the world. A nominal $25 handling fee is applied per transfer to offset the costs associated with transferring funds to Ecuador for settling payments to local suppliers on your behalf. Typically, transfers take 2-5 working days to reflect in our account. We recommend consulting your personal bank for guidance on completing the necessary fields for a seamless transfer process.
2. CREDIT CARD ONLINE PAYMENT - quick and easy online payments for Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Credit card processing fees do apply – Fees are divided into fees charged by the platform, and also Ecuadorian Government fees. Happy Gringo makes no profit on these additional fees.
3. ECUADOR BANK DEPOSIT OR TRANSFER - deposit cash or transfer locally into any branch of Banco Pichincha, Internacional, or Produbanco. This may the best option if you are already in Ecuador.

Most importantly, all of our accounts are 100% SAFE & SECURE. All payments are made in the name our company (Operadora Happy Gringo). We will never ask you to risk paying into any account registered under a personal name.

Determining precisely what qualifies as a "last-minute" tour can be subjective. However, it's crucial to bear in mind that as the tour date approaches, we must factor in payment transfer timelines and the duration we can hold reserved spaces for you. Confirmation is only guaranteed upon receipt of payment.

For your planning reference, we recommend initiating International Bank Wire transactions up to 15 days before your tour commences, considering the time required for processing. Alternatively, Credit Card Online Payment and Ecuador Bank Deposit or Transfer options are consistently available for your convenience.

Generally speaking, we require a 40% deposit at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. Full payment is then due 3 months before your date of travel. Of course, should you prefer to pay in full at the time of booking then that is also no problem.

Only in the case of bookings made less than 3 months before the date of travel do we immediately require full payment, unless otherwise stipulated.

Consult our full terms and conditions for further information.

When you make a tour reservation with Happy Gringo, we put a hold on all of the spaces required for your trip, e.g. with hotels, cruises, lodges etc. All of these service providers require payment from Happy Gringo on your behalf to 100% guarantee the space. For this reason, your prompt payment to Happy Gringo is so important. Late payment can result in the cancelation of services by the operator.

Due to strict anti-fraud measures in Ecuador, we can't take your credit card details over the phone. This is for the protection of the consumer.

The good news is that our online card payment system is quick, easy to use, and highly secure.

Our bank details are available upon request - tell our salesperson which bank you wish to pay into and he/she will provide you with the details.

At this moment, we exclusively accept payments through our established payment gateway. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate alternative payment methods such as Western Union, Travellers Checks, or Paypal. We understand the importance of providing diverse payment options, and while we currently do not support these methods, we are continuously evaluating and updating our payment processes to enhance convenience for our valued clients.

Can I pay using Venmo?

Unfortunately, Venmo is only available for payments within the USA. Therefore, we do not currently accept Venmo payments. We hope that this may change in the future to accommodate international transactions.

Can I pay using Zelle?

Our bank in Miami currently only supports Zelle payments to personal bank accounts, not to company accounts. As a result, we are unable to accept payments via Zelle at this time. We will gladly consider adding Zelle as a payment method if this situation changes in the future.

Can I pay using Paypal?

While we previously used PayPal for payments, due to recent changes in European laws and restrictions as an Ecuadorian company, our PayPal account is now limited to a very small monthly withdrawal allowance. As a result, we are unable to utilize PayPal effectively for our industry in Ecuador. Instead, we use the WETRAVEL platform for all credit and debit card payment processing, as they specialize in travel transactions and offer superior service in our experience.

Receipts for your transfers are promptly dispatched via email on the same day we receive them. For deposits received over the weekend or an Ecuadorian bank holiday, you can expect your receipt the next business day.