Tour & Activity Scams in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Guayaquil — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Valparaíso, Mendoza, and Salvador.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
1
Tour & Activities Scams
8
Total in Guayaquil
How it works
City-based tour operators around the Malecón and the airport area sell Galápagos tour packages at inflated prices, claiming to represent official Galápagos National Park operators. Some packages are misrepresented — smaller boats than advertised, fewer island stops than promised, unlicensed naturalist guides, or no park permit included in the price. Deposits paid upfront are sometimes non-refundable even when the operator defaults on the itinerary.
See all scams in Guayaquil
8 total warnings across all categories