Money in South America
picture of the cover of a sample tour itinerary

Download itinerary

  • Get This Itinerary Now! 📬
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form

Money in South America

Each country in South America has its own currency except Ecuador which uses the US Dollar. The easiest currency to exchange is the US Dollar. Euros can also often be changed. Other currencies can sometimes be exchanged but it is best not to rely on it and rates may be poor. Familiarize yourself with exchange rates before you travel – e.g. by using xe.com. Traveler’s checks are best avoided. Currency can usually be exchanged on arrival at airports or at land borders, it is also possible elsewhere in major cities, though it can be time consuming at banks, ask your guide for advice if needed. By using ATMs for most of your needs, you can minimize the need to exchange money.

Everyone has their own preferences, but we find the following combination works well:

  • Take a modest amount of US dollars cash with you in perfect condition, even small marks or tears can mean your bills won’t be accepted. Take a mixture of large and small bills.
  • Use credit and debit cards to withdraw cash in local currency from ATMs for the majority of your needs.
  • Use credit or debit cards for larger purchases. Notes on cards
  • Tell your bank where you are traveling to reduce the chance of them blocking your card
  • Check the fees that will be charged by your bank for using your cards in South America Mastercard and Visa are most widely accepted.
  • Take two or more different cards so that you have a backup if one is lost or blocked by your bank – e.g. take one debit card and one credit card.

How much money do I need to bring?

As everyone’s spending is different, this is difficult to estimate. By following our recommendations above you will not need to travel with large amounts of cash, so there is less need to accurately estimate your spending in advance. The main expenses you should consider are:

  • Meals not included in your itinerary (see country specific guidance below for estimates)
  • Small purchases such as snacks and water
  • Tips for your guides and drivers (see below)
  • Personal expenditure, gifts, etc.
Create Your Own Custom Tour

Click your preferences: Destinations & Activities. Be as specific or general as you like - or click Help Me Decide! We'll spice it with hidden gems & personal tips to create your perfect trip.

Choose Amazon destinations (optional)
Choose destinations (optional)
Choose Bolivia destinations (optional)
Choose Brazil destinations (opt)
Choose Chile destinations (opt)
Choose Colombia & Panama destinations (optional)
Choose Ecuador & Galapagos destinations (optional)
Choose Paraguay & Uruguay destinations (optional)
Choose Patagonia & Antarctica destinations (optional)
Choose Peru destinations (optional)
Choose Guianas destinations (optional)
Choose Interests
Choose activities
What category of accommodation?

You can choose more than one!

When would you like to go?
for
How many travelers?
age groups
age groups
Review my trip summary
destinations

activities

accommodations

when

who

Highly recommended - Phone: We ❤️ to talk! A brief chat with your personal Travel Consultant helps us create your perfect trip!

Hooray! Thanks for Sharing!

If you have an additional 30 seconds we’d love to learn more about you…

Custom Tour Request Popup

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • One Moment Please

    We are matching your tour idea with the right Travel Consultant
    who will be in touch shortly.
    Thank you for your request!

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.