Exchanging your currency into local money doesn't have to be a costly, time-consuming affair. The US dollar is the easiest to exchange anywhere in South America.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: As required during travel
Here's How:
- Argentina: Get pesos at banks, exchange houses called cambios, hotels, travel agents and in shops. Travelers checks may be difficult to cash. ATMS cajeros automaticos may dispense both pesos and US dollars.
- Bolivia: Get bolivianos at banks, cambios, travel agencies, larger stores, pharmacies. Ask for small denominations. Do not accept the two boliviano note. Travelers checks are good. Exchange your money before leaving the country.
- Brazil: Get reales at casa de câbios banks, large hotels. Exchange on a weekday. Get small denominations. Do not change money on the street.
- Chile: Get pesos at banks, hotels, travel agencies, some shops and street money changers.
- Colombia: Get pesos at cambios, banks (very slow and not standardized) and at the border from moneychangers, and travel agencies.
- Ecuador: The US dollar is now the legal currency, but you can get sucres at cambios and banks. Street moneychanging is illegal.
- French Guiana: Get French francs in banks and through the ATMS at post offices.
- Guyana: Get Guyanese dollars at cambios and banks.
- Paraguay: Get guaraníes at cambios, banks and street vendors.
- Peru: Get nuevo sol sat banks, cambios and street vendors.
- Suriname: Get Surinamese guilders at banks. Foreign visitors must change required amount on entry. Check with your travel agent.
- Uruguay: Get pesos at at banks, cambios better hotels and shops. ATMs work only with pesos.
- Venezuela: Get bolivars at banks (not standardized) or other state-authorized exchanges, hotels, airlines, restaurants and shops.
Tips:
- Find out the rate of exchange from local newspapers, official agencies, and banks.
- Have some local money on hand on arrival.
- Banks sometimes charge a higher rate of exchange. Be aware of bank hours.
- Keep a currency converter at hand.
