Compare Chilean Peso Exchange Rates in Chile

Getting Chilean Pesos for Your Trip

Chile stretches 4,300 kilometres from the Atacama Desert to Patagonian glaciers, offering incredible diversity. Fortunately, Chile has one of South America's most stable and modern financial systems, making money management relatively straightforward.

In cities like Santiago, Valparaíso, and Viña del Mar, you'll find excellent card acceptance and plenty of ATMs. However, venture into Patagonia or remote areas, and cash becomes essential. Planning your money strategy around your itinerary is crucial.

Best Ways to Get CLP

Here are your options for obtaining Chilean Pesos:

1. ATM Withdrawal with Wise/Revolut Card

The most convenient option with excellent rates. Chilean ATMs (look for RedBanc or BancoEstado) are reliable and widespread in cities. Use a Wise or Revolut card to avoid your UK bank's foreign transaction fees. Limits on a single withdrawal are fairly low and vary by bank.

2. Exchange Cash at Casas de Cambio

Currency exchange houses in central Santiago are grouped around Agustinas, Huérfanos, Morandé and Paseo Ahumada (not Monjitas), and change USD and EUR. Compare several before exchanging and use an established shop: in January 2026 police there arrested a man who lured tourists with a better rate and took their money.

3. Use Your Card Directly

In Santiago and major cities, you can often use cards everywhere, reducing your need for cash. Just ensure you have a no-foreign-fee card. Always choose to pay in CLP (Chilean Pesos), not GBP.

4. Airport Exchange

Rates at Santiago airport are poor but improving. Exchange only enough for transport to the city if needed. Better options await downtown.

Using Cards in Chile

Chile has excellent card infrastructure in urban areas:

Where Cards Work Well

Hotels and hostels, restaurants and cafes in cities, supermarkets (Jumbo, Líder, Santa Isabel), shopping malls, petrol stations, pharmacies (Cruz Verde, Farmacias Ahumada), domestic airlines, and most tourist services.

Where You Need Cash

Local markets and ferias (farmers markets), small family restaurants, rural areas and small towns, Patagonia (many places), Santiago buses (they need a Bip! card or a QR code from the Red app or the BancoEstado app; the Metro has taken contactless Visa and Mastercard at the adult fare since 13 February 2026, and cards are due on buses by the end of 2026), tips, and street vendors.

Card Tips

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. American Express less so. Always choose to pay in CLP, not your home currency. Some merchants have minimum amounts for card payments (often CLP 5,000-10,000). Contactless is increasingly common in Santiago.

ATMs in Chile

Chilean ATMs are reliable but have some quirks:

ATM Networks

RedBanc: The main ATM network, widely available.

BancoEstado: The state bank; its app can also pay Santiago bus fares by QR code.

Banco de Chile, Santander, BCI: All have extensive ATM networks.

ATM Tips

Limits per withdrawal for foreign cards are fairly low and differ between banks. Travel-money guides say each withdrawal carries a flat fee whatever the amount, so check the charge on screen before you confirm and take out larger sums less often. Always decline the ATM's offer to convert to your home currency. Withdraw during bank hours when possible.

Where ATMs Are Scarce

Torres del Paine National Park (none inside), San Pedro de Atacama (limited, often empty), Easter Island (few ATMs, high fees), small Patagonian towns, and rural areas throughout Chile.

Money for Chilean Patagonia

Special considerations for Patagonia travel:

Torres del Paine Area

Puerto Natales has a few ATMs but they run out of cash regularly, especially in high season. Withdraw in Punta Arenas before heading north. Most refugios and camps accept cards but have spotty connectivity - don't rely on it.

Carretera Austral

Extremely limited banking. Coyhaique and Puerto Aysén have ATMs; tiny villages along the road don't. Bring all the cash you'll need for the duration.

How Much to Bring

For a Torres del Paine trek, budget CLP 30,000-50,000 per day for refugio meals and extras. For Carretera Austral road trips, bring CLP 50,000-100,000 per day depending on accommodation and activities.

Tipping in Chile

Tipping is appreciated but moderate:

Restaurants: By law, restaurants, bars and cafés where waiters serve you have to propose a tip of no less than 10% on the bill. It is voluntary: you pay it unless you say you do not want to.

Cafes: Not expected, but rounding up is nice.

Hotels: CLP 1,000-2,000 per bag for porters.

Taxis: Not expected; round up if you like.

Tour guides: CLP 5,000-10,000 per day, or 10-15%.

Wine tours: CLP 2,000-5,000 per person to guides.

Trek porters (Patagonia): CLP 5,000-10,000 per day.