During your trip, outside of the big cities you will need very little spending money as all meals, drinks and activities are included in the cost of your journey.
In cities like Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, Rio de Janeiro and Quito you will need to pay for lunches, dinners, and drinks when you are staying at hotels, as these will normally be on a bed and breakfast basis. Bills may be settled by cash or by credit card (accepted at most hotels).
Credit cards may be used in large towns and at restaurants and shops, with MasterCard and Visa being most accepted. However, the use of credit cards may be restricted in small towns and country areas.
Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are situated outside most banks in large cities in Latin America, and international credit cards often can be used to withdraw currency. However, please do not rely on ATM machines for all your local currency needs and it is advisable to exchange some currency at Thomas Cook or other foreign exchange shops at airports.
