How to pay abroad

Practical country guides to payment apps, cards and cash, checked against official sources.

South America

ArgentinaVisitor QR apps, foreign cards, SUBE and cash BoliviaQR apps for visitors, card issuer checks, cash backups BrazilPix access for visitors, cards and cash fallbacks ChileForeign cards, Chilean QR limits and Santiago transport ColombiaVisitor Bre-B apps, foreign cards, cash and transport EcuadorUS dollars, PayPhone checkout and Quito transport GuyanaCash planning, urban card use and conditional MMG access ParaguayCards, local SIP QR, Brazilian Pix and bus payments PeruYape and Plin QR access, cards, ATMs and cash SurinameCash-first planning, limited cards and Uni5Pay+UruguayForeign cards, Toke, cross-border QR and tourist VAT VenezuelaUSD cash, foreign cards and passport-capable alternatives

Start with your payment question

Can tourists use Pix?
Compare Brazil's visitor routes, including QR, Pix keys and foreign-card funding.
Can I pay a Yape or Plin QR?
Separate Peru's visitor payment options from opening a local wallet account.
Should I use a card in Argentina?
Check foreign-card exchange rates alongside QR payments and cash.
Which QR app can I use in Bolivia?
Compare identity requirements, funding methods and the cost of paying.

What you get for each country

A familiar payment logo does not tell you whether a visitor can open an account. Start with your destination, then check the documents, residence and funding method each app accepts. Compare the amount you actually pay after deposit charges, conversion and payment fees.

Each guide brings together app requirements, foreign-card restrictions and cash options, with links to official documentation. Documented support is not an independently tested payment. The source dates and unresolved questions help you see what still needs checking before your trip.

How we research these guides

App requirements in detail

These profiles cover paying in Bolivia, including signup, funding, fees and getting an unused balance back. For other destinations, use the relevant country comparison above.