South America

Brazil

12th February 2018 to 20th February 2018

• Rio
• Foz de Iguazu

Currency: Brazilian Real
Payment: Card was accepted at most restaurants, bars and shops. All tourist activities were payable by card. Some websites noted that there may be issues with card cloning but we had no prolems.
Monzo card worked fine.
ATMS: The airports charged roughly £5 for withdrawals.
Visas: For a UK citizen there were no visa requirements for a tourist for up to 90 days.
Internet & Phone: It’s worth checking with the specific Hostel/Hotel. We had no problems accept occassional drop outs at our hotel.
We used a three phone with a Feel At Home Advanced package and we had no issues. At some points the internet connectivity was slow but there were no major problems.

Rio

ATMS: On our arrival in Rio (Tuesday 13th February) we struggled to get cash as banks were closed and boarded for Carnaval. The next day they were open but each Santander branch and a couple of other branch types wouldn’t allow us to withdraw any money. Banco do Brazil finally worked.
Travel: Ubers in Rio were readily available as well as buses for R$3.60 a ride. A metro is also available but we never tried it. There is also a good walking route that is easy to follow. Google maps showed information for public transport.
Internet: It’s worth checking with the specific Hostel/Hotel. A few bars had wifi.

Foz de Iguazu

Travel: There were no Ubers and google maps did not show public transport information.
Internet: Hotel or Hostel only.

Argentina

20th February 2018 to 1st March

• Puerto Iguazu (20th to 21st February)
• Buenos Aires (21st to 27th February)
• Ushuaia (27th February to 1st March)

Currency: Argentinian Pesos
Payment: Card was not accepted at many places. Some restaurants and bars accepted card.
Monzo card and Starling card worked fine.
ATMS: Cash points charged a fee.
Visas: For a UK citizen there were no visa requirements for a tourist for up to 90 days.

Puerto Iguazu

ATMS: Cash withdrawals charged more here than Buenos Aires.
Travel: There were no Ubers and google maps did not show public transport information.
Internet: Hotel or Hostel only.

Buenos Aires

ATMS: Fee was charged.
Travel: Ubers are available and google maps shows public transport information.
Internet: Wifi is pretty much everywhere. Most restaurants and bars and occassionaly in the street you will pick up a connection, expecially in the most popular places.

Ushuaia

ATMS: Plenty of ATMs but fee was charged.
Travel: Ubers were not available and google maps did not show public transport. There is a tourist centre in the aiport and they will be able to provide a map and point out places to book onward bus travel. Taxis are readily available at the airport. Buses go every hour (starting from 8AM) from the bus terminal to Tierra Del Fuego.
Internet: WiFi is available in some cafes and restaurants, usually they will have a WiFi sticker.

Chile

2nd March 2018 to 11th March 2018

• Punta Arenas (1st March to 3rd March)
• Puerto Natales (3rd March to 6th March and 10th to 11th March)
• Torres Del Paine (6th March to 10th March)

Currency: Chilean Pesos
Payment: Card was not accepted at many places. Some restaurants and bars accepted card.
Monzo card and Starling card worked fine.
ATMS: Cash points charged a fee.
Visas: For a UK citizen there were no visa requirements for a tourist for up to 90 days.

Punta Arenas

ATMS: Quite a few ATMs down one particular street but all appeared to charge.

Puerto Natales

ATMS: There were a few ATMs around the main part of Puerto Natales town. Each charged different rates for the fee.

Torres Del Paine

ATMS: No ATMs
Payment: Card was accepted at Cuernos camp site.
Internet: Wifi available at the main campsites (not the free ones). Charges 10 USD for 8 hours and 5 USD for 1 hour.

Argentina

11th March 2018 to …

• El Calafate (11th March to 12th March)
• El Chalten (12th March to 14th March)

El Calafate

Payment: Cash payment was requires in many places including at our hostel and the national park. Bus fares were payable by card.

El Chalten

ATMS: There is an ATM available but we never used it. I suspect it charged a fee.
Payment: Cash was required in many places including hostel and supermarkets.
Internet: Wifi is not good around the whole town due to it’s location.