🇨🇱 How to Pay in Chile
WhatsApp is the default communication channel for everything in Chile. Cash is still king outside Santiago, but Mercado Pago QR codes are increasingly accepted in mid-size cities. Long-distance buses are excellent and often require advance booking via Recorrido.
Payment & Finance Apps
Mercado Pago
EssentialChile's leading digital wallet, used for QR code payments in shops, restaurants, street vendors, and online.
Pro tip: You can load Mercado Pago using a foreign card, but a Chilean phone number unlocks more features.