Quick answer. At Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL), skip the Global Exchange and Afex currency counters and the standalone non-bank ATMs in arrivals; both run well off the real rate or pile on DCC and operator fees. Use a real Chilean bank ATM on the Redbanc network (Scotiabank, Banco de Chile, BancoEstado or BCI), which dispenses pesos at the Visa/Mastercard interbank rate and posts its operator fee (one of the higher ones in the Americas, around CLP 6,000–8,000) on screen before you confirm. Chile is one of the few countries with a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner: a BoA debit card pulls with no surcharge at any Scotiabank Chile ATM. Because the fee is flat per withdrawal, take out the maximum each time, always decline DCC and choose Chilean pesos (CLP). Then ride the cheap Centropuerto or Turbus bus to the Pajaritos metro, or book an authorized taxi at the counter inside arrivals.
Where to get peso at SCL
The key Arturo Merino Benítez fact is that the Global Exchange / Afex counters and the standalone non-bank ATMs in arrivals are the expensive options, while a real Chilean bank ATM on the Redbanc network (Scotiabank, Banco de Chile, BancoEstado or BCI) gives the interbank peso rate behind a posted (and fairly high) operator fee, and a Bank of America card pulls fee-free at Scotiabank Chile. Because the fee is flat per withdrawal, take the maximum each time. The cost math below assumes you withdraw or exchange the equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank ATM with a BoA card (Alliance) | Arrivals hall | Interbank rate, surcharge waived | ~$100 + BoA 1% only |
| Bank ATM (Redbanc) + Schwab (fee refunded) | Arrivals hall | Interbank rate, operator fee refunded | ~$99-100 |
| Banco de Chile / BancoEstado / BCI ATM, standard card | Arrivals hall | Interbank + posted ~CLP 6,000-8,000 fee | ~$90-93 + home-bank fee |
| Standalone non-bank ATM (SCL) | Arrivals | High operator fee + DCC pitch | ~$84-92 |
| Global Exchange / Afex counter (SCL) | Arrivals | 5-10% off interbank, plus fee | ~$88-94 |
| Accepting DCC at any machine | Anywhere | +5-12% if you choose 'charge in USD' | ~$88-95 |
Where to find the Scotiabank, Banco de Chile and BancoEstado ATMs at Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL)
Arturo Merino Benítez International (SCL), commonly called Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez, is Chile's main gateway, in the Pudahuel district about 15 km northwest of central Santiago. A large new international terminal (Terminal 2) opened in 2022, so Terminal 1 is now mostly domestic and the layout most older guidebooks describe no longer matches what you walk into; the money traps, however, are the same ones in new clothes. In the arrivals hall you will pass the Global Exchange and Afex currency counters and a few standalone non-bank ATMs first; the counters quote a peso rate that looks fair but routinely runs 5–10% off the interbank rate plus a per-transaction fee, and the standalone machines layer a high operator fee on top of an aggressive 'charge in USD' DCC pitch. The fix is to look instead for a real Chilean bank ATM (a 'cajero') on the Redbanc network carrying the Scotiabank, Banco de Chile, BancoEstado or BCI wordmark. Those dispense pesos at the Visa or Mastercard interbank rate; they do charge their own operator fee on foreign cards, which in Chile is high by regional standards (roughly CLP 6,000–8,000), but it is shown on screen before you confirm and the rate behind it is honest. Because that fee is flat per withdrawal, take out the maximum each time to spread it. If you carry a Bank of America debit card, Scotiabank Chile is a Global ATM Alliance partner, so its ATMs waive the operator surcharge and BoA waives its own non-network fee. Whatever you use, decline dynamic currency conversion and choose Chilean pesos.
Terminal 2 (new international terminal, opened 2022)
LATAM (the dominant carrier and the airport's main hub operator) on its international and long-haul services, plus Sky Airline and JetSMART regional flights, and the long-haul services of American, Delta, United, Avianca, Copa, Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Iberia, Air France-KLM and Qantas. Santiago opened the large new Terminal 2 in 2022 for international traffic, while Terminal 1 reverted to mostly domestic flights
In the arrivals hall, walk past the Global Exchange and Afex exchange counters and the standalone non-bank ATMs near the exits and look for a Scotiabank, Banco de Chile, BancoEstado or BCI cajero (Redbanc network) on the wall or in the bank-ATM cluster. Those add only the posted operator fee on foreign cards; the standalone machines and the counters cost far more. Bank of America cardholders should seek the red Scotiabank ATM for a fee-free withdrawal. Take out the maximum to spread Chile's flat fee, decline DCC and choose pesos, then head out to the Centropuerto / Turbus bus stop or the authorized taxi counter.
Terminal 1 (now mostly domestic)
Domestic LATAM, Sky Airline and JetSMART services within Chile after the 2022 reorganisation, including flights to Calama (Atacama), Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas (Patagonia) and Easter Island
If you connect onto a domestic flight, the same Redbanc bank ATMs (Scotiabank, Banco de Chile, BancoEstado, BCI) are present landside in Terminal 1; use those rather than any standalone machine, take the maximum, decline DCC and choose pesos. Top up here before flying to the Atacama or Patagonia, where small-town ATMs are scarcer.
Do you actually need cash at Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL)?
Partly. The Centropuerto and Turbus buses, the authorized taxi counters, and the Uber / Cabify / Didi apps mostly take cards, but Santiago leans on cash for small payments, so a peso float is worth pulling before you leave arrivals. Here is what works on a card, and where a little cash still helps:
Centropuerto / Turbus bus to Pajaritos metro (~CLP 1,800-2,500 one way): Frequent airport coach from outside arrivals to the Pajaritos metro interchange; from there Metro Line 1 runs into the centre. The cheapest option by far. Pay by card or small cash.
Authorized taxi / transfer (booked at the arrivals counter) (~CLP 20,000-30,000 to the centre): Book at a licensed counter inside the hall where the fare is agreed in advance. Most counters take a card. Never take a ride from an unmarked tout.
Uber / Cabify / Didi (~CLP 15,000-25,000 to the centre): App-billed to your card. Follow signs to the airport's designated rideshare pickup point and match the plate before getting in.
Santiago Metro (via Pajaritos) (~CLP 800 metro fare): There is no rail link at the airport itself. Take the Centropuerto or Turbus bus to Pajaritos station, then ride Metro Line 1 into the centre on a Bip! card.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) to Santiago?
No. Centropuerto / Turbus bus to Pajaritos metro accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order peso before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical peso to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 peso for taxis and tips on day one.
Which ATM at Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) is best, and which should I avoid?
Use a Chilean bank ATM on the Redbanc network (a 'cajero' branded Scotiabank, Banco de Chile, BancoEstado or BCI) and avoid the Global Exchange and Afex exchange counters and the standalone non-bank machines. The bank ATMs dispense pesos at the real Visa or Mastercard interbank rate; they add their own operator fee on foreign cards, which in Chile is high (about CLP 6,000–8,000), shown on screen before you confirm. The standalone units stack a higher fee on top of an aggressive dynamic-currency-conversion pitch (the 'charge in USD' offer), and the counters bury a 5–10% markup in the rate. Because the fee is flat per withdrawal, take out the maximum each time. At any machine, decline DCC and choose Chilean pesos. If you bank with Bank of America, use a Scotiabank Chile ATM: it is a Global ATM Alliance partner, so the surcharge is waived on both sides.
Is there a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner at SCL?
Yes, and Chile is one of the few Latin American countries where this works. Scotiabank Chile belongs to the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance (around 115 partner ATMs nationwide), so a BoA debit card withdraws pesos at a Scotiabank ATM with no operator surcharge from Scotiabank and no non-network fee from BoA; you pay only BoA's foreign-currency conversion (1% for most accounts). This matters more in Chile than almost anywhere because the local foreign-card ATM fee is one of the highest in the Americas. Look for the red Scotiabank cajero in the arrivals area or once you reach the city. None of the other Chilean banks (Banco de Chile, BancoEstado, BCI) are Alliance partners, so a BoA card pays BoA's standard 3% non-network fee at those. A no-foreign-transaction-fee card such as Wise or Charles Schwab is still the cleanest all-rounder, and Schwab refunds operator fees worldwide, which neutralises Chile's high fee outright.
How do I get from Arturo Merino Benítez to central Santiago?
There is no metro station at the airport, so the route is a bus to the Pajaritos interchange and then the Santiago Metro, or a taxi the whole way. The cheap option is the Centropuerto or Turbus airport bus, which leaves from just outside arrivals and runs to the Pajaritos metro station for a few thousand pesos; from Pajaritos, Metro Line 1 runs straight into the centre (Estación Central, La Moneda, Universidad de Chile, Baquedano). For a door-to-door ride, book at one of the authorized taxi or transfer counters inside the arrivals hall where the fare is agreed in advance (roughly CLP 20,000–30,000 to the centre depending on district and traffic), or use the Uber, Cabify or Didi apps, which are card-billed and follow the airport's designated rideshare pickup point. Do not accept a ride from the unmarked drivers who approach you in the hall.
Do I need pesos before I leave the SCL arrivals hall?
A little helps. The Centropuerto and Turbus buses and most authorized taxi counters take cards or small cash, and the rideshare apps are card-billed, but Santiago still runs on cash for the bus fare, kiosks, market stalls and tips. Withdraw a useful first float from a Scotiabank, Banco de Chile, BancoEstado or BCI cajero before you leave arrivals rather than from a standalone machine, take the maximum to spread Chile's high flat fee, decline DCC and choose pesos. You can top up later at any bank ATM in Providencia, Las Condes or the malls (Costanera Center, Parque Arauco), where our CEI Currency Exchange-style advice still applies: bank machines inside branches and malls, not street-facing standalones.
Should I change my US dollars at the SCL airport counters?
No. Chile is unusual in South America in that US dollars are not generally accepted by shops, so you will need pesos regardless, and the Global Exchange and Afex counters in arrivals are among the worst rates you will see in the country. If you brought US dollars, hold them: the licensed casas de cambio downtown along Agustínas in Santiago Centro and around Av. Apoquindo in Las Condes give far better USD-to-peso spreads. For the airport itself, a Chilean bank ATM is the cheapest way to get your first pesos; save the dollar exchange for a reputable downtown casa de cambio.
Can I order Chilean pesos before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Chilean pesos to your US address in 2–5 days at a rate below the airport counters, which is a genuinely useful defensive move here precisely because Chile's ATM fees are unusually high: a small starter envelope means you can skip one or two of those expensive first withdrawals. Your home bank (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi) can also order CLP; allow 5–10 business days. That said, pesos are easy to get from any Santiago bank ATM, so most travelers pre-order a small first-day float and pull the rest on the ground, taking the maximum each time to spread the flat fee.