Colombia
Currency in Colombia: what to use and how to exchange
Colombia uses the Colombian peso (COP, written $). Bring a small amount of US dollars as backup, withdraw pesos from bank ATMs in malls and banks, and pay by card in hotels and mid-range restaurants. Change to cash before small towns, markets and taxis, where cards are often refused.
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GuideColombia
Key facts
- Currency
- Colombian peso (COP), symbol $
- Rough ratecheck
- About 3,900–4,200 COP per US$ — check
- Best way to get pesos
- Bank ATM in a mall or bank branch; take several smaller withdrawals
- Cards accepted
- Hotels, chain shops, mid-range restaurants in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena; less in small towns
- Cash needed for
- Markets, small cafés, taxis, buses, tips, national park and trail fees
- US dollarscheck
- Accepted only in some hotels and tour offices; rate usually worse than an ATM
- Counterfeit risk
- Check large notes; common fake denominations are high-value bills
- Tipping
- 10% 'propina voluntaria' often added to the bill
Details
The peso is the only legal tender. Notes run from 1,000 to 100,000 COP and coins from 50 to 1,000 COP. Prices in shops and restaurants are written with the $ sign, so a coffee at 6,000 means 6,000 pesos, not dollars. The currency has weakened over the past decade, so older guidebooks and blog posts quote rates that are far out of date; use a live converter on the day you travel.
Plan your cash in two layers. Keep 200,000–400,000 COP in small notes for the first day: taxi or airport transfer, a snack, a SIM card. Then withdraw more once you are in a city, where ATMs are easy to find. Davivienda, Bancolombia, BBVA and Banco de Bogotá are the main networks; most machines dispense up to 600,000–1,000,000 COP per withdrawal, though the limit varies by bank and card. Fees are typically 10,000–20,000 COP per withdrawal plus whatever your own bank charges, so fewer, larger withdrawals usually cost less.
Cards work well in cities. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere that takes cards; American Express is patchier. Contactless is common in Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena. Outside those cities, expect cash: small towns, market stalls, rural buses, some guesthouses and most national park entrances. Carry a mix of 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 notes so you can pay exact amounts; vendors rarely have change for a 100,000 note early in the day.
Exchanging cash is possible but not the best route. Casas de cambio in Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena accept US dollars and sometimes euros, and the rate is usually worse than an ATM once you add the commission. Hotels offer convenience at a poor rate. If you do bring dollars, take clean, unmarked, recent-series notes; torn or old bills are often refused. Do not rely on dollars for daily spending outside hotels and tour operators.
- Withdraw in daylight from an ATM inside a mall, bank branch or airport, not from a street machine at night.
- Decline the ATM's own conversion offer and let your bank convert, unless your bank charges a high fee.
- Keep a photocopy or phone photo of your passport and entry stamp; some banks ask for ID.
- Tell your bank you are travelling so the card is not blocked on the first withdrawal.
| Method | Typical cost | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Bank ATM | 10,000–20,000 COP fee plus your bank's charge | Cities and larger towns; malls, banks, airports |
| Casas de cambio | Spread of a few percent versus mid-market | Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, airport arrivals |
| Hotel front desk | Worst rate, highest convenience | Any hotel that offers it |
| Card payment | Possible foreign transaction fee from your bank | Hotels, chain shops, mid-range restaurants in cities |
| US dollars cash | Accepted at a poor rate or refused | Some hotels and tour offices only |
Fees and limits change; confirm at the machine or counter (check).
Tips
Prices in Colombia are low by US or European standards, which makes cash management easy if you plan a little. A mid-range dinner runs 40,000–80,000 COP per person, a city taxi 15,000–30,000 COP, a coffee 4,000–8,000 COP. Withdraw enough for two or three days at a time and keep the rest in a money belt or hotel safe.
Small towns and trekking areas are the places to prepare for. Fill up on cash in the nearest city before heading to Villa de Leyva, Jardín, San Gil, San Agustín, Taganga or the trailheads for Ciudad Perdida and La Macarena. Some of these places have one ATM that may be empty or out of service, especially on weekends and public holidays.
Counterfeit notes circulate, mostly high denominations. Learn the security features on the 50,000 and 100,000 notes and check them when a vendor hands you change. If a note feels wrong, ask politely for another. Keep small change separate so you are not flashing a thick stack of bills.
Tipping is usually a 10% 'propina voluntaria' line on the bill in sit-down restaurants; you can accept or decline it. Taxi drivers are not tipped as a rule, but rounding up is common. Carry coins for bathrooms, bag helpers and small purchases.
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Colombia?
The Colombian peso, code COP, written with the $ symbol. Notes run from 1,000 to 100,000 COP and coins from 50 to 1,000 COP. The rate has moved a lot in recent years, so check a live converter before you travel.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Colombia?
A bank ATM in a mall, bank branch or airport usually gives the best overall deal. Casas de cambio in Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena are the next option for US dollars or euros. Hotel desks are convenient but expensive.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Colombia?
Use cards in city hotels, chain shops and mid-range restaurants, and cash for markets, taxis, buses, small towns and park fees. Bring a small amount of US dollars as backup, but plan to withdraw pesos from ATMs rather than rely on cash exchange.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBanco de la República (central bank)
- officialSuperintendencia Financiera de Colombia
- secondaryWikivoyage – Colombia