Cash or Card in Colombia: A Canadian’s Guide to Paying

Key Highlights

• In Colombia, the local currency is the Colombian peso. People there do not take other currencies.

• You can use your credit card in many major cities. Cash withdrawals are still needed in smaller places.

• Card acceptance is strong in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and other main stops.

• Your home bank or card issuer might charge you a foreign transaction fee.

• When making atm withdrawals, picking Colombian pesos over your home currency usually gets you a better rate.

• Some smaller spots may not have many ATMs, or they might be empty. So, plan ahead.

Introduction

If you are going to Colombia from Canada, picking the best payment method can help you a lot. The local currency is the Colombian peso. You will need it for daily spending. In major cities, you can use cards often. But cash still matters for many things. So, should you bring both? Yes, that is usually a good idea. The parts below tell where cards are a good choice, where cash is handy, and how to stay away from bad exchange deals.

Overview of Payment Methods in Colombia for Canadians

For most people in Canada, the top payment method in Colombia is a mix of credit card, debit card, and cash. In cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena, you can use cards for most expenses. They work well in hotels, bars, and restaurants.

But don’t depend only on credit card or debit card. The local currency is needed in spots that only take cash. Some smaller places do not have good ATM access. Using a mix of payment methods is a smart way to go. Now, let’s look at cash and cards to see how they stack up.

Cash Versus Card: What Visitors Need to Know

Cash and card payments are both used a lot in Colombia. If you are in bigger cities, you can use a card for many things. It is easy to pay with a card at hotels, shops, bars, and many restaurants.

But cash is still needed. Some places only take cash, and in some areas, it can be hard to find a machine that will work with your card. You should always have some pesos with you, even if you want to use card payments most of the time.

Here is another thing to think about. When you pay by card or take out money, do not let them bill you in your home currency. If you pick Colombian pesos, you usually get a better exchange rate. You will also stay away from bad foreign transaction rates.

Payment Trends in Cities Like Bogota and Medellin

In most major cities in Colombia, people often use their credit card. It’s easy to use a foreign credit card in cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, Santa Marta, and other popular places. Many travellers pay for things like hotels and food with their card.

The best places for card acceptance are:

• shopping malls and chain restaurants

• hotels and bars in busy tourist spots

• known businesses in big city areas

Still, you should bring some local currency with you. Not every place takes credit cards, and most shops do not use digital wallets. Cards work well in the city, but cash is a good backup. Next, it’s good to learn what fees or costs can happen when you use your credit card from another country.

Using Foreign Credit and Debit Cards in Colombia

Using a credit card or debit card from another country in Colombia is easy. This is true in many spots where tourists go. But you can get extra charges. Your home bank or card issuer may add a foreign transaction fee. ATM providers can also put their own charge on atm withdrawals.

So, using a card with low fees can help you have more money in your pocket if you stay for a while. It is also good to bring more than one card with you. This way you will be ready if one card goes missing. Before you use any card a lot, check where cards are most accepted and know where to be careful with your plastic.

Safety and Acceptance in Restaurants, Shops, and Hotels

In the bigger cities of Colombia, people often use card payments. It’s easy for visitors to pay with a credit card in shops, bars, and restaurants in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and some other top places. There are many shopping malls and busy spots where card acceptance is strong.

You will also find that many hotels take cards for extra costs. This is true at a lot of hotels that welcome travellers. Large hotels and well-known businesses are more likely to allow international cards than places far from city centres.

But, you should always be careful and ready. Some spots do not have many major banks. There are also towns and areas that do not take international cards often. Boutique hotels or small country stays may not be the same as big city hotels, so it’s a good idea to have another way to pay. The next part will show the silent charges that can push up what you pay.

Common Fees and Extra Charges for Foreign Cards

The main extra costs for Canadians usually come from three places: your foreign transaction fee, a local atm fee, and poor conversion choices. These charges may not seem large at first, but they add up across a trip.

A key tip is to reject dynamic currency conversion. If a machine or terminal offers to bill you in your home bank currency, say no. Paying in Colombian pesos usually gives you a better exchange rate because your own bank handles the conversion.

Accessing Cash as a Tourist

Cash withdrawals are simple to do in a lot of well-known destinations in Colombia. This is true, especially in big cities and airports. For example, Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena airports have plenty of ATMs. Many places where people use cards often have bank branches and easy machines too.

But things are not the same everywhere. In some towns, there may be only one ATM, and sometimes it runs out of local currency when things get busy. A good atm tip is to take out cash early in the day. Do not think that every small place will have a bank or an ATM with money. This is what you can expect when you travel there.

ATM Availability and Withdrawal Limits

In the bigger cities of Colombia, atm withdrawals are often simple. If you are in a city that gets a lot of travellers, there will be Colombian ATMs you can use with your card. Airports in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena all have these, so these are good places to get cash when you first arrive.

One good choice is Davivienda. You can take out up to 2,000,000 pesos each time there. They add 15,000 pesos to the total, but you might not see this fee shown as a separate amount when you first use the atm. If you take out the highest amount, it works out to be a good deal.

Things get tricky when you are away from the major banks. Some smaller places have only one machine, or sometimes none at all. In these spots, your international bank account might not work at the atm as you expect. So, don’t wait until the last minute to get cash. Plan ahead for atm withdrawals from Colombian ATMs, even if you think you will be fine.

Exchanging Canadian or US Dollars for Colombian Pesos

If you need money in Colombia, it is better to use an ATM than to bring cash for currency exchange. Do not bring us dollars, euros, or pounds with you and try to exchange them at casas de cambio or exchange counters.

You may not get a good exchange rate if you try to exchange these big currencies. Many times, you get up to 10 percent less than what that money is worth in colombian peso. That means some people end up losing a lot of money when they exchange currency this way.

Most people should bring the right cards and then go to an ATM. You can take out colombian pesos at the airport or when you first arrive in the city. It is also important to never use the street for money exchange. There is too much risk and you will not get a good deal. Now, we can talk about your daily spending.

Paying for Everyday Expenses – Transport, Shopping, and Dining

For daily expenses in Colombia, the payment type you use depends on where you go and how much you need to buy. In many city restaurants, bars, and shops, cards are good, mostly when you pay larger amounts or buy things at places that are well-known.

Street vendors, street food places, and small shops often want cash instead of cards. So, it is smart to carry both cards and pesos. You can use your card where they take it and keep some cash for easy and quick buys. The biggest difference shows up when you use transport.

How Taxis and Public Transportation Handle Payments

When you travel in Colombia, it is better to use cash for spending on transport. Most of the time, you cannot count on card terminals for taxis or public transportation. This means you should not think every ride will let you pay with a card.

This is even more important if you leave the big cities. If you go to a small town, travel between regions, or use local services, having pesos with you makes things easier. It lets you fix problems before they happen.

It is best to carry cash for:

• taxi drivers, since many will not have card terminals

• public transportation, because card terminal use is not certain

• intercity buses or small stops where you may not get other ways to pay

Popular Payment Methods in Local Markets and Restaurants

In local markets and in your everyday neighbourhood, people still often pay in cash. Street vendors, small shops, local markets, and corner stores are places where using cash can be the fastest way to buy something. It is simple and quick there.

In bigger cities and well-built areas, you will see that places like restaurants, bars, and shops usually take cards. If you eat out in a big city or shop in a formal business, it is easy to use your card. Paying that way makes sense in these places.

The best thing to do is not to treat all shops the same way. There are parts of Colombia where cards work fine, but in other spots, you will need Colombian pesos. If you keep both with you, you can get by in most places without any trouble. Now, let’s talk about using mobile and contactless pay options.

Digital Options: Mobile Payments and Contactless Solutions

If you want to use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallets in Colombia, you will find that there is not much information out there. Many shops do let you pay by card, but most of the tips people share talk about using a real card, getting cash at an ATM, and using cash instead of contactless payments.

So, using digital choices might not be the best main plan for your trip. A physical card and some pesos are still the safest way to go. If you want to count on tap payments, it’s good to know what has been said and what has not.

Can You Use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Digital Wallets?

There is not much reason to make Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallets your main way to pay while in Colombia. People mostly use their credit card, debit card, or cash for everyday spending when they travel there.

This does not mean you will never see contactless payments. Some places may take them, but it is safer to plan on having a card and to take out local currency when needed. If a shop or business lets you use tap to pay, think of it as a nice surprise and not the main thing you count on.

If you are coming from Canada, the best thing to do is bring a credit card that works well, a debit card to get cash, and some money in the local currency as a backup. This plan works for more people and in more places than just trying to use your mobile payment all the time. That way, you have the most ways to pay and fewer problems during your trip.

Conclusion

In the end, knowing about ways to pay in Colombia is important for Canadians who visit this great country. You can use cash or a card, but it’s good to learn about each choice. This can help you have a better trip and make buying things easier. In places like Bogota or the busy markets in Medellin, it’s helpful to know how to use payment methods. You should also learn about possible fees and be aware of safety. Today, more people are starting to use new digital payment ways because they are easy to use in many places. When planning your trip to Colombia, be sure you find out the latest tips on how to pay for things. Stay open to new options with your payments. If you want more advice or have any questions, you can always ask for help to get tips just for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much cash should Canadians carry daily in Colombia?

How much cash you need is based on your daily budget and where you travel. If you have a family of four and plan to go for two weeks, the suggested total is 2,000,000 pesos. Every day, bring enough money for daily expenses. Take small bills for simple buys. Use cards when you pay larger amounts.

What should you do if your card is lost or stolen?

Contact your card issuer and your home bank right away. If you have a backup card, use that. Card payments can be important in many places. It is a good idea to carry a replacement card. You can keep one in the hotel safe if you can. Until your card works again, take out cash for atm withdrawals or use cash for what you need to buy.

Is it safer to pay in Colombian pesos or use Canadian dollars while traveling?

It is best to pay in Colombian peso when you can. The local currency in Colombia is also the legal currency. Using your home currency here is not helpful. When you see dynamic currency conversion on a machine, just say no. If you pay in pesos, you will usually get a better exchange rate from your own bank.