Cartagena, Colombia Travel Guide
About Getting Around Attractions Hotels Eats & Nightlife Essentials & Practicals
Money Matters in Cartagena, Colombia
Wheelchair accessible Banco Popular bank branch and ATMs in Cartagena, Colombia
The >currency in Colombia is the Colombian Peso (COP, the abbreviation). Something to keep in mind about the COP is that the denominations or notes are large. For instance, there is the 50,000 COP note (50 MIL Pesos), which is approximately $25 USD. Decreasing are 20,000 COP (20 Veinte MIL), 10,000 COP, 5000 COP, 2000 COP, and 1000 COP. This being said, figure out the max withdrawal limit of your home bank.
The currency conversion favors the US dollar and you’ll be carrying around large bills. Make sure you carry small denominations for taxis and local eateries. Small convenience stores may not have change for 50 MIL Pesos in the mornings. Even still, try to buy water or something small to change your large notes to smaller ones.
Use ATMs in Cartagena instead of exchanging US cash, as the exchange rates are not in your best interest. Also, use an ATM in a bank and not a standalone ATM.
ATMs and banks are plentiful in Cartagena. Here are some I used:
Airport ATMs
Around Rafael Núñez International Airport’s baggage claim and exit area, there are Cajero Automáticos (ATM or cash dispenser) section with ATM machines Cajero, Servibanca (says Servihanca on the ATMs), BBVA, and Banco Santander. I’ve used all of them in and around Colombia and I’ve used Banco Santander in Spain.
Each institution has a max withdrawal limit, so it is important to have an idea of the currency exchange rate. The limits below may have changed.
Accessibility: The ATMs in Rafael Núñez International Airport are wheelchair accessible. Depending on when you arrive, there is a bank branch across from these ATMs if you have any issues.
ATMs in Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena, Colombia
CITY ATMs and BANKS
Banco Popular
These are all around Cartagena, including an ATM in Centro in the Old City next to Plaza de Bolivar. I used the bank branch located on the corner of Media and Lemaitre just across the Clock Tower Gate in La Matuna. It was wheelchair accessible.
Limit: 400,000 COP
Fee: $5.00
Accessibility: Banco Popular branches are wheelchair accessible. You can see the photo of a ramp in front of the Banco Popular in La Matuna just across the Old City/Town and the there is a ramp up to the branch in Bocagrande below.
Banco Popular bank branch in Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia
BBVA (at the airport)
Limit: 400,000 COP
Fee: $5.00
BBVA bank branch in Old City, Cartagena, Colombia
OTHERS
Banco Pichincha has a limit of 500,000 COP and my bank fee was $2.50.
HSBC
There is an ATM in the Old City on Carrera 2 next to the wall and one in Bocagrande on San Martin and Calle 10 towards the northern end of Bocagrande.
HSBC bank branch on San Martin in Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia
Servibanca
These ATMs are located on Calle 24 and Venezuela, which turns into Blas de Lezo just north of the Clock Tower Gate and have higher withdrawal limits.
Servibanca ATMs in Cartagena, Colombia
Bancolombia and Banco Union Colombian are big names in Cartagena.
Sales Tax
Cartagena restaurants and hotels will charge sales tax – from 16 percent to 16.5 percent, depending on the class of the establishment. Restaurants will include in bills as propina voluntaria. You can choose to pay or not depending on service. For hotels, in reality, you will likely have to pay the 16 to 16% sales tax.
Tipping
There is a 10% tipping rule in Cartagena for restaurants. You can tip depending on service. However, with taxis, you should negotiate ahead of the ride. When I had a taxi driver take me to La Popa, I tipped him generously for taking my wheelchair up the stairs and staying with me even though we had agreed on the price ahead of time.