Money and change:

The official currency in Colombia is the “Colombian pesos” US$ 1 = COP $4.150 approx.

You can get pesos easily from an ATM: for safety reasons, we recommend going to an ATM inside a mall or a bank, please avoid using street machines.

Most of the shops and restaurants will take credit cards.

USD are not commonly accepted.

Tipping in restaurants:

Most of the time, tips are already included in your check, which is usually around 10%. But it is not mandatory and clients can refuse to include it. In some restaurants, the waiter will ask if is ok to include the tip (“el servicio”) in the check. You might refuse or not. Colombians will leave an extra tip in cash. That cash will go directly to the waiter. It is typically not extravagant, Between $2,000 – $5,000 Colombian pesos are always appreciated.

Tipping guides, drivers and taxis:

This is the one with the most room for maneuver. Tipping your tour guide is customary, however the amount is completely discretionary. The taxi driver does not expect a tip as this is not usual in Colombia.

Safety:

While the security situation in general is fine, we recommend acting prudently on the streets, just as you would in any other city. For example:

Do not send text messages from your cell phone while walking through Bogotá.
Never take a taxi on the street. Always ask the hotel or restaurant to call you a cab.
Do not carry your passport during the tours: use a copy and leave the original in the hotel safe.

Colombian Discovery: Coffee, Culture, and Caribbean Charm

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