Money & duty free for Colombia
Exchange rates:
Colombian PesoC$1 = Col$2244.19
€1 = Col$3125.63
£1 = Col$3727.9
US$1 = Col$3010.4
Currency & Money
Colombian Peso (COP; symbol $) = 100 centavos. Banknotes are in denominations of $100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 2,000. Coins commonly in circulation are in denominations of $1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Cartagena and other larger cities, particularly in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and shopping centres. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted cards. Contactless payments are increasingly widespread in urban areas.
Cash remains useful for small purchases, markets, street vendors, taxis and businesses in smaller towns and rural areas. Visitors should carry some Colombian pesos when travelling outside the main cities.
ATMs are widely available in cities and larger towns, and international debit and credit cards are accepted by most major banks. Withdrawal limits and fees vary between banks, and the traveller's own bank may impose additional charges.
ATMs are less common in remote rural areas, including parts of the Amazon, Pacific coast and national parks, so travellers should obtain sufficient cash before travelling to isolated destinations. For security, it is preferable to use ATMs inside banks, shopping centres or other well-frequented locations.
Mon to Fri, generally 08:00 or 09:00 to 16:00 or 17:00. Some branches, particularly those in shopping centres, may have extended hours or open on Saturdays.
Travellers entering or leaving Colombia carrying cash or cash equivalents exceeding US$10,000, or the equivalent in another currency, must declare it to the customs authorities.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and authorised exchange offices (casas de cambio) in major cities, airports and tourist areas. US dollars and euros are the easiest foreign currencies to exchange. Hotels may also exchange currency, although rates are generally less favourable.
Visitors should use banks or authorised exchange offices rather than changing money on the street. Colombian pesos can be difficult to obtain or exchange outside Colombia, so it is generally more convenient to withdraw pesos from an ATM or exchange currency after arrival.
Colombia duty free
Travellers entering Colombia may bring personal effects required for their journey, plus accompanied baggage containing goods for personal or family use or as gifts, duty-free up to a total value of US$2,000. Goods must not be in commercial quantities; generally, no more than 10 items of the same type are permitted.
Travellers who have been outside Colombia for at least five (5) calendar days may bring an additional US$3,000 worth of permitted goods, subject to a 15% tax. Quantity limits apply. Travellers under 18 are entitled to 50% of the normal allowances.
Goods purchased at an arrivals duty-free shop count towards the traveller's allowance. Travellers carrying goods that exceed the duty-free allowance must complete a customs declaration. Please note that there are no separate standard duty-free allowances for tobacco and alcohol; these goods fall within the traveller's general baggage allowance and must be for personal use rather than commercial quantities.
Duty-free allowances are subject to change, sometimes at short notice due to policy updates or external factors. Information is correct at the time of writing; travellers should verify current allowances with official customs authorities before departure. We accept no liability for any inconvenience or loss arising from changes to these regulations.
Prohibited or strictly controlled imports include illegal narcotics, unauthorised drugs and certain weapons, ammunition and explosives. Restrictions also apply to animals, plants, seeds, soil, meat and other animal or plant products, which may require permits or health certificates. Some products may be temporarily prohibited due to risks of animal or plant disease. Travellers should declare agricultural products and check current requirements with the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) before travel.
The unauthorised export of archaeological objects belonging to Colombia's national archaeological heritage is prohibited. Restrictions also apply to protected wildlife and plants, including products or souvenirs made from protected species. Animals, plants and certain agricultural products may also require sanitary documentation before they can be taken out of Colombia.
This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the official customs website or contact the embassy or consulate near you for the most up-to-date information.
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