24 GENERAL INFORMATION
Explore Travel Guides Colombia insists that ALL travelers research their own
personal situation for their visa requirements. The above information is
subject to change and it's critical all travelers understand their visa situation
before arriving in Colombia.
MONEY
Colombian Peso
The currency in Colombia is the Colombian peso. The value of the Colombian
peso is liable to fluctuate on a daily basis. From Jan. to Mar. 2013, the peso
fluctuated between 1,758 - 1,818 COP per dollar (1896 as of June 19th, 2013)
The peso is referred to as COP, in this travel guide.
The COP is found in 100, 200 and 500 coins and in 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000,
20,000 and 50,000 paper notes. It's convenient to carry coins to pay for things
on the street. It's critical to have an understanding of Colombian money upon
arrival.
20,000 and 50,000 notes are very difficult to change in many places. A smart
traveler will hoard smaller notes and change the larger bills at grocery stores,
gas stations, higher-end restaurants, chain restaurants and establishments that
see higher levels of business. Small stores, taxis and people on the street have a
hard time changing the larger notes.
Counterfeit money floats around Colombia and you will notice that most
cashiers and vendors check the notes. It's difficult to give a lesson in a travel
guide on how to spot these bad bills. The best practice is to check your bills
when they come out of the ATM. If they look funny ask a trusted Colombian to
take a look at the note. If it's bad, you need to make a trip to the bank or accept
that you have a new souvenir with a story. Don't pay your taxi with a 20,000
COP or 50,000 COP note. It's best to have exact change for taxis. There is a
common taxi scam in which the driver switches your original note with a