Colombian Peso exchange rate and related issues

[Vitrea]

The interbank rate is 1973. Interdollar in Parque Lleras should be giving at least 2000.

[RockTimes]

Today, I got 1880 COP for 1 dollar at Interdolar Parque Lleras in Medellin.

[King Rob]

It was $1,878 for me this afternoon using the ATM at the airport in Bogata.

KR

[RockTimes]

I go to parque lleras today and use interdolar exchange, I get 1870, few days ago, the cambio at the airport ripped me off at 1800.

[RockTimes]

Thank you for the response.

I did follow this thread a while back, the general consensus is cash better than ATM, now it is reverse, I guess it is swerving left and right and confusing, oh by the way, it is confusing Colombia anyway, is it?

Interdolar in Parque Lleras is the one you refer to perhaps.

I am now on my way to Poblado.

Thank you all for helping this newbie.

Airport rates are always the worst. Just get a small amount there if you need for the cab ride and get the rest from Cambio in Parque Lleras. ATM is next best bet.

[Vitrea]

Just landed yesyerday the Aug. 3rd 2014 the rate is down now at airport, one before custom exit is 1804, the one on the departure hall is 1800.

Airport rates are always the worst. Just get a small amount there if you need for the cab ride and get the rest from Cambio in Parque Lleras. ATM is next best bet.

[RockTimes]

Just landed yesyerday the Aug. 3rd 2014 the rate is down now at airport, one before custom exit is 1804, the one on the departure hall is 1800.

[Almotu]

FYI for Medellin:

Arrived 7/29 withdrew 300 K from BBVA ATM from Schwab Account. When I got into town, checked my online Schwab balance. I calculated my rate as 1847.85.

Then 7/30 exchanged cash at a cambio on Av Oriental and got 1865 same as Interdolar in Parque Lleras on that day.

[PianoPlayer]

If you need to get pesos on arrival at MDE airport, just leave the arrivals and head to the departures hall. There is a row of ATMs including a Citibank ATM (see photo). Across the hall there is a currency exchange counter for cash with rates comparable to those in town - 1860 a couple of days ago when I went through.

[LocoGringo]

Let's see, yesterday the peso went to 1880 on the ATM, dropped to 1870 at the cambio, go figure? Looks like it is going up today at the ATM, it's Colombia.

[Bango Cheito]

I was running errands today and passed by a mall at cra 15 and cll 93 in Bogota. They are right now buying dollars at 1880. xe.com showed the peso in the 1850's all day today.

[Ransu1]

What I take from reading these posts is that the cambio market is not relative to the official forex market, and one should research and shop around to find which option is better at any given moment. That said, I noticed a spike in the forex chart where the dollar dropped to 1557 cop on July 3rd and 4th (then went back to the 1850 range). Did anyone in Colombia witness this fluctuation and was it reflected at the cambios?

[AddictedToWomen]

Is it more common to use pesos than dollars when you are out enjoying the nightlife and with girls? Or is it like Tijuana where you're quoted everything in dollars first and using pesos is the option?

I know using their currencies are always better, but I fear that my tequila induced brain cells will mess up on the math and cost me more in the long run.

Divide by 2000 and add 10% gets you close enough for government work.

Anywhere that quotes dollars will convert to pesos at some rate they've just pulled out of their backsides. Avoid.

[SlickVick]

Is it more common to use pesos than dollars when you are out enjoying the nightlife and with girls? Or is it like Tijuana where you're quoted everything in dollars first and using pesos is the option?

I know using their currencies are always better, but I fear that my tequila induced brain cells will mess up on the math and cost me more in the long run.

[LocoGringo]

Cartagena exchange rates are usually 10-25,000 lover than Medellin or Bogota. Yesterday I got 1900 when I exchanged $1000. They will try to give you 1800-1850 but if you are exchanging $500 or more use the cambio that is in BocaGrande just before the caribe hotel. ATM's are at 1850 before fees. It was 1940 earlier in July, has started going down.