Cartagena Reports

[AmorPorFavor]

Okay, if you insist. Go to Playa Hollywood. If he hasn't already spotted you first, then ask one of the locals to point out Tony #1. Do you want to confirm that you have the Tony that you're seeking or a totally different Tony? Then watch the below video and at 2 minutes and 25 seconds in to 2 minutes and 45 seconds is the Tony that you seek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGd8...yer_detailpage

Now you know what Tony looks like and won't be misled by one of his many impostors, lol.

Thanks Hill. If Tony can weed the chicas out for me it will save hunting time. I'm only interested in a certain type (muy guapa). I'm also thinking that the chicas he brings are less likely to pull some shit knowing that it will get back to Tony that they are un problema.

[John Gault]

Right hand meet left hand, LOL.

That 'ole UrbanWildlife sure did "bring it" back-in-the day when it came to providing useful and accurate information about the Northern Coast of Colombia, especially Rodadero and Santa Marta.

He sure knew his stuff!







Pirate, thanks again for letting me know about Colpatria / Scotiabank. It's always handy to know another true "no fee" ATM. If you or Old Parr run into Urban Wildlife, send my regards for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Aha ole Urbanwildlife man who was a true monger with a wealth of info.

Not only that but a man who in CTG I saw party hard for 3 nights almost non stop.

Who knows when we see him again?

[MarquisdeSade1]

Okay, if you insist. Go to Playa Hollywood. If he hasn't already spotted you first, then ask one of the locals to point out Tony #1. Do you want to confirm that you have the Tony that you're seeking or a totally different Tony? Then watch the below video and at 2 minutes and 25 seconds in to 2 minutes and 45 seconds is the Tony that you seek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGd8...yer_detailpage

Now you know what Tony looks like and won't be misled by one of his many impostors, lol.

How about the puta rates on the beach?

Or was he talking in code?

[Hilltopper]

OK looks like I got all the info I'll need on ATM's. Now can anybody please tell me exactly where I can find this Tony Montana character on the beach. I'll be staying right near there on the ocean front next week. I don't mind paying an extra $15 (price of a good cocktail here in San Diego) if he can bring me what I'm looking in a for in chicas and guarantee a BBBJ and overall good service. I would also maybe have some recourse with him if things do not go well or something gets stolen?

Okay, if you insist. Go to Playa Hollywood. If he hasn't already spotted you first, then ask one of the locals to point out Tony #1. Do you want to confirm that you have the Tony that you're seeking or a totally different Tony? Then watch the below video and at 2 minutes and 25 seconds in to 2 minutes and 45 seconds is the Tony that you seek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGd8...yer_detailpage

Now you know what Tony looks like and won't be misled by one of his many impostors, lol.

[MarquisdeSade1]

Can anyone say if there is a money changer that takes 5% or less?

There must be at least one?

Don't tell me there's a money changer cartel?

Now back to are regularly scheduled discussion.

Where's all the fucking cono hiding in Cartagena?

[MtVadose]

If you are from Europe use a starling card for no ATM fees or foreign transaction fees abroad and you get the Mastercard exchange rate. Then use bbva or Scotiabank Colpatria for no local fees. That's what I've been doing.

I should be in Cartagena on the 24th for a week.

[Hilltopper]

If you are staying in Bocagrande or Laguito (someone else can speak for it if you are staying elsewhere), you'll have a handful or so Currency Exchange places within walking distance of your apartment. Ask a few of them what their rate is that day and use the best one. If you are exchanging more than a few hundred dollars or so, you can often negotiate a little better rate than the one they first quoted you. If a subsequent change house quotes you an exchange rate for less than the previous house, show him or tell him what the previous house quoted you and ask him to beat it. Remember, you're in Cartagena, so not accepting the first quote and asking for a better rate (negotiating) is commonplace.

If you are renting a place from Juan or Mery, they both have been changing dollars week-in and week-out for over 15+ years and can tell you which one they typically use or think provides the best rate.

Thought I'd add to acknowledge that an Exchange House outside of Laguito or Bocagrande could (may very well) offer a better rate, because I do know that both Juan and Mery go outside of that zone if they have a worthwhile amount of dollars to exchange. They've each mentioned where they (separately) go, but I've never committed it to memory or written it down. On those rare occasions when I've had dollars that I wanted to exchange for pesos (for example, from another monger who I helped out by buying their dollars from them when they were in a pinch, or who paid me their fair share of a split expense in dollars because they didn't have any pesos, etc. ), I did what I described in my previous post (walked around to a few exchange houses in the neighborhood and negotiated the best rate I could get).

The only time or two in all the years/trips where I've had a worthwhile amount of dollars to exchange, I've gone to Juan or Mery or Mery's taxi driver to get pesos for me.

I've also purchased pesos from guys departing that day or the next day who say they most likely will never have any use for the pesos, or when they've won a bunch at the Casino before they depart and would like to have the dollars. Those instances are the win-win situations for both of us!

[AmorPorFavor]

OK looks like I got all the info I'll need on ATM's. Now can anybody please tell me exactly where I can find this Tony Montana character on the beach. I'll be staying right near there on the ocean front next week. I don't mind paying an extra $15 (price of a good cocktail here in San Diego) if he can bring me what I'm looking in a for in chicas and guarantee a BBBJ and overall good service. I would also maybe have some recourse with him if things do not go well or something gets stolen?

[Hilltopper]

I'm going to make this easy on everyone. Money changers will take a big commission (10% or more). Most bank machines will charge you 1-2% in fees and exchange rate commission. You're looking at paying 5 bucks on a 200 dollar withdrawal at the end of the day. It's not an insane amount. You're going to get fucked a little. There's no real way around it.

I use Davivienda and Bancolombia myself.

So we are back to the short answer that has been given so many times already:

1) Use ATM, never money changers.

2) ANY ATM will be much better than ANY money changer.

Second-order considerations on fees, surcharges changing with the specific ATM or bank will change the picture by few bucks. Since most of us is going to burn many hundreds dollars for pussy, it is really not much worth to work to save 5 dollars.

Hey, Black Page and YippeeKayay.

Greetings! Wishing both of you a happy new year and safe travels!

You both do a great job week-after-week taking the time to provide many of the visitors (especially the first time visitor) to Cartagena helpful information. Kudos to both of you.

I don't spend much time on the forum (look at my number of posts over the 11 or so years of posting), but when I do, I always see both of you helping out many a monger and / or new visitor.

I've highlighted a post from each of you that I'd like to see if I can get you to consider the flip side of the coin and not be so hard-headed. Now Black Page, you and I both know you can dig in your heels and not budge on something, LOL. YippeeKayay, you may have a similar personality to Black Page, but I can't say like I can for Black Page.

The topic is the response provided to guys who come here seeking information about finding the best currency exchange house in Cartagena.

I've kept quiet, but given that you both keep beating the same drum over and over, I thought I'd point this out:

Since the two of you use ATMs such as Davivienda, Servibanca and Bancolombia (per your own recent posts), you are getting clipped pretty much or almost the same as the guys who take cash to a currency exchange house.

The guys who bring currency down to exchange most often do so for a reason. It could be that they receive cash for services rendered back home and don't want to put that money into a checking account for whatever reason. It could be that they don't want a traceable transaction history on a debit card or credit card in Colombia for their own various reasons. I mean each guy has his own reasons; let's not always assume that he doesn't know he'd be better off using say a Schwab card at Colpatria / Scotiabank, BBVA or Caja Social.

To the guys who inquire about the best Currency Exchange place in town, obviously the one at the airport will be on the worst end of it, so you may want to exchange for only what's necessary for the first day's expenses. Again, that's assuming that finding a change house that'll get you an additional say 2 - 4% better than the airport makes a difference over the course of your stay.

If you are staying in Bocagrande or Laguito (someone else can speak for it if you are staying elsewhere), you'll have a handful or so Currency Exchange places within walking distance of your apartment. Ask a few of them what their rate is that day and use the best one. If you are exchanging more than a few hundred dollars or so, you can often negotiate a little better rate than the one they first quoted you. If a subsequent change house quotes you an exchange rate for less than the previous house, show him or tell him what the previous house quoted you and ask him to beat it. Remember, you're in Cartagena, so not accepting the first quote and asking for a better rate (negotiating) is commonplace.

If you are renting a place from Juan or Mery, they both have been changing dollars week-in and week-out for over 15+ years and can tell you which one they typically use or think provides the best rate.

[Hilltopper]

Are you sure you read this forum. Or do you just ask questions? I think I have seen it all now. As in READ THE LAST TWO POSTS.

Right hand meet left hand, LOL.

That 'ole UrbanWildlife sure did "bring it" back-in-the day when it came to providing useful and accurate information about the Northern Coast of Colombia, especially Rodadero and Santa Marta.

He sure knew his stuff!

Pirate, you are correct about Colpatria / Scotiabank, and it is one that I had never used in the past. Thanks to you I've added it to BBVA and Caja Social as ATMs down here that are true "no fee" ATMs. Much appreciated.

As you know, using the more popular ones like Davivienda (the worst in my experience), Servibanca and Bancolombia adds up for guys like you who spend a considerable amount of time in Colombia in any given year, year after year.

I don't have to tell you this, but for the benefit of those who continually want to say that it's too much trouble to walk across the street to save the difference, I can provide an example (I've got a little time here while the coffee is brewing):

Doing a quick scan, I found one occasion in 2019 where I used a either a BBVA or Caja Social on a Saturday or Sunday (currency markets closed so no fluctuation in rate after the Friday close), and then used a Davivienda or Servibanca later on that same night. Why did I use either of those two later in a night? Because I was out and about with no plans to spend pesos, ran into a working girl while out (Cartagena) or decided to go to casa (Barranquilla). In each instance I wasn't taking them back to my digs, but instead a love motel or on-site.

Here's the difference: USD-COP X-RATE = 3346; BBVA gives me 3296 pesos, which is the 98.5% I expect (1% to the card network and 0. 5% to my issuing bank); Servibanca gives me 2987 pesos, which is 89.3%. I withdrew their max of 720 mil pesos.

I also found where I used a Daviviendo in the early morning of Nov. 7th (before currency markets had opened) in Barranquilla. USD-COP X-Rate closed at 3308 on Nov 6th. Daviviendo gave me 2899 pesos, which is 87.6%. I withdrew the max of 900 mil pesos.

So for guys like Pirate Morgan who spend a considerable amount of time in Colombia year-after-year, it can make a considerable difference to walk a block or two to pull from a true "no fee" ATM.

Assume one spends on average 2,000 USD a month in pesos (currency) and is there all 12 months of the year or travels to Colombia each and every month. Not hard to do for a guy who pays for everything in pesos, such as his landlord.

$24,000 USD a year and you get to choose receiving 98.5% of the true exchange rate by walking across the street to Colpatria / Scotiabank, BBVA or Caja Social, or receive around 88 or 89% by taking the "who cares it's just a few pesos" attitude espoused by some.

That 10% difference in just one year = lots of dinners at El Santisimo for Black Page and lots of Black Jack sessions for YippyKayay, even though they may only visit 3 to 6 times a year.

Now take that over 10 years, and well Pirate, I know you for one get the picture.

How about the one time monger coming to Cartagena who will pull the equivalent of $1,000 USD out during his one and only visit? Black Page and YippyKayay have suggested or implied that it's too much trouble and / or doesn't amount to enough to make a difference.

$1000 USD x 3333 pesos (this past Friday's closing X-Rate) = 3,333,000 Colombian Pesos. Go to Servibanca or Daviviendo and get clipped an additional 9 or 10% (compared to Colpatria/Scotiabank, BBVA, Caja Social) = 300 to 333 mil pesos = 2 sessions with a most any chica of your selection.

So to the one-time visiting monger out there, it may not be worth your time to walk across the street or a block to get two sessions with a chica for free, but if it is, you'll use one of the true "no fee" ATMs as suggested by Pirate or myself.

Pirate, thanks again for letting me know about Colpatria / Scotiabank. It's always handy to know another true "no fee" ATM. If you or Old Parr run into Urban Wildlife, send my regards for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

[Mojo Bandit]

Is there a Scotia Bank in Cartagena?

Yes it is obvious that you are not following the thread carefully but I am going to jump in here because it is Saturday and I am a little bored. It is my understanding that Scotia Bank bought a controlling share of a Colombian bank called Banco Multibanca Colpatria. Hence PirateMorgan's referral to Scotia Bank / Colpatria in the posts that he has made in regard to their "free" ATMs, including the one where he says if you go anywhere else you do not have the sense that God gave a pigeon and you are Stupid Stupid Stupid (okay PirateMorgan did not say that exactly, I am paraphrasing and adding some extra stupids). In Questner's post he supplied addresses to these Scotia Bank / Colpatria locations. I am going to take this one step further and give you directions and draw a picture (because I already told you that it is Saturday and I am a little bored sitting here waiting for my UberEats order and listening to Santana).

The only part I am confused about is whether or not every branch / ATM of Colpatria is a Scotia Bank / Colpatria. PirateMorgan stated in his post ". You want to use the Colpatria / Scotiabank ATM. NOT the Colpatria ATM. Not the Scotiabank ATM. They are different".

I cannot find any information that says that these two entities (Scotia Bank and Banco Colpatria) operate as separate banks. When I change the regional search in Google to Colombia and I search Banco Colpatria. I get www.scotiabankcolpatria.com - The wikipedia article for Scotia Bank states that they "merged" operations with Banco Colpatria. So I am not sure why PirateMorgan says that they are different but he must have his reasons. So I am going to point out this location with that grain of salt that I am not 100% sure that it is a Colpatria / Scotiabank ATM. It is for sure a Colpatria.

This location is convenient to the Clock Tower. If you exit Plaza de Los Coches to the left (Northeast) of the clocktower where the wall ends you come out by Avenida Venezuela and turn left, on the opposite side of Avenida Venezuela than clocktower and about 450 feet (northeast) from where the wall ends (clock tower monument section of the wall) there is a Banco Colpatria. I say it is on the opposite side of Avenida Venezuela but technically it is on Carrera 9a becasause Carrera 9a splits off at this point although you can't really tell except that the road splits into three lanes and there is another row of those chunks of yellow concrete median things to seperate the lanes. I am including photos of how it looks when you are approaching and from the front (photos not necessarily in that order) because the signage is not obvious until you are right in front of it, and even then the signage is not obvious because it is still a little obscured by the concrete awning looking thing sticking off the front of the building.

[Hilltopper]

The verdict is in mfs. I arrived in Bogota last night and the first thing I saw when I came out of the bathroom downstairs after immigration was a damn Colpatria / Scotiabank ATM (I can't recall ever seeing one in my life). I had to see what it was about. I stuck my Schwab card in and it gave me the option of withdrawing 20 K. I guess that was the sucker option because I declined that, then the real amounts popped up. The highest was 900,000, which I chose. Then for some reason I did it all over again knowing full well that my dumb ass always uses my Amex Platinum in these parts. It will probably take me over 1 year to get rid of these 1.8 million pesos.

So with each 900,000 pesos that I took out, $273 came out of my account for an exchange rate of 3296.70. There was a sign that popped up on the ATM saying that if you are using an international card, any fees that you get will be the ones charged by your bank.

It's all actually very simple. You use a Schwab card, so at ATMs such as Colpatria / Scotiabank that give you the true exchange rate and don't charge any fees, the only fee you are paying is the 1% fee to the card network. Hence, you received 99%, which in my experience is the best possible outcome.

I'll take your verdict one step further to address whether Colpatria / Scotiabank is the only bank that provides the true exchange rate and doesn't charge any fees on their end. How so? I just pulled 200 k pesos from each of Caja Social, BBVA and Colpatria / Scotiabank this morning, a Saturday when the currency markets are closed. Here is the verdict:

Caja Social this morning, my account was debited $60.96 for the 200 mil COP.

BBVA this morning, my account was debited $60.96 for 200 mil COP.

Drum roll: Colpatria / Scotiabank this morning, my account was debited $60.96 for 200 mil COP.

I pay the same 1% card network fee that you pay with your Schwab card, and I pay an additional 0. 5% to the issuing bank of my card.

I received 3281 pesos per the dollar, which is 98.5% of the USD-COP X-RATE

There you have it, Caja Social, BBVA and Colpatria / Scotiabank as advertised.

The other ATMs and the banks behind them charge a fee, whether hidden or published.*

*Note: Corpbanca is another advertised as "no fee" that I have used in the past, but since I haven't used them in over a year and they weren't included in today's trial, I've intentionally left out and noted here.

[Balboa]

You'll have to get with PirateMorgan on that. He's declared that anyone who doesn't follow his exact advice on ATM usage is stupid and endangering the very fabric of society. I'd hate to contradict him on this and endanger the existence of the universe.

Otherwise I'd suggest using ATMs as your best bet. You'll have to check with him to learn what phase of the moon is best and whether or not you need to sacrifice a goat before making a withdrawal.

Haha, how true!

Lmao.

[Mojo Bandit]

I am going to be in Cartagena on Sunday and was wondering what the best way to change dollars into pesos is, since it has been quite a while since I last was in Cartagena? Also is there still ATM's in Laguito and Bocagrande or do you suggest going to the old city?

If I do go the route of a ATM what ATM's give the best rate? And where exactly are the located?

The same question applies to casas de cambio. Where do I go to find the best rate?

Thank you for helping me out!

So there used to be an ATM like 8 buildings down from Hilton on the ocean side of calle 1 b, first it was just a simple walk up when I first stayed in Laguito about 7 years ago, then they turned it into a walk in with a door, but now I am not sure it is still there, but there is a new (ish) ATM, I think it is a Banco Davivienda, it is at the end of the sidewalk just before you cross over to the Hilton Hotel. It is a stand alone ATM but it inside with a door that closes behind you so no one can look over your shoulder. I think it used to be or is connected to some type of guard shack that I think monitors the parking lot next to the Hilton. You go past the last tall building that has that little market where people sit outside and drink package booze, then keep walking past that rock wall / fence to that small brown stone structure at the end of that wall / fence and the ATM is inside that brown stone structure. If someone had not told me it was there I would have missed it. This was the most convenient one for me if I did not want to get in taxi, as I was staying in a building four or five buildings down from the Hilton facing the ocean.

[Questner]

https://www.scotiabankcolpatria.com/...os-automaticos

TIPO DE CAJERO NOMBRE DIRECCIÓand.

ATM CARTAGENA MANGA Calle Real # 15-21, Barrio Manga.

ATM JUMBO CARTAGENA CARIBE PLAZA Av. El Lago con Cll. 29 be.

ATM ÉXITO CARTAGENA Avenida Pedro de Heredia No. 69 - 75 sector contador.

ATM CARTAGENA MALL PLAZA Avenida Pedro de Heredia Carrera 13 No. 31 A - 65 Loc. 109 al 113.

ATM CARTAGENA BOCAGRANDE CARREA 4 # 6-79.

ATM CENTRO CIAL. LA CASTELLANA CARTAGENA CENTRO COMERCIAL LA CASTELLANA.

ATM BANCA EXPRESS. CENTRO COMERCIAL BOCAGRANDE Carrera 2 # 8-146 Local 119.

ATM BANCA EXPRESS. CENTRO COMERCIAL CARIBE PLAZA Calle 29 D # 22-108.

ATM BANCA EXPRESS. MULTICENTRO LA PLAZUELA Diagonal 31 # 71-130.

ATM BANCA EXPRESS. SUPERCENTRO LOS EJECUTIVOS Avenida Pedro de Heredia Calle 31 # 57-106.

ATM OFICINA CARTAGENA PRINCIPAL 2 Avenida Venezuela / Carlos Escallon.

CDM BANCA EXPRESS. CENTRO COMERCIAL CARIBE PLAZA Calle 29 D # 22-108.

CDM BANCA EXPRESS. MULTICENTRO LA PLAZUELA Diagonal 31 # 71-130.

CDM BANCA EXPRESS. SUPERCENTRO LOS EJECUTIVOS Avenida Pedro de Heredia Calle 31 # 57-106.

MFM BANCA EXPRESS. CENTRO COMERCIAL BOCAGRANDE Carrera 2 # 8-146 Local 119.

MFM OFICINA CARTAGENA PRINCIPAL 1 Avenida Venezuela / Carlos Escallon.

If you know which institution posts it's cash exchange rates on it's website (tasas de cambio, divisas, Compra), please post the link.

I have absolutely no doubt there are competitive exchanges in the city of Cartagena, like in Bogota, I just don't know them yet, and they may be away from Bocagrande. Guess where the folks at cambios get the cash? At the banks.