Cartagena Reports

[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.

[AmorPorFavor]

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.

Thanks Mr E. I will be arriving in Cartagena for the first time on Tuesday and will try to find one of these ATM's in the airport on the way in to load up on cash. Wells Fargo will still charge me $5 but not going to change banks over that. I will use my no transaction fee Delta AmX for everything I can because they will give me the current exchange rate.

[YippieKayay]

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.

USD in COP shows to be 3326 right now. That's not a bad deal.

BTW, can I point out the obvious to folks who don't get it already. No one is going to exchange the money, bank or cambio, for 0% fee. There's always a fee cooked in.

[Mr Enternational]

On this end. So listen CAREFULLY. You want to use the Colpatria / Scotiabank ATM. NOT the Colpatria ATM. Not the Scotiabank ATM. They are different. You want the Colpatria / Scotiabank ATM. It is different. A combination of the two. I THINK it will say on the front that you can take out 2,700,000 pesos each day. I take out 900,000 3 times. Works best for me. Any other use of ATMs in Colombia is dumb. Search around and you will find the 'good' Colpatria / Scotia ATMs. Don't get fooled!

For some reason people on the site keep giving you stupid advice and never change their ways. If you follow my lead you will pay NO ATM fees. You will sometimes receive MORE than the x-rate. But never less than 50 pesos off the rate in my experience.

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.

[PirateMorgan]

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.

[JjBee62]

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!

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.

[PirateMorgan]

It is scary how much dumb infor there is about getting your money in Colombia. It is a no brainer on this end. What your bank in the USA Does is what it does. Capone 360 is free. Free means no charges to get your money. Free means zero.

On this end. So listen CAREFULLY. You want to use the Colpatria / Scotiabank ATM. NOT the Colpatria ATM. Not the Scotiabank ATM. They are different. You want the Colpatria / Scotiabank ATM. It is different. A combination of the two. I THINK it will say on the front that you can take out 2,700,000 pesos each day. I take out 900,000 3 times. Works best for me. Any other use of ATMs in Colombia is dumb. Search around and you will find the 'good' Colpatria / Scotia ATMs. Don't get fooled!

For some reason people on the site keep giving you stupid advice and never change their ways. If you follow my lead you will pay NO ATM fees. You will sometimes receive MORE than the x-rate. But never less than 50 pesos off the rate in my experience.

And, answering another weird question. Visa / Mastercard (and probably no USA Bank is going to have a daily limit lower than the Colombian ATM limit).

Just do it.

[Scubatoo]

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?

Wishful thinking, since banks everywhere take at least 5% on exchanges. I use my credit cards whenever I can and have it charged in the foreign currency. Depending on the credit card, I may get hit with a 3% conversion or none at all by the USA Bank behind the credit card. In Colombia, the currency fluctuates a lot. On November 30,2019, the rate was 3512 CP to 1 USD. When I was there the first week of January, the rate was 3250 CP. Yesterday, it was 3315 CP. The money exchangers in Colombia are probably hedging against the fluctuation.

[TheCarlAnthony]

JJbee62,

So true. It's one of those go with your gut things. I've met some super cool guys on here that I talk to every trip. So odd because I genuinely looked at him as cool just different. I own 3 bars so I'm used to meeting people and partying with random people. Usually because everyone wants free drinks hahaha but I've seen worse people in my industry hahahah but it went from suspect. To full fledge the opposite of the type of person I surround myself with. It reminded me why I normally travel alone. Again not sure what his fetishes or sexuality desires were but they were not inine with mine. I personally do not want another naked man in bed with me rather there is a girl there or not. I don't want to wonder if he is looking at my ass when I'm hammering her. I watch my porn with the volume down just so I don't hear a man grunt hahah. Last thing I want is it in HI Def Adobe 3 feet away! Funny how he pulled out this side on my last night with him. I can't. Still haven't read his 7 text messages or voicemails from the next day.

That's hilarious.

But, how did you not figure it out at the beach? A good wingman knows when it's time to disappear. Even a bad wingman knows to go away when you tell him "see you later. I'm taking this girl back to my place."

Why did you hang out through all the crap at Space? You had your girl. You simply say "we're leaving. Have fun", and get in a taxi. From this side of the screen it was immediately obvious something wasn't right.

I've met up with a lot of guys from the board. Some were good hangouts, some we just didn't click. Some became good friends. You just need to learn when it's time to walk away.

[JjBee62]

So as you will see in my previous post I'm the guy that got stolen from by two chicas after a threesome. One or both of them basically stole any little small items around the room they could fit in their tiny little purses. I "kinda" learned my lesson on watching the chicas tighter. I I say kinda because I'll explain in my closing. The problem is I left out an additional learning experience!! This is something this board never talks about! Remember these guys come on here and post their experiences and ideas and findings! But they are just like the Chicas! You do not know them and their intentions! That guy that messages you to "meet up for a beer". Should be treated with the same distance as the chicas! You do not know who they are in with, or their intent with you once those beers turn into shots!! Let me elaborate on my experience this exact same night with a board member.

I met a guy from Cali that messaged me talking about he sees my post and we are similar blah blah and we should meet as we will be there at the same time. 1st impression was solid! Good guy ready to help me nail down this girls. Hung out with him during the day at the beach. I had a chick come through that in my opinion was a 8 but he loved her. We all three were at the beach and he kinda was the 3rd wheel as his chica was busy. I don't do drugs. But he kept insinuating that he wanted to take her back to his place to smoke. I thought it was odd he would even suggest it but I blew it off. After hours at Playa Hollywood, my chica was ready for sex and she gave me the look of lets go to the hotel. Oddly he wanted to walk "with" us to my hotel even though his hotel was 10 minutes the opposite direction...

That's hilarious.

But, how did you not figure it out at the beach? A good wingman knows when it's time to disappear. Even a bad wingman knows to go away when you tell him "see you later. I'm taking this girl back to my place."

Why did you hang out through all the crap at Space? You had your girl. You simply say "we're leaving. Have fun", and get in a taxi. From this side of the screen it was immediately obvious something wasn't right.

I've met up with a lot of guys from the board. Some were good hangouts, some we just didn't click. Some became good friends. You just need to learn when it's time to walk away.

[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?