Cartagena Reports

Just back from Cartegena. The exchange rate at the two booths as you exit the international arrival at the airport were both paying 2900 pesos to 1 USA Dollar. The international exchange rate at the time was about 3250. I had to get some Pesos to take a cab ride into Cartegena, so I did not have any option but to take the exchange. So it cost me about $22 US to exchange $200 US. I did one other transaction inside the Walled City on the street. The exchange was 3000 pesos. I only did $100 US, so that cost me about $7. I used MC for restaurants and other larger purchases. I did not have occasion to check out the banks, but in my travels is usually the way to go. One way to find locations for banks / bank ATMs is to do a [URL]googlemaps.com[/URL] search and bring up the area you are interested in. Then, without changing the map, type in "BBVA" or "Caja Social" and hit search. All the locations within the map will show up. If you change the map area, repeat the search.

[QUOTE=Hilltopper;2412493]As I mentioned below, BBVA is one of two that don't extract "juice" from you, with Caja Social being the other. I don't recall ever using a Colpatria. Davivienda will take you for a ride on the exchange rate they give you; they get you about the same as most currency exchanges places. I consider that Davivienda charges a fee, the worst kind, non-disclosed; they're a clip joint.[/QUOTE]It is important to always REJECT the exchange proposed by the ATM, but select the "no conversion" option, which means that the exchange rate will be the official XE rate of that day +1. 75% (or 1. 5%? I don't remember), as by the official Maestro policy regardless the ATM's specific bank. The official inter-bank rate +1. 5% is simply unbeatable by any change booth.

I usually opt for Servibanca (the green ones), as they allow to withdraw up to 720 k instead of 600 k (but they charge 17 k as fixed commission, as I believe most others).

[QUOTE=Scubatoo;2412539]Just back from Cartegena.
The exchange rate at the two booths as you exit the international arrival at the airport were both paying 2900 pesos to 1 USA Dollar. The international exchange rate at the time was about 3250.[/QUOTE]Amazing. In the airport there is no ATM? And once in the city you insisted to change instead of going to an ATM? They are everywhere. Uncommentable.
So you paid an interesting 11% exchange fee.

P.S.: your auto-corrector changes Cartagena into "Cartegena"?

[QUOTE=Hilltopper;2412493]Davivienda will take you for a ride on the exchange rate they give you; they get you about the same as most currency exchanges places. I consider that Davivienda charges a fee, the worst kind, non-disclosed; they're a clip joint.[/QUOTE]Unfortunately this happens worldwide, called Dynamic Currency Conversion and sometimes difficult to avoid.

If you listen to Hilltopper. You will get what you deserve. So do this.

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.

Just do it.

[QUOTE=Scubatoo;2412539]Just back from Cartegena. The exchange rate at the two booths as you exit the international arrival at the airport were both paying 2900 pesos to 1 USA Dollar. The international exchange rate at the time was about 3250. I had to get some Pesos to take a cab ride into Cartegena, so I did not have any option but to take the exchange. So it cost me about $22 US to exchange $200 US. I did one other transaction inside the Walled City on the street. The exchange was 3000 pesos. I only did $100 US, so that cost me about $7. I used MC for restaurants and other larger purchases. I did not have occasion to check out the banks, but in my travels is usually the way to go. One way to find locations for banks / bank ATMs is to do a [URL]googlemaps.com[/URL] search and bring up the area you are interested in. Then, without changing the map, type in "BBVA" or "Caja Social" and hit search. All the locations within the map will show up. If you change the map area, repeat the search.[/QUOTE]Avoid the bandits at the airport exchange by using the ATM there.

[QUOTE=PirateMorgan;2412657]If you listen to Hilltopper. You will get what you deserve. So do this.

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.

Just do it.[/QUOTE]As I posted, I have no knowledge of Colpatria and as said I am unable to provide information either way. Great that you can confirm that one, thanks.

I've used BBVA and Caja Social for years Cartagena, including each within the last week and there is no ATM fee and you get the true exchange rate. That's all.

[QUOTE=PirateMorgan;2412657]If you listen to Hilltopper. You will get what you deserve. So do this.

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.

Just do it.[/QUOTE]Are you saying there are no ATM fees for anyone? Regardless of their bank or type of ATM card? Or do you bank at Scotiabank? You did not qualify any of this in this post. You post about how much "you" withdraw a day, but the individual banks of the ATM card holder can (and do, depending on the accoundt and the bank) also limit how much an individual withdraws. These limits will be applied regardless of the ATM machine that one uses. I used two ATM cards each from different banks, and the limits were different for each card even at the same ATM.

Scotiabank / Colpatria website has a link with downloadable pdfs for ATM locations. Usually ATMs don't show their exchange rates, just the amount of pesos to withdraw and a fee.

Visa ATM locator service does not list ScotiaBank Colpatria ATMs but Colpatria only.

All my debit cards are on VisaPlus, and only Mastercard credit cards are on Maestro. I have never seen any machine offering me to reject the proposed exchange rate and choose 'no conversion' - so screenshots are welcome to show how it may look like.

I've found one [URL]puntodollar.com[/URL] location in the city online, maybe will visit to see if the rates are as good as in Bogota or Cali.

I will add BBVA to try them too.

Here are some options in Bocargande:

BANCO DAVIVIENDA S. A. EL LAGUITO EL LAGUITO CALLE 1 NO. 1 A - 98 LOCAL 1 D

SCOTIABANK COLPATRIA MULTIFUNCIONAL BANCA EXPRESS. CENTRO COMERCIAL BOCAGRANDE Carrera 2 # 8-146 Local 119 (This centre also has Davivienda ATM).

Davivienda Bocagrande Cra. 2 ## 9-73. LC. 1-2 open 9 am to 4 pm, Saturday to 12 pm and Sunday closed.

[URL]Puntodollar.com[/URL] Carrera 11 # 39-21 local S-16, open 9 am to 9 pm in CC La Serrezuela (centro), +57 5 6421701.

What's up fellas if you are in CTG February 29th stop through for yacht party to Cholon. Click the link and place your deposit. Total price is 165 usd that includes liquor and transportation to and from the boat. Hit me private message if you have any questions.

[URL]https://cloudlife.wearetitled.com/cartagena[/URL]

[QUOTE=Questner;2412905]
All my debit cards are on VisaPlus, and only Mastercard credit cards are on Maestro. I have never seen any machine offering me to reject the proposed exchange rate and choose 'no conversion' - so screenshots are welcome to show how it may look like.[/QUOTE]My debit card is on Maestro and not on VisaPlus. I am surprised, but maybe they offer different options?

When I withdraw from an ATM ("savings" or "ahorro" in Colombia) in a non-Euro country I am usually presented two options: 1) the amount converted to EUR and 2) the amount in local currency. Interestingly, the exchange rate of the amount converted in EUR (1) is much worse than the rate I get if I opt for (2).

In this (2) case, the Maestro circuit makes the conversion, applying +1.5% (or +1.75%) to the daily interbank rate. This in hard to beat. Most common fees charged by banks and exchange offices is above 4%, if not 10% as in airports.

Interestingly, the reason why some people opts for (1) is that they do not know they are paying 5% more, or they know but prefer to be sure how much they are paying in their currency.

I am now in Indonesia, and therefore I cannot take a photo of an ATM in Colombia and post it, but I can confirm that I have seen that just yesterday.

Finally, the same care must be exercised when paying by credit card. The mobile terminal where the card is inserted (my credit card is Visa) always present the two options:
- with conversion (EUR)
- without conversion (IDR here in Indonesia, COP in Colombia)
ALWAYS be sure that the seller selects WITHOUT CONVERSION!! If they select "with conversion (EUR)", VISA will apply its exchange rate which means you will end up paying at least 5% more.
In the above, I wrote EUR because my home country is in Europe, but I am confident the same happens to you with USD.

[QUOTE=LeyenLouvain;2412645]Unfortunately this happens worldwide, called Dynamic Currency Conversion and sometimes difficult to avoid.[/QUOTE]Yeah, I don't doubt you. I spend my time in Colombia and over the past 13 years have tried most of the ATM's. I can provide current first-hand knowledge on the following in Cartagena:

Davivienda. While they are listed as "no fee", they give you such a poor exchange rate that one is better off with a "fee" ATM unless withdrawing only a small amount.

Bancolombia. Charges an ATM fee.

Banco de Bogota. Charges an ATM fee.

Banco Popular. Charges an ATM fee.

Servibanca. Charges an ATM fee.

Citibank. Charges an ATM fee.

Caja Social. No ATM fee and you get the true exchange rate (one on Av San Martin allows 700 k per pull) used within the last week.

BBVA. No ATM fee and you get the true exchange rate (600 k per pull) used within the last week.

Corpbanca. No ATM fee, but I haven't used within the past year or so.

So the link that Questner provided has mostly accurate information, except that for Caja Social where they say "Unknown", it should read "No Fee", and then for Davivienda where it says "No Fee" it should read "takes high % fee via reduced currency translation rate".

To Mojo Bandit, I can confirm that for the ones I have first hand knowledge of as provided above, where I say "No ATM Fee", it means that that Bank listed does not take an ATM fee regardless of who you bank with. Whether your own back does on your end, well obviously some do (mine doesn't). Given that Pirate has confirmed that Colpatria is also a true "No Fee" ATM, then you can assume that it works just the same: No Fee charge by Colpatria regardless of who you bank with.

[QUOTE=Hilltopper;2413085]Yeah, I don't doubt you. I spend my time in Colombia and over the past 13 years have tried most of the ATM's. I can provide current first-hand knowledge on the following in Cartagena:[/QUOTE]May it depend on the debit card used to withdraw?

I have a Maestro card, and I am *nearly* (not 100%) sure that, at least in my case, the exchange rate does not change with the ATM, but it is always +1. 5/+1. 75% the daily rate shown on XE or Yahoo. I did this check a few times in the past, and I am going to do that again.

That +1. 5/+1. 75% is applied by MasterCard, but on top of that of course the bank wishes to earn something (the fixed fee applied by most).

[QUOTE=Hilltopper;2413085]Yeah, I don't doubt you. I spend my time in Colombia and over the past 13 years have tried most of the ATM's. I can provide current first-hand knowledge on the following in Cartagena:

Davivienda. While they are listed as "no fee", they give you such a poor exchange rate that one is better off with a "fee" ATM unless withdrawing only a small amount.

Bancolombia. Charges an ATM fee.

Banco de Bogota. Charges an ATM fee.

Banco Popular. Charges an ATM fee.

Servibanca. Charges an ATM fee.

Citibank. Charges an ATM fee.

Caja Social. No ATM fee and you get the true exchange rate (one on Av San Martin allows 700 k per pull) used within the last week..[/QUOTE]Great info Hilltopper. I will be there in a week for my first time. Thanks mucho because my bank, Wells Fargo, will also charge me a $5 fee per transaction.

Thank you. Money is an annoying topic, better speak of bubble butts, but we have to. Anyway, VisaPlus charges 2. 5% over [URL]xe.com[/URL] rate unlike Maestro.

Here is the info on BBVA: Branches and ATMs.

Oficinas BBVA:

[URL]https://www.bbva.com.co/content/dam/public-web/colombia/documents/home/header/oficinas/DO-01-Listado-oficinas-horarios.pdf[/URL]

CARTAGENA BOCAGRANDE EDIFICIO MONTELIBANO CARRERA. 3 No. 8-06 P1/2 5 6517424 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA CARTAGENA CALLE 32 No. 4-65 PLAZA LA ADUANA 5 6517426 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA LA MATUNA AVENIDA VENEZUELA No. 9-79 5 6517427 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA LA PLAZUELA CALLE 71 No. 29-236 CENTRO COMERCIAL CHOPPIN see. 5 6517428 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA PARQUE CENTENARIO AVENIDA DANIEL LEMETRE No. 8 A-65 5 6517422 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA EXTENSIÓand OFICINA BASE NAVAL Lunes a jueves: 09:00 am A 03:00 pm Viernes: 09:00 a. M a 03:30 pm.

CARTAGENA SUPEREJECUTIVOS AVENIDA PEDRO DE HEREDIA CENTRO COMERCIAL LOS EJECUTIVOS LOCAL 66 5 56517423 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA MANGA CARRERA 20 and 24-156 LOCAL 1,2,3 EDIFICIO LUNA MAR 5 6517429 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA AVENIDA SAN MARTIN CARRERA 2 and. 11 - 41 5 6517425 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

CARTAGENA BANCA PERSONAL CARTAGENA CARRERA 2 and. 11 - 41 5 6517430 8:00 a. M a 11:30 a. M - 2:00 p. M a 4:30 pm.

[URL]https://www.bbva.com.co/content/dam/public-web/colombia/documents/home/header/oficinas/DO-01-Listado-cajeros-automaticos.pdf[/URL]

Convenient ATMs in Cartagena:

El Laguito: Almirante Brilon 2-110.

Bocagrande: Cra 3 8-06.

ATM-OFICINA SAN MARTIN CRA 2 NO 11-33 L-102.

Within the walls:

CLL 32 4-65 L.

Got damn! I am glad that I have Charles Schwab and do not have to go through all of this shit. This looks like some damn Abstract Math class. All I do is stick my card in to get money and keep it moving.