About Cartagena & FAQs

Question

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?

Answer

The tropical weather is warm to hot all year long, with another small dry season that lasts from July to September. Daily high temperatures are around 88°F, rarely falling below 85°F or exceeding 91°F. Daily low temperatures are around 79°F, rarely falling below 76°F or exceeding 81°F. Expect lots of sunshine and breeze!

Question

WHAT'S THE TIMEZONE IN CARTAGENA?

Answer

Cartagena is in the Eastern Standard Timezone (same as eastern USA).

Question

DO I NEED TO SPEAK SPANISH?

Answer

It helps, but is not necessary to get around in Cartagena. All hotel concierges and most restaurant and bar staff speak English. However, if you feel like brushing up on your Español, we recommend downloading the free app, DuoLingo, for a fun and easy, gamified way to learn as much or little Spanish you like.

Question

WHAT IS THE LOCAL CURRENCY?

Answer

The local currency is the Colombian peso. The currency symbol is the “$”, just like in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Remember that the meaning of periods and commas in numbers is reverse of that in the USA. So $ 15.000, means fifteen-thousand Colombian pesos (about $4.00USD). To find how much something costs in dollars just divide the amount (the price in pesos) by ($3,400 COP) NOTE: This can change according to the exchange rate. We highly recommend using a credit card, but check they don't have any foreign transaction fees. These will give you the best bang for your buck giving you the best exchange rate!!

Question

ARE U.S. DOLLARS ACCEPTED IN COLOMBIA?

Answer

No they are not.

Question

ARE THERE ATMS IN COLOMBIA? WHERE CAN I EXCHANGE CURRENCY?

Answer

Yes, there are plenty of ATMs (cajero automáticos) in Cartagena. Credit cards are great for any larger purchases and pesos when you’re bartering with the locals. We recommend exchanging currency in the U.S before traveling to Cartagena but do know it can also be done at the airport once you arrived

Question

IS TIPPING CUSTOMARY IN COLOMBIA?

Answer

There is typically a 10% tip (service) already added to your bill. If service was extraordinary, feel free to add some extra pesos. If not, you will not be offending anyone. Please tip any tour guides you may use.

Question

CAN I DRINK THE WATER?

Answer

Some tap water is safe, but err on the side of caution, bottled water and cervezas are readily available in the area.

Question

DO I NEED AN ADAPTER FOR MY ELECTRONICS?

Answer

Nope. Colombia uses the same plugs and outlets as USA.

Question

WHAT ABOUT INTERNET?

Answer

Yes, many of the hotels offer WiFi. Unless you have an international plan, you should switch your cell phone to “airplane mode” to avoid any surprise charges for international roaming, texting, and/or data usage

Question

HOW CAN I GET A HOLD OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

Answer

For those in the Apple ecosystem, you can use iMessage and Facetime while connected to a WiFi network for no charge. WhatsApp is another great app for free international texting while on a WiFi network.