For decades, the idea of traveling to Colombia seemed out of the question due to unsettling amounts of violence stemming from both narcotic trade and political corruption. Luckily, those days are mostly in the past with Colombia seeing a huge rise in tourism to showcase its rich culture, expansive history, diverse ecosystems, and endearing locals. Colombia has a lot to offer, especially for those on a budget. For me, it was a great introduction into South America, and exceeded all my expectations. Here is everything you need to know about budgeting for your trip to Colombia as well as a breakdown of all my expenses while travelling in Colombia.

Money in Colombia

Conversion Rate

First off, it’s great to have a rough idea of how the conversation rate works. Colombia uses the Colombian Peso. I found it to be very confusing until I figured out that 40,000 COP is roughly equal to $10 and 100,000 COP is roughly $25. It’s good to know these rough conversions so you don’t have to pull out your phone to convert prices on the street.

Card vs Cash

The other important thing to know is credit cards are becoming a more popular form of payment in Colombia in recent years. Before heading to Colombia, I spent hours researching everything including how to budget and the currency. Many of the articles I read said that cash is heavily prevalent and it would be difficult to pay with credit card. I found this to be false, at least in Medellin and Cartagena. Yes, in small shops and road side food carts cash is the only accepted payment, but in all hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, credit cards were accepted.

I took out from ATMs $300 worth of cash for the entire trip and often times paid with cash where I could easily have paid with credit card since I had so much cash left on me. It’s always best to play it safe and have more cash than you think you would need, but in the major cities of Colombia, credit card is an option for 80% of the places you would encounter.  

Tipping

As with most countries aside from the United States, tipping is not really a thing in Colombia. Restaurants will include a 10% propina (tip) on the bill that if service was not up to par, you can request to have removed. You don’t have to leave an extra tip on the bill in restaurants. Funny how the rest of the world can make life work without an obsessive tipping culture, isn’t it?

For tours, it’s always nice to tip though and I followed suite of what others were tipping, which usually was $5-$8 depending on tour (roughly 20%-25% the cost of the tour). Both Medellin and Cartagena have several “free” walking tours which are incredibly detailed and a great way to explore the city. In that case, I tipped $12.

On all the tours I did, the guides went above and beyond pouring their heart and soul into their jobs and making each experience special. They definitely earned it. Not to go on a tangent, but in a country where a tip is just a tip for great service, people really go the extra mile, versus where it’s expected or essentially obligatory.

9 Day Trip Price Breakdown

If you’re a reader of my blog, you’ll know that I am neither a budget traveler nor a luxury traveler, but somewhere in the middle. I love getting the most bang for my buck with the use the credit card miles and promo codes. I mix in street food and a few fancy meals and experiences. Here’s a breakdown of everything I spent in Colombia as a middle class traveler traveling with my like-minded godsister:

Flights

As usual, I paid for my international flights with credit card miles that I transferred to my American Airlines Advantage account from my BILT card.

Round Trip Flight from Los Angeles to Medellin and from Cartagena to Los Angeles:

33,500 credit card miles

$90 in taxes and fees for award flight redemption

We booked an internal flight from Medellin to Cartagena since that was the quickest way to travel. Between a 1 hour flight and a 17 hour car ride, the choice is pretty obvious. We flew with LATAM Airlines, which unfortunately is not a transfer partner with any US credit cards, so we had to pay cash.

Internal Flight from Medellin to Cartagena:

$109 for economy class with carry on, checked luggage, and priority boarding

Total cost for all flights: $199

Hotels in Colombia

Picking out hotels was the fun part since there were so many in our budget! Medellin was noticeably more affordable than Cartagena, but both cities had multiple 3.5/4 star hotels that were very affordable.

We stayed at Somos Bold in Medellin for only $229 for three nights, or $114.50 per person booked through Expedia with a promo code. I’ll be writing a full review shortly, but this was one of my favorite hotels!

We wanted to meet fellow travelers in Cartagena, so we opted to get the best suite in a hostel rather than a hotel for the same price. We said at the one of the superior suites with balcony and private bathroom at Selina Cartagena for only $448 for three nights, or $224 per person booked directly through Selina with a promo code.

Although Cartagena is right on the coast, it’s not particularly known for its beaches, which is why we did both a day trip and an overnight stay to the Rosario Islands. We stayed at Hotel San Pedro de Majagua, one of more luxuriously hotels on Isla Grande for $205 for one night, or $101.25 per person. This one was the biggest splurge and had White Lotus vibes for sure from the start with welcome drinks as we got off the boat. There are hostels and cheaper accommodations on the islands, but we opted for one night of luxury. The boat ride to the island is not included and is an extra $45 roundtrip for two people.

Since our flight was at 6AM the last day of our trip, there was no way to go from the island to airport that early, so we had to book another night in Cartagena. I had $61 left of travel credit left on my Capital One Venture X that I wanted to use up, so we stayed at Hotel OZ in the Boccagrande neighborhood of Cartagena for only $7 for one night, or $3.50 per person.

I wasn’t paying attention when booking it and wanted to book something with at least two beds, and ended up booking the family room which had EIGHT BEDS. Ironically being our last night, we actually didn’t really sleep in any of them except for a quick hour nap I took before the early morning flight.

Total for all 8 nights of hotels: $465.75 per person (double occupancy)

Activities in Colombia

There are so many activities to choose from in Medellin, Cartagena, and the Rosario Islands, from adrenaline-inducing activities to day trips to boat rides! We booked some in advance and played by ear for others, sometimes booking just half an hour before. Always book online to avoid paying the “gringo” tax.

There are many vendors trying to sell excursions and activities, but the prices online are usually lower and with more reputable companies. We booked a couple through the hotel simply for the ease of booking, but there are probably better prices online, especially when using promo codes.

Medellin Activities

Paragliding

If you look up top things to do in Medellin, paragliding will pop up instantly. It’s one of the best ways to see the city from above while having one of the coolest experiences of your life! Paragliding is extremely safe and easy as your pilot will be doing all the work while you enjoy floating in the sky like a bird.

The best part is it costs less than half of what it usually does in the states. For example, in Washington State, tandem paragliding will set you back $295. In Medellin, it only cost $59 for 15 minutes! There are longer durations that go up to $89 for half an hour.

 You can either take the bus to the paragliding location in San Felix or you can book a private car for $35 (cash) which the paragliding company will arrange. Uber will take you there, but since it’s technically outside of the city limit, they will not pick you up. We decided to go with the private car to keep things simple.

Paragliding Cost: $76.5 per person

Comuna 13

You cannot visit Medellin without touring Comuna 13! Regarded as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Medellin for decades (police and taxi drivers would refuse to go in this area), Comuna 13 is now a vibrant community showcasing its transformation from a violent past to flourishing tourist destination.

There are many tours that visit Comuna 13 where you can learn about its past and present. Some incorporate city tours, food market tours, etc in addition to the Comuna 13 tour making a half or full day out of it. We, however decided to do the shorter 3 hour Graffiti and Street Food Tour of Comuna 13 for $22. Our guide grew up in Comuna 13 and shared his family’s own experience. It was one of my favorite parts of Medellin and we even stayed after the tour in the evening to explore since we felt safe and welcomed there.

Comuna 13 Tour Cost: $22

Guatapé

Just a two hour drive away from Medellin is the quaint little town of Guatapé. Guatapé is one of the most popular day trips from Medellin. There are many variations of this tour, some even combining stops at a coffee plantation along the way. We opted for the one that visits El Peñón de Guatapé, a massive inselberg (fancy word for isolated mountain rising abruptly from a plain) surrounded by manmade lagoons.

For just $30 per person, our tour included bus transportation, a stop at El Peñón de Guatapé, a boat ride in the lagoon, lunch, a tour of the town of Guatapé, and free time. The only thing not included was entry to climb El Peñón de Guatapé since it does require you be physically fit to climb the 700 steps to the top and not everyone wants to attempt it. It was only an extra $6 though. A great way to spend an entire day and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Day trip to Guatapé Cost: $36

Plaza de Botero

There are so many parks, museums, and plazas to explore in the city of Medellin! One could easily spend an entire week here. Unfortunately, we were short on time and missed out on a bunch of cool attractions. However, as someone who’s favorite class in college was Art History, I was not going to miss visiting Plaza de Botero.

Born in Medellin, Fernando Botero is one of Latin America’s most famous artists from the 20^th century, known for his “voluptuous” paintings and sculptures which are instantly identifiable across the globe. He has 23 of his sculptures on display in the Plaza de Botero, a park in Medellin’s old quarter close to the city center. It’s a nice place to stroll around and see some of his famous artwork. We ventured off to neighboring streets which are less safe, but if you keep vigilant and go during the day, is perfectly fine and is a better look into the reality of the working class of Medellin and their daily life.

Afternoon in Plaza de Botero and El Centro Cost: Free

Cartagena Activities

Cartagena is like a whole other world compared to Medellin. Significantly hotter and more humid, the greenery of Medellin is replaced with a colorful explosion of old buildings dating back hundreds of years. One of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Americas, Cartagena has a strong afro influence. The city is full of life and expression and even just roaming around is an unforgettable experience.

Free Walking Tour

Both Medellin and Cartagena offer several “free” walking tours. Yes, you read that correctly, free. The guides work solely off of tips. You have to reserve them online in advance though, however I booked mine less than half an hour before it started.

There are several companies and different tours. I just Googled and went with the company Free Tour Cartagena with the yellow umbrellas. It was a 2.5 hour tour that covered both the Walled City and Getsemani.

Free Tour Cartagena is the only tour that provides headphones to both help reduce the noise pollution of the city and so that they can speak their opinions freely without passersby judging. It was great to be able to hear everything even when I wandered away a few steps to take a photo or when we got stuck in a large crowd of people. They also did a great job of taking breaks in the shade since it was a very hot and sweltering day.

Walking Tour Cost: $12 tip

Wild Monkey Feeding

On the walking tour I discovered that the park has wild monkeys that you can feed! It was an unexpected surprise. My godsister slept in while I did the tour in the morning so I brought her back to the park to see the monkeys and sloths in the afternoon.

A friendly ice cream vendor helped us find the monkeys and sloths hiding in the trees and took so many photos and videos of us. He also helped us pick tamarind from the tree to try fresh. He was so sweet to us that we tipped him $5 each, but he seemed surprised when we offered the tip. You can easily buy fruit from the stand and feed them without someone’s help, but interacting with a local and having him take the time to help us spot the baby monkeys and the daddy monkey was nice.

Wild Monkey Feeding Cost: Free or a small tip

Tierra Bomba Day Trip

After visiting the beach in Cartagena and being utterly disappointed, we booked a half day trip to Tierra Bomba’s Blue Apple Beach Club. Many day trip tours to the islands either are full day excursions or involve island hoping. We wanted somewhere where we can go later in the day and just relax.

Tierra Bomba is the closest island to Cartagena, only a 15-25 minute boat ride away, which is why you can get a lancha (boat) anytime from 8am until 12pm and return anytime from 3pm to 5:30pm. It was because of this flexibility we decided to go with an afternoon trip to Blue Apple Beach Club.

The price doesn’t change no matter which time slots you choose and for just $35 you get a round trip boat ride and access to their private beach, pool, facilities, and a live DJ playing music. For $5 you get a sun lounger or for $25 you get a private cabana. Since our goal was to tan, we went with the sun lounger. There is a $3.50 per person dock fee you need to pay separately at the port too. It was one of our favorite afternoons of the entire trip!

Tierra Bomba Day Trip Cost: $43.50 per person

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is another must see in Cartagena. Built in 1536, this fortress looms over the city on the Hill of San Lázaro, protecting the city from both land and sea invaders. For only $8.50 you can explore the fortress and its maze-like internal corridors. There were guides available, which in hindsight I wish I had booked, but it was nice just to explore at our own pace too.

We went mid-day when it was hottest, but also least crowded. During sunset would be best since you see the entire city from the top and temperatures would be more bearable. Luckily they have a little shop at the top selling souvenirs, juices, and ice creams to help when you start feeling the effects of the strong equatorial sun.

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas Cost: $8.50

Isla Grande Activities

One of the most picturesque of the Rosario Islands, Isla Grande is quiet the gem. It’s not a party island like some of the others, but has the best outdoor activities in my opinion. Many people make the 1-2 hour boat ride only for the day, but spending a night or two is the best way to do it, in my opinion. With just one night we had zero time to relax and didn’t see half of what we wanted to see. Despite being a small island with no cars or roads, only pathways, there is SO MUCH to do!

Snorkeling

Our resort offered many activities from snorkeling to scuba diving to paddle board and kayak rentals. We decide to do snorkeling first to explore the gorgeous water surrounding the island. I have my own snorkel and mask that I always bring with me since I’m picky, but for $33 you get a boat ride to the coral reef on the other side of the island and all the equipment you need including mask, snorkel, and fins.

The water was crystal clear and warm. During our snorkeling session we came across a lot of cool fish and coral as well as lobsters! You can check out my Insta 360 x3 footage from the snorkeling trip on my YouTube Channel.

My godsister has never snorkeled before and was interested in scuba diving the next day. Our friendly snorkel guide said she needed to practice a little more and offered to take us snorkeling again off the coast of the neighboring resort Cocoliso later in the afternoon. We had another hour long snorkeling session for free! Not only was it free, but by far the best snorkeling I’ve encountered so far—better than Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Cambodia! There were schools of fish, rays, sea urchins, crabs, puffer fish, sea cucumbers, angel fish, and so many others I couldn’t even name!

This spot is super easy to access and I even came back the next morning for a third session. If you don’t have your own equipment, you could rent just the snorkel and fins from the dive shop at Cocoliso and explore on your own too. When looking out at the ocean from shore, just keep heading to the right to see the most variety of fish.

Snorkeling Cost: $33

Bioluminescent Plankton

In the lagoon by the mangroves, there is bioluminescent plankton that you can see at night! It’s easiest to see them during a new moon or a cloudy night, which worked out perfectly for us since the new moon was just the night before. I’ve swam in bioluminescent plankton in Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia, but the conditions were not the best due to too much moonlight. This time the bioluminescent plankton were psychedelically bright in the dark water.

You pay the local eco guide cash to take you by canoe to the diving platform in the lagoon to swim in the plankton. It was a cool experience and well worth it! Since there aren’t too many nighttime activities on the island, this is a great way to take advantage of evening too.

Bioluminescent Plankton Cost: $20 cash (80,000 COP)

Scuba Diving

One of the main things I wanted to do in Colombia was scuba diving. I, unfortunately, caught a cold during the beginning of the trip and had to cancel my original scuba diving trip off of the coast of Baru. Luckily, on our last day I felt well enough and decided to do a single dive off of the island.

My godsister isn’t certified so she did the fun dive mini course for $115 which included 1 pool instruction and 1 ocean dive, whereas I opted just for the 1 ocean dive for $82, which is an absolute steal as far as diving prices are concerned! The price included all rental equipment and the boat ride to the reef. The certified divers and the fun divers are separated into different groups though since there has to be 1 guide for every 4 new divers. It was breathtaking down in the water as we dove along a wall of coral descending deeper into the ocean. Whether you are certified or new to diving, I highly recommend diving at Isla Grande.

Scuba Diving Cost: 1 ocean dive for $82 if PADI certified

1 pool session & 1 ocean dive for $115 if not certified

Total Activity Cost: $338.50

Transportation

Uber is the way to go in Colombia since prices are set and no one can scam you. If you absolutely must take a taxi, they say it’s best to agree on a price before entering the taxi. We only used Uber and it was by for the cheapest and easiest way to get from point A to point B.

Aside from the airport trips, most rides were between $2 and $6. I’m not kidding. It’s unbelievably cheap. The most expensive ride we had was to and from the airport in Medellin which was $25. All our Uber costs were roughly $65 per person for 9 days, multiple Uber rides a day.

Total Transportation Cost: approx. $65 per person

Food

Food is very affordable in Colombia. Out of my travels, it was the third cheapest country just behind Vietnam and Cambodia as far as food prices. You have the option of luxury dining, casual, and street food depending on your budget. We did a mix with some upscale restaurants like dining twice at La Cevicheria in Cartagena where Anthony Bourdain ate, because of course I must always eat where he ate. That was our most expensive meal and set us back $33 per person for multiple plates of ceviche and drinks and sides.

Cups of fresh fruit and arepas from street stands will set you back $2-$3. Most alcoholic drinks at bars and clubs will cost around $7-$12 depending on how fancy the bar is. We did multiple rooftop bars a night, ate street food, as well as some upscale restaurants with traditional food and fresh seafood over the course of our Colombian trip, setting us back roughly $450 per person. Some of our breakfasts were included and one meal during on the day trips. I feel this is a good middle ground number and depending on how you want to experience Colombia can go higher or lower.

Total Food Cost: approx. $450 per person

Miscellaneous

As far as miscellaneous costs, I didn’t find myself doing as much souvenir shopping as usual. I bought some chocolates, magnets, t-shirts, a painting, some jewelry, and coffee. Souvenirs are fairly affordable with my most expensive one being a $25 painting I bought in Getsemani, Cartagena. Items from street vendors are noticeably more affordable than the stores, but there were many cute boutiques and souvenir shops to check out.

We did pay small cover charges for some of the nightlife including a couple of the more popular clubs in Medellin and a salsa bar in Cartagena. Sometimes it was worth it and some where a bit of a disappointment. Also, side note, nightlife doesn’t start until much later in Colombia so things don’t pick up until after 11pm. There were times we took a nap after dinner before going out.

When I got sick, I went to a pharmacy to get some meds. A bottle of Afrin and a box of cough lozenges were less than $10! So much cheaper than back home. I risked traveling without insurance, so it was a relief that meds were affordable.

Total Miscellaneous Cost: approx. $170

Colombia is one of the more affordable destinations in the world where your dollar really goes far. With options for both the budget conscious as well as the high rollers, there was never a dull moment during our action-packed trip. There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t change about my Colombian trip, except to make it even longer! And the moment you’ve been waiting for, drum roll please…

Total Cost for 8 nights/9 days in Colombia:

$1,688.25 per person

As you can see, my two biggest expenses were food and hotels. You could essentially halve these amounts if you choose to stay at traditional hostels or more budget hotels and if you cut back on the dining experiences and alcohol. I unfortunately am very food-motivated and I like nicer hotels despite hardly spending any time in them. Even though we did not skimp in any category, Colombia has definitely been one of my more affordable travel destinations.

Hope my budget breakdown helps you on your next trip to Colombia! I’ll be writing more articles including full hotel reviews, activity reviews, packing guides, and more about Colombia in the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned!