Colombia in cash.
Caribbean Cartagena with flowering balconies, forever-young Medellín, the Cocora valley and its 60-metre palms, coffee at the finca. The continent's most welcoming country lives on smiling pesos.
Helvetica Exchange prepares your COP travel envelope at Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, 1204 Geneva (Rive district) — the posted rate, no separate commission, Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 and Saturday 09:00–17:00. Reserve and your rate is held for 3 hours during opening hours; ID from the LBA thresholds.
The cities, chosen.
Cartagena de Indias
Golden ramparts, bougainvillea and drums — the Caribbean pearl.
The walled city & Getsemaní — Balconies drowning in flowers, salsa squares at night — free and magical.
The Rosario islands — Translucent water 45 minutes by lancha — beach day and fish lunch.
Medellín
The city of eternal spring, reinvented with cable cars and flowers.
Comuna 13 & the escalators — Street art, hip-hop and the finest lesson in urban rebirth.
Guatapé & the Piedra — 740 steps up the monolith, jigsaw lakes below — a day trip.
Salento & the Cocora valley
Giant wax palms in the mist, Willys jeeps and coffee fincas.
The Cocora hike — A five-hour loop among 60 m palms — hummingbirds at the Acaime refuge.
A coffee finca — From bean to cup with the caficultor — tasting included.
Getting around.
Domestic flights are very affordable (Bogotá–Cartagena 1 h 30). In town: Medellín's metro (a national pride), yellow metered taxis. Fincas, beaches and markets in cash.
Cash & banknotes.
Pesos everywhere — the dollar serves only for changing. COP 130'000–260'000 a day excluding hotel; cash rules the moment you leave the malls. 'No dar papaya', the Colombians say: nothing ostentatious, official taxis at night.
| Rate reservation | held 3 hours, during opening hours |
| Counter hours | Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 |
| Commission | none — the margin lives in the posted rate |
Before you go.
Is Colombia safe?
The tourist regions, yes — with big-city common sense. 'No dar papaya': nothing ostentatious, official taxis at night, and the country adopts you.
Pesos or dollars?
Pesos, everywhere — dollars serve only to change. COP 130'000–260'000 a day excluding hotel; cash rules beyond the malls.
Indicative amounts — rate reservable for 3 hours · Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, Geneva · Guide complet en français