Carry some Colombian pesos
Cards are useful for larger purchases, but small transport, street food and some local vendors are easier with cash. Carry enough for the day without carrying more than you are comfortable replacing.
Treat local prices as time-sensitive
Old Guatapé articles are full of exact tuk-tuk, lunch, boat and attraction prices. Those numbers age quickly. For transport without a meter, ask the fare before getting in. For activities, ask what the price includes and whether it is per person or per vehicle/boat.
Three questions prevent most price confusion
- Is that price per person or for the whole vehicle/boat?
- What exactly is included?
- Is there any separate admission or optional stop?
Do not convert every purchase to USD in your head
For a short trip, keeping a rough COP mental budget makes it easier to compare like with like and reduces mistakes from stale exchange-rate assumptions.