Paying in Colombia: Bre-B, cards and cash
A practical guide for short stays · Colombian peso (COP)
How to pay in Colombia as a visitor
- Cards are the easy default.Use a foreign Visa or Mastercard at formal merchants, pay in Colombian pesos and carry a second card.
- Bre-B is useful if you choose the right app.Moreta and WanderWallet document passport-oriented access to merchant Bre-B QR; WanderWallet also pays registered Bre-B keys.
- Cash still matters.Keep Colombian pesos for cash-preferred merchants, rural areas, local transport and outages.
Payment apps and QR in Colombia
A useful Colombia app must accept the visitor's identity, accept a realistic foreign funding route and reach Bre-B. These three currently have documented Colombia capability, with different eligibility.
| App | Sign up | Fund from | Payment cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moreta official payment guide | Passport + three selfies18+, address and phone; partner checks apply | Bank, eligible card or Solana USDC/USDTCard issuer-country exclusions apply | 1.5% + exchange spreadFunding costs separately |
| WanderWallet official payment guide | Passport or ID + selfie18+; partner and country checks apply | ACH, SEPA, Revolut or Polygon USDCDeposit must be from your own account | 1% + US$0.20Per local payment |
| Belo official payment guide | Eligible document + residencePassport depends on nationality/residence row | Bank, local rail or cryptoAvailability depends on account country | Quote in appFee, FX and limits shown before payment |
Moreta
WanderWalletWhich QR or phone number will work?
Look for the Bre-B mark. A phone number works across institutions only when its owner registered it as a Bre-B key. An older Nequi, DaviPlata or bank QR can still be closed to that provider. Moreta clearly documents merchant Bre-B QR; WanderWallet documents Bre-B QR and registered keys.
How do I pay for city transport?
In Bogotá, buy a physical tullave card; the anonymous basic card is the simplest visitor option, while current rules allow in-person personalization with a passport. In Medellín, buy a Cívica Eventual and carry cash for ticket offices, machines and service points.
Using foreign cards
- Pay in COP.Decline home-currency conversion unless you have compared the entire quote with your issuer's rate and fees.
- PSE is not foreign-card checkout.PSE debits a participating Colombian financial account. Use the merchant's card-entry option when available.
- Expect individual failures.Merchant acceptance, acquirer setup and issuer authorization vary, so keep another card and cash.
Cash and ATMs
- Keep a modest COP backup.Cash remains important for habitual payments and becomes more useful outside large urban merchants.
- Read ATM fees at the machine.Charges and limits vary by operator and card. Use a protected location and avoid carrying large withdrawals.
Sources
Bre-B and visitor apps
Cards, cash and transport
Continuing your trip?
Check payment access again when you cross a border. A wallet or QR code that works here may have different requirements elsewhere.