Do you tip in Colombia?

Yes, but lightly. Sit-down restaurants add a 10% propina sugerida (suggested tip) to the bill, and by law the waiter must ask whether you want to pay it — it is voluntary. Most diners accept it for good service. Outside restaurants, tipping is modest and optional.

Is the propina already on my restaurant bill?

Usually yes. Mid-range and upscale restaurants print a 10% propina sugerida as a separate line. You can accept it, decline it, or adjust it. If the service was poor you are entitled to ask for it to be removed, since it is not mandatory.

How much should I tip a taxi or hotel staff?

Taxis are generally not tipped — most people round the fare up to the nearest convenient amount. For hotels, a small tip per bag for porters and a daily amount for housekeeping at nicer hotels is customary, though never expected in budget stays.

Should I tip in pesos or US dollars?

Always tip in Colombian pesos. Dollars are awkward to exchange for staff and often worth less after fees. Cash in pesos is preferred over card tips, as card tips can take time to reach the worker or be split by the venue.

Is tipping expected everywhere?

No. Tipping is normal in sit-down restaurants and welcomed for tour guides, but it is not expected at cafés counters, fast food, street vendors, or for most everyday services. When in doubt, the 10% restaurant norm is the only widely-followed rule.

Colombia Tipping Guide & Calculator

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A Colombia tipping guide and calculator that tells you how much propina to leave across the situations travellers actually face — restaurants, hotels, taxis, tours and bars — and works out the amount in pesos, including splitting it across a group. Tipping in Colombia is modest and mostly voluntary, so the tool starts from the local custom for each service.

How it works

The headline rule is the restaurant 10% propina sugerida: sit-down restaurants add a suggested 10% tip as a separate line, and by law staff must ask whether you wish to pay it — it is voluntary, not a service charge. The calculator pre-fills the customary rate for each service type:

tip = bill × rate
per person = (bill + tip) / number of people

For percentage-based services (restaurants, bars, tours) it applies a rate. For per-unit services like hotel porters, the norm is a small fixed amount per bag or per night rather than a percentage, which the notes explain. You can override the rate at any time to reward great or poor service.

Tips, examples and notes

Restaurants: 10% is standard and usually pre-printed. Accept it for good service; you may decline it.
Taxis: generally not tipped — round the fare up to a convenient figure.
Hotels: a small amount per bag for porters; a daily amount for housekeeping at nicer hotels.
Tours and guides: a tip is appreciated for a good day; 10% of the tour price is a fair guide.
Bars: rounding up or a small note is plenty.

On a COP 120,000 restaurant bill split between 2 people, a 10% tip is COP 12,000, so each pays COP 66,000. Always tip in pesos, in cash where you can.