Some important information about money matters in Costa Rica:
- The currency in Costa Rica is the Colon. Credit cards can generally be used as a means of payment in hotels, large shopping malls and more expensive restaurants. Furthermore, the use of credit cards is often limited, so make sure you always have enough cash in your pocket.
- Banknotes are available in denominations of 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 CRC. Banknotes of 50,000 CRC are not very common, so you should avoid them.
- Order your CRC well in advance, or keep an eye on the price in the months before your departure. If you have to change money on the spot, it often costs a lot more.
- You can withdraw money in Costa Rica at most ATMs. But make sure your card is activated at your bank. ATMs can be found in the big cities, but very limited in rural areas.
- Always make sure you bring enough cash with you. In most places, for example, you can’t refuel with the card.
- Tips are very important for the locals. So we advise you to always have some small denominations in your pocket so you can give a tip, about 10% of the bill is sufficient.
- Also make sure you have a good reserve in alternative currencies, such as Euro’s or American dollars. These can be exchanged almost anywhere and are therefore a very good back-up.
- Bargaining is certainly recommended in Costa Rica. Especially in tourist areas you can haggle up to half the price.
Do you still have questions?
Go to the FAQ page of the country you have a question about and maybe the question is listed. Otherwise feel free to contact us.
