How to Get Ready for Costa Rica
Bring a card with a 4-digit PIN, know that restaurant bills with table service carry a 10% service charge, and let a driver who knows the roads take the wheel. Here is the rest, from our team in San José.
Last reviewed by our team in Costa Rica: . By The My Costa Rica team in San José.
Quick answer
- Money: the colón is the currency, and US dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs need a 4-digit PIN.
- Tipping: restaurants with table service add a 10% service charge by law. Anything extra is up to you.
- Phones: 911 works without a local SIM card, and prepaid SIM cards are sold at the airport.
- Time: UTC minus 6 all year, with no daylight saving.
- Language: Spanish is the official language. A few words go a long way.
- Getting around: most of our clients travel by private transfer with a Costa Rican driver.
Should you bring cash or cards to Costa Rica?
The colón is Costa Rica’s currency, and the tourism board says US dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted. Canada adds that US dollars are easier to exchange than other foreign currencies, and that cash withdrawals work only with a 4-digit PIN.
- Check your card’s PIN before you fly. A 6-digit PIN may not work at Costa Rican ATMs.
- Some ATMs close from 11 pm to 5 am, the tourism board says.
- Bring your original passport to a bank. Bank transactions require it.
- Carry some small cash for roadside fruit, small sodas (local restaurants) and markets.
More on the colón, exchange and paying in dollars on our currency page.
How does tipping work in Costa Rica?
At a restaurant with table service, a 10% service charge is usually already on the bill, so look for it before you add anything. The two official sources describe it differently, so here are both.
- The law (Law 9116 of 2012) says a restaurant, bar or soda with table service must add 10% to the bill, calculated before sales tax and shown on its own line as “Servicio 10%”. It also says a voluntary tip is never obligatory and is never put on the bill.
- The tourism board says the 13% value added tax and a 10% tip are “included in the final price” in restaurants and hotels, and that an extra gratuity is always welcome.
In practice: look for “Servicio 10%” on the bill before you add anything, and leave a little more if the service was special.
We found no official guidance on tipping tour guides, drivers or hotel staff. That part is yours to decide.
Will your phone work in Costa Rica?
Usually, either by roaming on your own plan (ask your carrier first) or with a local prepaid SIM card. For any emergency, dial 911.
- Dial 911 for any emergency. The tourism board says a local line is not needed.
- Roaming. Ask your carrier what Costa Rica costs on your plan before you go.
- A local SIM card. The tourism board says prepaid SIM cards are sold at the Kölbi booth at the airport and in phone company shops. The regulator, SUTEL, lists the mobile networks as Kölbi, Claro and Liberty. The tourism board’s page still names Movistar, a brand SUTEL’s reports no longer list.
Time zone and language
Costa Rica keeps UTC minus 6 all year and never changes its clocks. From early November to mid-March that is the same time as Chicago, and from mid-March to early November the same as Denver. Our time page has the detail.
Spanish is the official language, set in article 76 of the Constitution. Our team plans your trip in English, and a few words of Spanish go a long way on the ground: buenos días, gracias, con permiso, and pura vida for almost everything else. Start with our language guide and pura vida.
Should you rent a car or use private transfers?
Most of our clients never drive. They travel by private transfer with a Costa Rican driver in a modern, air conditioned van that leaves on their schedule and stops whenever they want: a bathroom, a fruit stand, a sloth in a tree. These are the times our own itineraries quote:
| Route | Our usual drive time |
|---|---|
| Liberia airport to Arenal | About 3 hours |
| San José airport to Arenal | 3 to 3.5 hours |
| San José airport to Manuel Antonio | About 3 hours |
| Liberia airport to Tamarindo | About 2 hours |
| Arenal to Tamarindo | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Arenal to Manuel Antonio | About 5 hours |
If you do drive, your home licence works for the length of your legal stay: see what you need, and read the road advice in is Costa Rica safe?. Domestic flights and buses are on getting around.
What should you sort out for your health?
Three things: see your doctor a month before you go, decide how you will handle drinking water, and buy travel insurance with medical cover.
- Vaccines. See your doctor at least a month before you go. The CDC’s advice is on our vaccinations page.
- Tap water. The tourism board says it is drinkable; the US State Department says it is often not safe. Both views, and what we suggest, are in is Costa Rica safe?.
- Travel insurance. We highly recommend it, including medical cover and evacuation.
What happens on your arrival day?
When you travel with us, a greeter meets you at the airport with a welcome package holding your documents, then hands you to your driver. Our own team in Costa Rica is on call 24/7 for the rest of the trip.
The departure tax is included in most airline tickets, the tourism board says. If yours does not include it, you pay at the airport in dollars, colones or by card.
Getting ready: common questions
Do I need cash in Costa Rica?
A little. The tourism board says US dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs work with a 4-digit PIN. We suggest some small cash for roadside stands, small local restaurants and markets.
How much should you tip in Costa Rica?
Restaurants with table service add a 10% service charge by law, shown as “Servicio 10%” on the bill. Anything more is voluntary. The tourism board describes the 10% as included in the final price and says an extra gratuity is welcome.
Do they speak English in Costa Rica?
Spanish is the official language. Our team plans your trip in English, and a few Spanish words, buenos días, gracias, pura vida, go a long way. Our language guide has more.
Will my phone work in Costa Rica?
Usually, if your carrier offers international roaming: check your plan before you fly. Prepaid SIM cards are sold at the airport, and 911 works without a local SIM.
What time zone is Costa Rica in?
UTC minus 6, all year, with no daylight saving. That matches Chicago from early November to mid-March and Denver from mid-March to early November.
Should I rent a car or use private transfers in Costa Rica?
You can drive on your home licence, but most of our clients choose private transfers. A Costa Rican driver knows the roads, the van leaves on your schedule, and nobody in the family is reading Spanish road signs on a mountain road at dusk.
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