Costa Rica Travel Guide

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Shopping

Special purchases include wood and leather rocking chairs (which dismantle for export), as well as a range of local crafts available in major cities and towns. Local markets are also well worth visiting. Prices are slightly higher than in other Latin American countries. Best buys are wooden items, carved masks, ceramics, gold pre-Columbian replica jewelry and leather handicrafts.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800/1900. There may be variations between areas.

Currency

Costa Rican Colón (CRC; symbol ₡) = 100 céntimos. Notes are in denominations of ₡10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of ₡100, 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5. US Dollars are also widely accepted.

Currency Exchange

Available at banks and bureau de change. Some hotels may also change money.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted; American Express slightly less so. Many banks will only process MasterCard for cash credits. Cash may be the only form of payment in smaller towns and rural areas. ATMs usually accept foreign cards.

Travelers Checks

Although travelers can avoid additional exchange rate charges by taking traveler's checks in US Dollars, fewer and fewer businesses in Costa Rica are willing to accept them.

Currency Restrictions

The import and export of local and foreign currency is limited to US$10,000. Amounts above this must be declared upon arrival.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0800/0900-1500/1800.

Exchange Rate