Comments on: What currency to use in Costa Rica?

By: j1novak

j1novak — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

1 Costa Rican colon = 0.00202 U.S. dollars

You can pay for tours, parks, hotel rooms and large-ticket items with US dollars. Meals, bus fares and small items should all be paid with colones.

By: Kristina L

Kristina L — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I usually carry both USD and colones when in CR. If you are in a heavily tourist area, both will usually be taken. You will not always get the correct exchange rate when using USD, but sometimes the convenience is worth the .05 per dollar difference. Most tour companies that cater to US tourism primarily take USD. Taxis are the same. They automatically quote rates in USD when dealing with US tourist. Small non-tourist towns aren’t so accepting of foreign currancy, and small local shops. I did get hit with charges everytime I used my credit card my bank called it an ‘exchange surcharge’ or something. Go with cash. When you make purchases, they will usually give you change in colones. You will eventually have a nice little pile of both.

By: ticosland2008

ticosland2008 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

If you have an international ATM/Credit or debit card, you will be much better off because you will not have to carry so much cash around. US dollars are generally accepted in the places where you will be going. Costa Rica is geared toward tourists due to the fact that we get about 2 million tourists annually.
Don’t exchange your dollars for colones at the airport. They will not give you the correct money exchange rate. Go to the bank and exchange your colones. If you go to the TicosLand website, we have a money exchange rate where you will get the official money exchange rate at the National of Costa Rica and other banks.
You know, it might be more expensive to use a credit card, but as I said you can use your international debit card if you have one. I hope that helps.
For any other information about Costa Rica, go to the TicosLand website.

By: marcelita

marcelita — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

us dollars are accepted in costa rica, but if you can change it in colones it’s better.
when a tourist pay in dollars, some people use to rise the price of the things.. when you pay in colones they can not do that

By: CRm79droog**

CR**m79**droog** — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

credit cards are allowed in many places, you can also use dollars or colones to pay but, as same as credit cards, some places dont accept dollars.

in a bank you can change your dollars for colones, dont do it with guys on streets.

$1 = around 540 colones

By: Curious

Curious — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

You can spend dollars most places, but it marks you as a tourist. If you spend colones, you may be a resident alien. It is safer to cheat a tourist because a r.a. probably knows the score.