Carry cash—but only enough to get by Something else you'll need to remember when venturing to the farthest-flung corners of Costa Rica: while some places will accept credit cards, the likelihood of this diminishes the further you go out into the countryside.

In Costa Rica, a combination of both is best, but credit cards are increasingly dominant. Most established businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores, widely accept Visa and Mastercard. Using a card with no foreign transaction fees is often the most cost-effective method because you receive the official bank exchange rate. However, cash (specifically the Costa Rican Colón) is still essential for smaller transactions like tipping, buying fruit from street vendors, paying for parking "guardians," or using local buses. While U.S. Dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, you will often receive a poor exchange rate from local merchants, so it is better to pay in Colones. It is recommended to withdraw Colones from a local ATM upon arrival to get a fair rate. Be sure to notify your bank before traveling to prevent your card from being blocked for suspicious international activity.