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Should you have cash in Costa Rica?

We recommend that you bring around $50 to $100 US dollars in cash and a VISA or Master Card. There are other credit cards that are accepted, but VISA and Master Card are the most commonly accepted throughout Costa Rica. If needed, you can get a cash advance on a VISA card if you go to a large bank.



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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.

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Nearly everybody accepts the U.S. dollar, so if you have dollars, you do not need to convert it. You will usually receive change in local Costa Rica colones. The exchange rate hovers between 500 and 550 colones to $1 USD.

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While there are no restrictions to importing and exporting local currency and US dollars, anyone with more than US$10,000 or equivalent must declare the amount they are carrying. Failing to declare may see your money being seized.

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Your luggage will be scanned and in some cases hand searched. Please be aware you may not bring plants, seeds, vegetables, or fruits into Costa Rica. 4. Exit the building and you will see your driver with a sign with your name and our Logo.

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carry your passport, including the Costa Rican entry stamp received at the immigration entry point. avoid showing signs of affluence or wearing expensive jewellery. avoid carrying large sums of cash or unnecessary valuables. avoid isolated or deserted areas.

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It's completely safe to drink the tap water over the majority of the country. That includes your luxury vacation rentals in Guanacaste! Costa Rica is quite notable in Latin America as 92.5% of the population has access to drinking water.

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What is the best currency to take to Costa Rica? We suggest you take dollars, but if you can grab some colones at your bank, it will make the beginning of your trip much more manageable.

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The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Costa Rica: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. Recommended for travelers to most regions.

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?Costa Rica uses 110 volt, 60 cycle electricity, same as the US. Plugs are typically the 2-pronged flat type, so US travelers will not typically need a converter or adapter.

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We spent 2 weeks in CR last month and spent about $1,000 US. We used credit cards for hotel and rental car, but paid cash for everything else. We averaged about $100 in cash per day for food and incidentals, including tips, gas (for rental car), entrance to parks (but not organized tours).

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Alcohol in Costa Rica People can drink in Costa Rica as long as they are 18 years old. You are not permitted to drink in any public space nor exceed a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.05% mg while driving. Depending on the case, this can result in a $410 fine or at least 3 years in jail.

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A dinner meal such as a decent steak or fresh fish with a couple sides will cost around 5,000 colones (around $10). There are also restaurants that cater to tourists.

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CDC recommends travelers to any area of Costa Rica use mosquito avoidance measures to protect from malaria and other diseases spread by mosquito bites.

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