Money
The Costa Rican currency is called the colon, colones in plural and is named after Christopher Columbus. US Dollars however, are widely accepted and used throughout the country, especially in tourism. Your best bet is to bring small bills ( $1s, $10s and $20s) and make sure that the bills are in good condition and not ripped or torn. Some vendors do not accept bills in poor condition.

Exchange
If you do choose to change US dollars to colones, you will find the best rate at a bank. The airport charges a very high commission to do currency exchanges. Our best recommendation is to arrive with at least some US dollars. When you pay for something in dollars, you will receive your change back in colones. Interesting tip: When you receive some change back in coins, look and feel closely to discover that these coins also have their amounts printed in Braille.

Credit Cards
Visa, and Mastercard are widely accepted although due to the high cost of processing credit cards in Costa Rica, vendors may charge extra to use your card. In most cases, paying with cash will give you the best deal, and its always worth it to ask for a discount if you pay with cash instead of your card. Most travelers are able to withdraw money ( US dollars or colones) with their local atm or debit cards at Costa Rican banks. However, depending on where you are, banks may not be nearby or occasionally are out of money?so its always best to bring a back up credit card or cash as well. Do not rely 100% on your debit or atm card.

Travellers Checks
Travellers checks are extremely safe in that they can be replaced if lost or stolen, but they are much more inconvenient to use. Vendors usually do not accept them so you will have to spend some time finding a bank to change them for you. Some hotels will offer this service as well.

Entry Requirements
All visitors will need a valid passport for entry into Costa Rica. Citizens from the United States, Canada, and the European Union are allowed to be in the country for up to 90 days without needing a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you enter the country. For more information please speak with a travel designer or check with you consulate.

Exit Tax
There is a $26 exit tax that must be paid before you check in for your departing flight. Payment is accepted in US dollars, colones or in the form of a cash advance from Visa. We highly recommend paying this tax in cash because paying with visa will result in expensive extra charges on your bill later due to the transaction actually being a cash advance rather than just a normal credit card charge.

Government
Costa Rica is a democratic country, famous for having the most stable political climate in all of Latin America. The armed forces were abolished after the 1948 civil war so more tax dollars can go towards education.