Costa Rica international travel guide

Costa Rica international travel guide

Last Updated :
Costa Rica travel details
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Costa Rica has a population of 5M with main currency as Costa Rican Colón. The languages spoken are Spanish. Costa Rica travel safety advice is Exercise a high degree of caution. Automatic teller machines are very common in Costa Rica. Tipping is quite common in Costa Rica and it's good etiquette to leave one. Internet speed in Costa Rica is on average 3.4 Mbps.In Costa Rica you drive on the right side.

Costa Rica travel advice

Exercise a high degree of caution
We've reviewed our advice for Costa Rica. We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution. We now advise: Exercise a high degree of caution in Costa Rica due to the threat of violent crime.

Issue Date : Nov 10, 2023

Costa Rica weather

Costa Rica essential details

Plugs

Costa Rica uses 120V, 60Hz with sockets and plugs Type A and Type B.

Languages

The languages that are typically spoken are Spanish

Money in Costa Rica

Currencies

Costa Rica uses the Costa Rican colón (symbol: ?), code CRC.Banknotes come in denominations of 50000, 20000, 10000, 5000, 2000 and 1000 colóns. Colón is subdivided into 100 céntimos. Coins come in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 colóns.

ATM

Automatic teller machines are very common in Costa Rica. You can find them in both large & small cities, tourist areas etc.You do not need a chip & PIN card to use an ATM — your standard magnetic card will work fine.

Tipping

Expected to tip Tipping is quite common in Costa Rica and it's good etiquette to leave one. How much money you leave depends on the service and how happy you were with it. Receipts might sometimes include a service charge.

Internet in Costa Rica

Internet

Internet speed in Costa Rica is on average 3.4 Mbps. WiFi coverage in Costa Rica is moderate. It's relatively easy to find one when needed.

Phones

You can buy a SIM card for about 7,271.43 CRC, which includes 1 GB of data plan. You can choose from 3 telecoms: Claro, Kölbi or Movistar. Costa Rica uses GSM mobile networks GSM 850 and GSM 1800. If you don't want to buy SIM card in Costa Rica upon arrival, make sure to check the roaming charges with your telecom provider before your departure so there are no surprises when you return home.

Calling

To call Costa Rica, dial +, then 506 (the country code for Costa Rica), then the area code and the local number. For local calls within Costa Rica, start with the area code. In the case above area code is 2 .

Costa Rica travel details

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Driving in Costa Rica

Road rules

In Costa Rica you drive on the right side. Most cars have manual transmission (stick). Unless otherwise posted, the speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows: 40 km/h (24 mph) in all built-up areas, 40-60 km/h (24-37 mph) on undivided highways, 80-100 km/h (49-62 mph) on motorways and 80-100 km/h (49-62 mph) on expressways.

Emergecy

Universal
112
Police
112
Ambulance
112
Fire department
112

Costa Rica map

Costa Rica visa advice

If you're considering exploring Costa Rica beyond the usual transit spots, our comprehensive guide on Costa Rica transit visa offers deeper insights and broader options for travelers of different nationalities. For those transiting through other countries en route to Costa Rica, understanding Costa Rica Transit Visa requirements is crucial to ensure a smooth journey.
Disclaimer
The information on the site should be used as a guide only you are advised to contact your local official mission consulate embassy and ensure you have the latest information we take no responsibility