FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
“How do I get around in Costa Rica?”
If you are not partial to driving or renting a car, Costa Rica has extremely cheap taxi and bus services, as well as a very vast bus system. For Costa Rican bus schedules and maps, please visit this page:
http://thebusschedule.com/cr/index.php
Please note that each town in Costa Rica runs its own bus services. The different bus companies are independently run, which makes their services different than the government-run systems common in other parts of the world. For this reason there is not a “pass” to pay for, and each bus is pay-per-ride. So bring your coins! But the good news is that Costa Rican buses all give change, so you can pay with a bill and receive change in return. Exact fare is not required!
Bus drivers also treat their buses as their own personal work space, so they may have photos, religious tokens and may play their own music.
Costa Rica has a number of legal and illegal taxis known as “piratas.” The official taxis are always red! While the piratas will be cheaper, the official taxis, in addition to being properly insured, are also very reasonably priced.
“Will my cell phone work in Costa Rica?”
Most likely, the answer to this is no. Cell phones in Costa Rica will not work unless they are satellite phones or international phones. The reason for this is because all cell phones are currently registered with ICE in Costa Rica, and any phone that is not on the ICE network will not work. For this reason, any phone connected to any other provider will not work in Costa Rica. Since only a Costa Rican citizen or legal resident can buy and register a phone in this country, many visitors opt to rent a phone in Costa Rica.
To learn about renting phones in Costa Rica, please visit these links:
http://www.costaricacellularconnection.com/
http://cellulartelephonerentals.com/
“What is the currency in Costa Rica?”
Costa Rica’s official currency are called “colones.” While many stores and shops accept United States dollars, it’s generally more polite to pay in the local currency. However, I would recommend exchanging your money at a local bank and not at the airport, where the fees to exchange money are very high.
Keep in mind that if you do pay for something in United States dollars or any foreign currency, you will receive change in Costa Rican colones. Sometimes this tactic is used by savvy visitors as a way to exchange money without going to the bank. It also works as a way to exchange only what you need to instead of exchanging a large sum of money.
“What is the pace in Costa Rica?”
Generally, Costa Ricans tend to be a lot more relaxed than the tourists who come visit. It’s not unusual for stores to be closed for a couple of hours in the afternoon for lunch, coffee or even nap “siesta” time. This probably says it best —- Once a Costa Rican man dropped his cell phone into a pool and just shrugged it off and continued to enjoy swimming with his family when he saw the phone was beyond repair. This is very indicative of the general attitude Costa Ricans have. They’re very patient at standing in line, they do not stress when things do not go exactly as planned, and they typically do not arrive on time. Sometimes visitors need a few days to relax to this slower pace and may get frustrated when things do not happen right away or as fast as they’re used to. But try to hang with it! A different country comes with a different outlook, and maybe you’ll take a little bit of the Pura Vida spirit back home with you!
“Are the outlets any different for my hair drier or other appliances?”
Appliances made for outlets in North America and in the United States will work in Costa Rica exactly the same! If you are coming from Europe, however, you will need an adapter for your appliances.
“Can I drive in Costa Rica?”
If you have a valid driver’s license to rent a car and appropriate identification, you will be able to rent and drive a car in Costa Rica.
“How much do I tip in a restaurant?”
In Costa Rica, the tip is always included in the bill! Most of the time you do not need to leave a tip since it’s already automatically added. While you can if you want and if you get really exceptional service, remember, if you tip on top of the bill, they are getting extra.
“Can I use credit cards in Costa Rica?”
Many Costa Rican stores and shops will accept bank-issued credit and debit cards. However, be sure to ask your bank before you come by! Also, as a precaution, all ATMs in Costa Rica will hold your debit card until the transaction is completed and then your card will be ejected from the machine. As a general rule, it’s good to use an ATM near a bank and not a standing ATM just in case your card gets “stuck” in the machine. It’s rare, but it could possibly happen!
You can make credit and debit purchases as you normally would without having to worry about the exchange rate.
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