Bofa international transaction fee11/20/2023 ![]() The most common fees from purchases made in Costa Rica are foreign transaction fees. It’s no fun calling your bank from abroad to clear things up, especially on your vacation. You’ll also want to notify them that you will be traveling abroad to prevent transactions from being flagged as fraud. It is important to check with your credit or debit card company before your trip to find out about any fees. Most card readers in Costa Rica offer the tap-to-pay option (using the card’s chip), but some still have you insert your card. Rental car agencies require a credit card so that they can put a temporary hold on your card for the deposit. Not many accept Discover or American Express.ĭebit cards are typically accepted in the same way as credit cards. Most businesses in Costa Rica will accept Visa or Mastercard. ![]() In this case, it’s good to have some cash as a backup.Ī few locations where credit cards are not as widely accepted are Tortuguero, Drake Bay, and Cabo Matapalo (Osa Peninsula). Occasionally, card processing machines in very rural areas may not work because they cannot connect to the Internet (3G/4G) signal. Even toll booths on Costa Rica’s highways now accept cards. It is easy to use cards at restaurants, hotels, tour offices, grocery stores, convenience stores, and most shops. Where are Cards Accepted?Ĭredit/debit cards are widely accepted in Costa Rica, even at very small businesses. Using a card also allows you to travel with less cash, which is safer and easier. This prevents errors calculating the exchange rate, and thus, merchants from overcharging you based on an exchange rate that they made up. When you make a purchase in colones with your card, you’ll get the exact bank exchange rate for that day. Our best advice when traveling in Costa Rica is to use your credit card or debit card whenever possible. Costa Rica’s local currency, the colon Using Credit Cards or Debit Cards in Costa Rica To learn more about the currency, read our post: Currency, Exchanging Money, and Tipping in Costa Rica. As an example, the exchange rate can be around 560 colones = $1 (USD). Souvenir shops and restaurant menus may be priced in colones, dollars, or both, depending on how touristy the area is. This is because, historically, Costa Rica has received the most tourists from the United States. For example, it is very common for hotels, tours, and transportation services to be priced in dollars. Some things in Costa Rica are priced in US dollars. US dollars are also in circulation and available at local banks.Ĭolones are what most people living in the country use when buying groceries, everyday items, paying for services, etc. We’ll also go through how to take money out of a local ATM so that you have some cash as well.Ĭosta Rica’s official currency is the colon. In this post, we’ll explain where and when you can use your credit card or debit card. One of the biggest questions people have when traveling to Costa Rica is how they will pay for things once they arrive.
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