costa rica currency exchange
How many Costa Rican Colons will be sufficiant for me?
I’ll be going to costa rica for 3 weeks (Heredia for 1 week and Playa Flamingo for 2 weeks) on a spanish study course and i was wondering how much of the local currency would be sufficient. I already have my accommodation and food paid for and since i’ll be studying I dont plan to take many ‘tourist trips’. I have no idea how much of the local currency i should bring! I’m in england so i wont have $’s which is why i need to exchange some money.
Hi, I am not sure that you will get colones in England. But they will surely give you US$ so exchange into that currency first. Euros are very rare accepted in Costa Rica, difficult to change and if so, then to a very bad exchange course.
As payment method around Costa Rica consider the following:
Costa Rican currency is the colon. It floats daily against the dollar and can be exchanged at banks and change booths. American dollars and major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, except in small business establishments or hotels and restaurants in remote locations. Travellers’ checks are not exchanged as favorably as cash. If you pay by credit card, a small surcharge is sometimes added. ATMs are available in most cities and towns with bank offices.
Euros are not yet very popular in Costa Rica, very difficult to change and hardly accepted. At the bank you will pay a much higher commission when changing into colones. It is better to stick to the American dollar and always have some change in colones in your pocket.
Todays’ exchange rate is US$ 1 = CRC 519.34 (colones)
The exchange rate changes every day (rises about 13 cents of colon per day).
Breakfast in hotels are rather expensive, they go from $5 up to $15 (depending of course the category of the hotel you will be staying at).
Same goes for lunch and dinner, between $5 and $25.
You can find much cheaper meals at the local “sodas”, which are small restaurants, always recommended by locals. A breakfast may cost around ¢1200 up to ¢2000 (so not more than $4).
Beer at the supermarket costs about $400. At restaurants the prices vary: ¢600 – ¢1200 (last price is very expensive for beer, so if you see ¢1200 for a beer better go to another place. Up to ¢800 is normal).
Sodas like Sprite, Coca Cola cost about the same like a beer, at restaurants usually ¢500 ($1) or a bit more.
Please consider that Flamingo is an expensive town, the supermarket has high prices, so if you have the chance to go someplace else to shop, DO SO!
If you are not planning to go on any tourist trips then you can already make the math.
For your info: a canopy tour costs between $30 and $50,
a sundowner boat trip between $30 and $60.
Do you already have your transfers organized? You can take the seat-in bus tourist shuttle from Heredia to Flamingo or also the public bus (bus stop is in San José downtown and goes directly to Flamingo).
Let me know if you have more questions. You can also contact a local travel agency for tips and ideas.
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