Costa Rica is one of the most visited destinations in Central America, and its tourism infrastructure has grown dramatically. But the country still has a patchwork payment landscape — cosmopolitan in San José, cash-only in the cloud forests. Here’s what most travelers misunderstand, myth by myth.
Major hotels, chain restaurants, and tourist shops in San José, La Fortuna, and Manuel Antonio readily accept credit and debit cards. This leads many travelers to assume they’re set for the entire trip.
The reality breaks down fast when you leave the tourist corridors. Small local sodas (family-run eateries), rural national park entrances, informal tour guides, shuttle drivers, tuk-tuks, farmers’ markets, and the family renting out their guesthouse near Monteverde? Cash only — almost universally.
The truth: Cards work in tourist-heavy spots. Beyond that, assume cash is king. You’ll often encounter a hand-written “No aceptamos tarjetas” sign only after you’ve already eaten.
ATMs do exist, including in many tourist towns. But “existing” and “working reliably for your foreign card” are two different things. Many travelers report their cards being declined — not because of insufficient funds, but because of network limitations, machine limits, or their bank’s international withdrawal blocks.
More critically: remote areas like Tortuguero, the Osa Peninsula, and some parts of the Caribbean coast have very few (or no) ATMs at all. If you’re heading somewhere like Corcovado National Park, there is no ATM in the village of Puerto Jiménez that you should count on working after a long muddy hike.
The truth: Notify your bank before travel. Withdraw a comfortable buffer in San José or another major city before heading into remote areas. Don’t rely on “I’ll find one later.”
U.S. dollars are widely accepted at tourist businesses, hotels, and many restaurants. But there are real downsides to relying on them. Vendors often give change in colones at an unfavorable rate, which means you quietly lose money on every dollar transaction that requires change.
Beyond the exchange rate issue, small local businesses, bus drivers, and market vendors will often prefer or outright require colones. Showing up with a $50 bill at a local taco stand is a recipe for awkwardness — they simply may not have change.
The truth: Carrying some USD as a backup is fine. But having colones on hand — especially smaller denominations — is what lets you move through daily life smoothly without losing money on bad exchange rates.
This sounds practical but usually backfires. Exchange rates outside of Costa Rica for colones are poor — banks in the U.S., Canada, or Europe often don’t stock colones at all, or charge a steep premium. Airport exchange counters in your home country are notoriously bad for small-volume exotic currencies.
The truth: Exchange money once you arrive. The Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José has exchange booths and ATMs, and rates improve significantly at local banks and in-country ATMs. Banco Nacional and BAC Credomatic are reliable options once you’re in-country.
It’s true that many restaurants in Costa Rica include a 10% service charge on bills. But that charge doesn’t always go directly to your server. Leaving extra cash for genuinely good service is appreciated and culturally appropriate — especially for tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
Cash tips are also far more immediate and certain than anything processed through a card. For guides on multi-day tours, drivers who navigate rough roads to remote lodges, or the person who hand-carried your luggage across a hanging bridge — small cash tips in colones or dollars mean a great deal.
The truth: Keep small bills handy for tipping. It’s one of the most impactful uses of cash you’ll have on the trip, and it’s how you genuinely support the local workers who make your experience possible.
Rather than choosing one or the other, think of it as situational. Here’s when each makes sense:
When to reach for colones
- Local sodas and street food
- Rural bus fares
- National park entrance fees (many)
- Local markets and artisan stalls
- Tips for guides, drivers, staff
- Remote guesthouses and B&Bs
- Tuk-tuks and informal transport
- Beach vendors and surf rentals
When your card will work
- Major hotels and resorts
- Chain supermarkets (Walmart, AutoMercado)
- Gas stations on major roads
- Large tour operator bookings
- Airport purchases
- Tourist restaurants in main towns
- Pharmacies in cities
- Car rental agencies
Before You Go: 6 Things to Do
- → Notify your bank of your travel dates and destination — international blocks are common without notice.
- → Get a no-foreign-transaction-fee card if you don’t have one. Charles Schwab debit or Wise card are popular with travelers.
- → Withdraw a cash buffer of $100–200 USD equivalent in colones in San José before heading to remote areas.
- → Keep bills in small denominations — 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 colón notes are practical for daily use.
- → Store cash in two separate places — never everything in one wallet or bag.
- → Check whether your lodgings accept cards in advance — many rural ecolodges are cash-only and won’t tell you until checkout.
The Bottom Line
Costa Rica isn’t cash-only, but it isn’t cashless either. The travelers who navigate it best come prepared with both — and keep their cash in sensible denominations, withdrawn locally, and ready for the moments when a card simply won’t cut it.