Practical Information for visiting Costa Rica

Costa Rica uses the colón (CRC), though US dollars are accepted widely in tourism and often quoted for tours and accommodation. Change from dollars usually comes in colones at a rate that favours the business.

Cards are accepted in most tourist-facing places; carry colones for sodas, buses, markets and small towns.

A ten per cent service charge and thirteen per cent sales tax are added to restaurant bills by law, so the tip is already included and additional tipping is optional.

Coverage for mobile networks is good in the Central Valley and the main tourist areas and patchy in remote regions like the Osa peninsula and parts of the Caribbean coast.

Local SIMs are inexpensive; eSIMs are simpler. Wi-fi is standard in accommodation, though bandwidth in remote lodges can be limited.

There is no passenger rail network to speak of. Buses are cheap and extensive; internal flights save a great deal of time to the Osa and the far north.

Costa Rica is one of the safer countries in Central America to visit, though standard precautions still apply, especially around theft rather than violent crime.

• Petty theft from parked cars, beaches, and unattended bags is the most common issue tourists actually encounter -- never leave valuables visible in a rental car (a frequent target at trailheads and beach parking lots), and keep an eye on belongings at the beach rather than leaving them unattended while swimming.
• Rip currents are a genuine, serious hazard on many Pacific beaches -- Costa Rica has one of the region's higher drowning rates among tourists, and lifeguards are far less common here than in many other beach destinations, so checking conditions and swimming with caution matters more than it might elsewhere.
• Wildlife encounters are generally safe when following guide instructions, but the country does have venomous snakes (including the fer-de-lance) -- stick to marked trails, wear closed shoes on hikes, and don't reach into dense undergrowth or under logs.
• Road conditions can be rough outside main highways -- unpaved roads, river crossings, and washed-out bridges are common in rural areas, especially in the rainy season, and a 4WD is genuinely necessary for some destinations (parts of the Osa Peninsula, Monteverde) rather than just a comfort upgrade.
• Natural hazards: Costa Rica has active volcanoes (Arenal, Poás, Irazú, Rincón de la Vieja) and sits in a seismically active zone -- follow official closures and alerts, particularly around Poás and Rincón de la Vieja, which have had recent eruptive activity.
• Emergency number: 911 works nationwide and connects to police, fire, or medical services.

No vaccinations are required for most visitors; hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly advised, and yellow fever proof is needed only if arriving from an affected country.

Tap water is safe in the Central Valley and most of the country, though bottled is advisable in remote areas.

Dengue is present in lowland areas and mosquito precautions matter. The sun is intense at this latitude.

Healthcare is good and Costa Rica has a substantial medical tourism sector. The main practical risks are rip currents on Pacific beaches, which drown several people a year, and road accidents on wet mountain roads.

Do not remove shells, sand, coral or wildlife; exporting them is illegal. Feeding wildlife is prohibited in national parks and harms the animals.

Drug offences carry serious penalties. Driving standards are variable and unlit hazards are common at night; many rental agreements prohibit night driving in some areas.

Costa Ricans are indirect and conflict-averse in manner, and open confrontation is counterproductive. Punctuality is relaxed socially and strict for tours and transport.

Beaches are all public by law up to the high-tide line, regardless of what a hotel implies.

911 is the national emergency number and English-speaking operators are generally available, which is not the case everywhere in the region.

The Red Cross operates the ambulance service. Private hospitals in the San José area offer the best care and will expect insurance details or payment.

For beach emergencies, lifeguards are present only on a minority of beaches — rip currents are the leading cause of tourist deaths here, and swimming where nobody else is swimming is the mistake.

Volcanic activity is monitored and access to some areas is restricted at short notice; observe closures.