After my recent trip to Costa Rica I learned many things that I would like to share with all of you. These are 10 of the most important things to know before traveling to Costa Rica.
1. The Language Is Spanish
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. In touristy areas, many people speak English, however, it would still be useful to know some Spanish words and phrases. I have created an infographic with some helpful words and phrases to know before traveling to Costa Rica.
2. The Costa Rican Colon
The official currency of Costa Rica is the Costa Rican Colon (CRC). At this time (July 2019) 580 CRC is equivalent to $1 USD. The Costa Rican money is also very beautiful with bright colors and photos of rainforest animals.
3. Currency Exchange
Before traveling to Costa Rica you will be able to exchange USD for CRC at the airport in the international terminal. There is no fee for exchanging USD for CRC. When arriving back in the United States there will be a currency exchange fee when you exchange your CRC for USD and you will not be able to exchange any coins.
4. Paying In U.S. Dollars
One thing I noticed while I was in Costa Rica was that most places list their prices in USD and allow you to pay in USD. This was very common at restaurants and shops in popular tourist areas. I would recommend bringing some cash with you so that you can pay in USD and not be charged a foreign transaction fee on your credit card.
5. The Tip Is Included
When you go to restaurants you will notice that the tip is already added to your bill. You do need to give an additional tip but if you do it will be greatly appreciated.
6. Take A Water Bottle
When traveling in Costa Rica I highly recommend bringing your own refillable water bottle. It is very hot there with a high UV index so it is very important to always stay hydrated. The hotel I stayed at had a free water bottle refill station in their lobby.
7. Bring Bug Spray And Sunscreen
Buying bug spray and sunscreen is very expensive in Costa Rica. Before traveling to Costa Rica I recommend that you buy sunscreen and bug spray to bring with you. I used the All Terrain: Herbal Armor Natual Insect Repellent while I was in Costa Rica and it was very effective.
8. Wear Activewear Sandals
If you plan on doing anything other than beach days and swimming in the pool while you are in Costa Rica I recommend bringing a pair of activewear sandals. It is too hot to wear tennis shoes so activewear sandals will be much more comfortable. Before traveling to Costa Rica I got a pair of Teva sandals and they were super comfortable and worked great for all of my activities. I wore the Verra style in the color bungee cord.
9. Local Restaurants Are Called Sodas
If you are interested in trying local Costa Rican food during your trip then I recommend eating at a soda. A soda is usually a small family owned restaurant that serves homemade Costa Rican food.
10. The Meaning Of Pura Vida
During my time in Costa Rica one thing I learned is that the phrase pura vida really can mean anything and can be used to answer almost any question. Whenever you are meeting someone new saying pura vida is a fun way to greet them.