Money and costs

The local currency is the Colón (CRC). International surveys are possible in major cities and towns, as are credit card payments in more sophisticated establishments.

ACCOMMODATION

There is a bit of everything in Costa Rica, with a strong emphasis on truly ecological eco-resorts and others that only claim to be such. A double room in a guest houses backpacking with shared bathroom and only cold water can cost you only €8 to €10 per night. At the opposite pole, the best eco-resorts in the country charge many hundreds of euros a night. In between, there's a bit of everything, from San José's commercial-style hotels to family-friendly inns set in small farms with rewarding settings.

DINNERS 

The dish of the day in common Costa Rican restaurants is called Casado. It combines meat or fish with rice and beans and is served with salad and fried banana. It is guaranteed to cost less than €5 and can also include a glass of juice. 

More sophisticated and expensive meals are served in restaurants aimed at Costa Ricans and wealthier visitors, especially those at the country's most renowned eco-resorts and eco-lodges

INTERNET

Wi-fi is easy to find and often free in all tourist sites and infrastructures in Costa Rica whether hotels, guest houses, bars or cafes in the main tourist cities and towns. If you have a smart phone, tablet or laptop, you can purchase a local SIM card to access the internet throughout the country. The card will have a symbolic price – around €1 to €3 – while navigation and traffic can cost as little as €1 a day, depending on the tariff chosen. As a rule, it can be charged via SMS or cards available nationwide. Only the big cities and the most touristic places have a 3G signal. Outside of these “centers”, the normal will be to get EDGE or lower.