The currency of Costa Rica is the colon and US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for colones upon arrival. In our culture we can put everything on credit and debit cards, however, in rural areas of Costa Rica you will find it useful to always keep cash on hand. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the cities.

In most restaurants in Costa Rica the tip ais lready on the bill. A 10-15 percent tip is routinely included in the bill. Always check your bill and if is not included, please leave a 10-15 percent tip. If your service is excellent, feel free to add an additional tip. If you aren`t satisfied with the service, you can forgo a tip altogether. Bartenders receive a tip equivalent to about 140 to 280 colones.

Tipping in hotels in Costa Rica is expected. The most commonly tipped employees are the porters and housekeeping. If a porter helps to carry your bag(s) to your room the customary tip about 550 or 1100 colones per bag, usually no more than 1100 colones total. It is customary to leave about 1100 colones per day (per person) for housekeeping. Other hotel services are tipped depending on the service provided.

The usual tip for cab drivers is the give the change or round up to the next Colon. You may wish to tip extra if they help you with your luggage or provide you with useful info about getting around. If you hire a taxi driver for the entire tip an extra of about 2800 to 5600 colones per day (per person). If it is around Christmas or New Year`s Day, a tip is very much appreciated. Needless to say, if your driver was rude or took you on an out of the way route to hike up the fare, do not leave a tip. Always remember when traveling abroad that it is good practice to agree on a final fare before the cab driver begins driving.

The normal tip for tour guides is about 2800 to 5600 colones per day (per person). If a tour guide is particularly enthusiastic or informative do not hesitate to slip them a little extra cash if you wish!

Street Performers: Here is one place to splurge a bit. Though you may not actively solicit entertainment from musicians, mimes, artists, and the like, it is polite to tip them if you have enjoyed their trade. These people live off the money they make bringing their talent to the streets of San Jose, Limon, San Francisco or Alajuela. Take some of what you would have left your waitress in the restaurant and give it to one of these artists!

Other Services: In the event that you are in Costa Rica for a special occasion (wedding, honeymoon, graduation gift, birthday, etc..) and employ the services of a hairdresser, make-up artist, party planner, personal shopper, tailor or spa services and the like, use your best judgment in tipping. Factor in the cost and quality of service and, as a general rule, stay in the 10% range.

Remember that it is perfectly okay to abstain, especially if you are not happy with the service provided. Unlike in the U.S. the expectations for tipping are lower in Costa Rica than in America. This is also true for hotel staff, though if you encounter a problem with the service within the hotel, we highly recommend speaking with the manager.

When paying for services in cash (which we generally recommend for services other than your hotel) remember to take your receipt. This is important for two reasons; If you leave a tip on a credit card, the person providing the service may not always get it, and if there is a discrepancy, it is important to have your receipt to settle it with the manager of the establishment and to prove that you paid for the service.

Driver`s License

Visitors traveling to Costa Rica will need to provide a valid US, international or a foreign driver`s license along with your passport (or a copy) showing the `tourist visa` stamp.

The legal driving age in Costa Rica for visitors is 21 and your driver`s license must have been issued for at least 2 years.Insurance

You also need to have valid insurance and all documents relating to the car (certified copies are OK). You should check with your insurance agent to see if you have coverage while renting a vehicle in Costa Rica. It is also a good idea to check with the credit card company that you are using to pay for the rental car to see if they offer insurance protection at no additional cost.Glasses

People who wear glasses must carry a spare pair in the car at all times. Child Safety Seat

The law in Costa Rica requires children under the age of 12 (subject to height and weight limits) to be properly restrained in a child passenger restraint system or a booster seat. Child seats are available at the airport rental locations and offsite rental locations for an additional daily fee.GPS

GPS Navigation devices are available at airport rental locations and most off-site locations for an additional daily fee. It is highly recommended to have a GPS while driving in Costa Rica. Road signs are sometimes non-existent and driving in rural areas can be difficult without one.

For an additional fee, you may rent a GPS system, It can help you plan routes, estimate distances and arrival times, and even locate the nearest gas stations. We recommend you to ask the rental car agency representative to save into the GPS all the locations relevant to your trip, such as your hotels and points you plan to visit during your stay here, this will save you from a lot of trouble trying to figure out, how to spell a location, where you are or how to get to your destination. Also, check with the agency that the maps are kept updated as Costa Rica is always under construction and new roads and neighborhoods are added almost monthly.

But remember GPS devices aren`t always accurate, you may experience signal loss because of certain factors unique to Costa Rica region that you should consider, such as curvy routes forming a complex network, remote mountains or forests. As a supplement to GPS, ask the car rental representative a physical map and don`t forget your map! Particularly if you`re planning on driving extensively, it will be a lot of help in the case you experience signal loss.Other

Fire extinguisher (recommended)

First-aid kit (recommended)

The emergency services can be accessed by calling 911.

Drinking and Driving

Do not drink and drive! It is a serious criminal offense driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is illegal and you can go to jail.Cell Phones, Navigation Aids, etc:

When renting a car in Costa Rica, a cell phone will be provided, which is included in the rental rates. This way you can stay connected with your hotel and the rental car agency in case you suffer any inconvenience. You can contact the rental car agency to inquire about things as simple as directions to a destination. Keep in mind you might experience momentary service reliability, intermittent signal or signal loss while you are traveling through certain regions.

The use of a cell phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant, GPS or mp3 player while driving in Costa Rica is prohibited when operating a motor vehicle. This also applies when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, the only time a device can be used, is when the vehicle is parked in a safe location and the car is turned off.

Drivers may use a hands-free (Bluetooth) device for voice communication through a smartphone The driver must not use any screen based aid to navigation (or entertainment) while on the road. You must pull completely off away from traffic. (It makes sense really; after all, you are not allowed to drive down the road with a map on the steering wheel). DVD players and screen-based devices other than those directly needed to operate the car must be positioned so the driver cannot see them. However, in reality, the police rarely have anything to do with this law. .Driving Age

The legal driving age in Costa Rica is 18 for residents, however, you must be 21 or over to drive as a visitor in the country. To rent a vehicle you must be 25 or over and rental car companies will have a surcharge for younger drivers. Remember that you will also require a credit card to rent a vehicle.Seat Belts

Costa Rican seat belt laws require that all passengers in a vehicle (front and back) wear a seatbelt at all times.Accidents

If you are involved in an accident in Costa Rica, DO NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. Call 911 and your rental car company immediately to report the accident and do not move the car until police arrive and advise you to do so. While you are waiting for help to arrive be sure to write down information regarding the other driver`s license plate numbers, phone numbers and take pictures.Using Indicators

Tractor trailers in Costa Rica will often drive really slow on the main highways (usually two lanes of traffic, one in each direction) and will use their left turn signal to notify drivers behind them that it is safe to pass. Always use caution.Overtaking

Overtaking in Costa Rica can only be done safely on the left-hand side of the car you wish to pass. Take care when overtaking – allow more space between you and the car in front so you can see further down the road ahead. However, be aware that other drivers might not use the same caution and you will likely come across people passing on curves and uphill where it can be very dangerous.Lights

Dipped headlights should be used in poor daytime visibility. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.Children

It is prohibited to carry children in your arms.

No one less than 12 years of age can sit in the front unless they use a device approved for this purpose.

Children under twelve years must use an approved restraint system suitable for their height and weight and must always be placed in the back seat.

Gas stations are referred to as ‘bombas’ in Costa Rica and are sometimes hard to find, although there are many located throughout the country. Be sure to fill up your tank at a station you`re familiar with before heading out on long road trips. All of the stations here have regulated government prices and are all full-service stations

All grades of unleaded petrol (Benzin), diesel (gasoline `A`) and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. Led no longer exists. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. If you make a mistake refueling, don`t start the car but ask the attendants to drain the tank for you. This will save you from having to pay for any damage.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. It`s a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be traveling abroad. This ensures they don`t suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.

In Costa Rica, the major roads have a speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph) and secondary roads have a 60 km/h (37 mph) speed limit. The speed limit around schools and hospitals is 25 km/h (15 mph). It is very common to see traffic police set up checkpoints in Costa Rica, they may use a radar to catch people speeding or pull you over for not wearing your seatbelt, they can also use these checkpoints to make sure you are carrying the right identification, always keep your license and your passport (or a copy) with you at all times.

Parking

Be aware when parking in cities such as San Jose, there are individuals that will `help` you park your car and then ask you for money to watch your car! These people are `unofficial` parking attendants in the cities and it can be well worth paying them a few colones (500 colones = less than $1) to watch your car, which is a good way to avoid it from being broken into or worse, stolen. These guys are called `Los Guachimanes` or watchmen and are generally just regular honest people who are trying to make a living and normally patrol parking found on a city block, outside a restaurant or by the beach.Weather

The weather in Costa Rica can make for treacherous driving conditions during the rainy season, which runs from May through November. Many of the roads throughout the country are in poor condition and the drainage system is very inadequate, so roads just wash away! The roads during the wet season are prone to washouts and landslides making it dangerous to drive on the mountain and hillsides. Some of the roads to use extra caution on during this time are Route 2 which runs between San Jose and San Isidro de El General, Route 32 runs between San Jose and Limon on the Caribbean Coast and Route 27 which connects San Jose to Puntarenas and Jaco. During the rainy season, many of the mountain routes can be closed for several days at a time, the rainiest months are August and September.One Lane Bridges

Many of the bridges throughout the country of Costa Rica are narrow one-lane bridges that are used to cross the rivers. A general rule to follow on these bridges is the car that arrives at the bridge first has the right of way and any cars behind going in the same direction can proceed over the bridge, then vice versa. Puente Adelante is the sign for these bridges, be on the lookout when driving as they can come up quickly.River Crossing

There are also many rivers to cross in Costa Rica, that don`t have bridges. Most of the time it is a small stream that is passable with a regular sedan, keep in mind most rental car agreements void river crossing and the insurance will not cover any damage caused to the car. A good rule of thumb when coming to a river crossing is to get out of the vehicle and wade across to check the depth of the water or observe another car going through and follow the path they take.Driving at Night

Driving at night in a foreign country can be daunting for anyone, driving in Costa Rica at night in certain areas can be downright scary and a recipe for disaster. The signposting here is pretty much non-existent and major changes in the road and terrain can come up without warning. There are no street lights especially out in the mountains and countryside. The roads here can unexpectedly end, trees and poles grow in the streets and the potholes and manholes can be the size of a small car! Add darkness to these conditions and you could end up in a serious accident. Try to avoid driving at night unless you are in the main cities or populated areas with other cars and lights to navigate.Distances

The driving distances in Costa Rica can be misleading, on a map it may seem very close to drive from one area to the next, but the distances are actually a lot greater than they seem. On a map, Arenal looks like it is situated very close to Monteverde, but it will take you three hours to get there by car, the same applies driving from Arenal to Liberia, it looks close by but is a 3-hour journey. A Lot of the driving in Costa Rica is an adventure and if you are traveling along the remote rural dirt roads the journey can take a lot longer. It is recommended to drive using a GPS in Costa Rica especially in the more remote areas where signs are not common. The Waze app also works great in Costa Rica.