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I ordered currency and had it delivered to my door in less than 24 hours. Great service.
Excellent service...ordered at 2pm and package arrived 9:30am next day. Great rates. Have used ICE more than once and always the same prompt service. Will use ICE again
A very trustworthy company to use and the staff are so helpful and friendly! The rates are so much better than other exchange places.
The Costa Rican Colón (₡) is the official currency of Costa Rica (plural colones). It's named after Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus in English).
Costa Rica is one of the must-visit travel destinations in the world right now. Surf incredible waves, see incredible wildlife like the howler monkey and slow-moving sloth, zipline through Cloud Forests and so much more.
You'll hear everyone in Costa Rica saying "pura vida", a Spanish phrase which loosely translates to "no worries". In fact, Costa Rica is so harmonious that it hasn't had an army since 1948. You'll experience this relaxed, care-free attitude everywhere you go in the country: people really just love life in Costa Rica. Pura vida!
Visitors to Costa Rica often find that it's more expensive than other Central American countries. The reality is that you probably won't find the cost of eating and drinking out too expensive compared to the UK.
What's likely to drive up your holiday spending is the fact that there are so many excursions you'll likely want to go on while you're there. Zip-lining in Monterverde, surf lessons on the Nicoya Peninsula, wildlife tours and entry to Costa Rica's amazing national parks are all fairly pricey when you count everything up.
It's also worth bearing in mind that Costa Rica's public transport system isn't very well-established and the roads are quite bumpy, so most travellers choose private transfers or shuttle buses to get them around Costa Rica efficiently and comfortably. Shared transfers are the best value and organised by most hotels or hostels. Be prepared to spend between $40-80 per person if you're travelling long distances.
Costa Rica's economy has been growing steadily in the past few years. Although it's still known for being a largely agricultural country (Costa Rica is still one of the world's top producers of bananas and coffee!), much of this economic growth has been fuelled by the country's reputation as the premier ecotourism destination globally.
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Food, drink & accommodation in budget
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Costa Rica offers a huge amount to see and do. Touch down in San José, Costa Rica's largest city and cultural capital, where you'll find contemporary art galleries, a thriving food scene and an abundance of historic neighbourhoods to explore like the pleasant Barrio Amón. San Jose, while well-worth a visit, is just the jumping-off point to a wealth of natural wonders across the country.
Popular Costa Rican itineraries often include hiking on the slopes of Volcán Arenal and exploring the epic Monteverde Cloud Forest which is home to over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, and 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles. Then there's the luscious surf breaks in Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, where you'll find some of the best surfing and most beautiful beaches in the world. No wonder one of the world’s happiest countries ranks number six on the Lonely Planet’s guide of best countries to travel to this year!
The cost of a bed for a night in Costa Rica can range from £6 for a dorm bed, to £40 for a double room in a mid-range hotel or from £120+ for an upmarket hotel.
If you're on a budget, head to a soda (traditional Costa Rican eatery) where you can get a hefty plate of authentic food from between £3.50 and £7. A meal for 2 in upmarket restaurant will cost upwards from ₡20,000 (£27).
Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, which typically costs around ₡1,500-₡2,500 (£2-3). More of a beer drinker? Expect to pay between £2.50 in a traditional Costa Rican bar or restaurant and up to £5 in more touristy places.
The Costa Rican currency is the colón (plural colones). The currency symbol is ₡.
Notes come in 1000-, 2000-, 5000-, 10,000-, 20,000- and 50,000-colón denominations. Coins come in denominations of five, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 500 colones.
CRC is the abbreviation for the Costa Rica Colón, the official currency of Costa Rica. The currency symbol is ₡.
Visitors from the UK don’t need a visa to visit Costa Rica, unless the length of your stay exceeds 90 days. If staying more than 90 days, visitors must pay a Costa Rican departure tax of $29 when leaving the country.
Tipping etiquette in Costa Rica is similar to the UK.
A mixture of cash and card is best for Costa Rica. Cities and popular tourist resorts typically accept major credit and debit cards, but you'll still need cash for tips, taxis, buses, markets and buying food and drinks from local eateries. When you get out into small towns, you'll definitely need cash.
It's a good idea to order your Costa Rican Colones before you go, as you'll always get a better exchange rate than withdrawing from the ATM when you arrive in Costa Rica. ATMs in Costa Rica usually charge a non-sterling exchange fee of around 3% of the transaction, plus a charge to withdraw the cash. If you use your UK card in shops and restaurants, a spending fee of 50p-£1.50 will also typically be applied each time you use your card.
US Dollars are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and attractions, but unless the rate is posted in US Dollars it's usually better value to pay with Costa Rican Colónes. This is because the vendor will typically add an extra foreign exchange fee to convert the price into US Dollars.
No problem. We'll buy back any Costa Rican Colóns you have leftover at excellent rates, leaving you with more cash in your pocket (and a tidier desk drawer).
We will buy back up to GBP300 worth of currency per order, as per our terms and conditions.
To request a buy back, email [email protected] with your order number.
