Phones:
Don't be a stranger...
To call the US from a Costa Rican cell phone or landline, it costs .27 cents per minute, regardless of the time of day.
You can look at ICE's web site for calling rates to other countries from landline or cell phones.
There are no reduced rates for after-business-hours calls.
You can call collect from any telephone in Costa Rica. Just dial 09, followed by the international access code of your country, followed by the phone number. If you need an English-speaking operator, dial 116.
You can use an international calling card (purchased in Costa Rica) from any pay phone in Costa Rica. Simply follow the instructions (English and Spanish) on the calling card. Calling cards are available for purchase from many grocery stores and small convenience shops. The cost to call the US is about .30 cents per minute.
If you want to pay cash for a call, go to a private line in a hotel or go to Radiografica offices in San Jose. Here you can use phone books, send or receive faxes and make international calls.
You can make international calls from pay phones using cash, but it's no fun. These phones only accept 5, 10 and 20 colones coins, consequently the long-distance caller spends more time feeding coins into the slot than he does talking. Also, pay phones are usually busy. Do not expect a lot of courtesy. People will keep on talking and talking no matter how burningly you glare at them. Incidentally, most pay phones in Costa Rica are out of order, so always ask if the phone works before you invest your money in it.
Many internet cafes offer cheap international calls. This is definitely the best option.
Most cell phones that are not Costa Rican do not work in Costa Rica. Some may work in San José, but at a hefty price.
Seethe Cell Phones article for more specifics.
Internet:Internet cafes are extremely popular throughout Costa Rica. Most charge a minimal fee per hour. Some hostels and hotels offer free access for their guests.
Wireless internet for the most part is mainly available in American establishments like TGI Fridays or hotels, though more and more places are modernizing. Current WiFi hot spots include the International airport, TerraMall in Escazu, Multiplaza in Escazu and Real Cariari Mall near Alajuela and Heredia.
In order to connect to the wireless hotspot at the airport-- you have to refresh your network list and connect to the un-secure network called "Hotspotexpress".
You might have to first manually disconnect from another of the airport's wireless networks not meant for public use, refresh your available wireless network list and manually connect to the "Hotspotexpress" network.
Read More about the Internet in Costa Rica
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