Business travelers will enjoy the advanced telecommunications system, modern infrastructure and excellent array of hotels and restaurants while traveling in Costa Rica.

Accommodations:

Costa Rica has a wide selection of modern hotels that cater to business travelers. Hotel amenities often include: fax, phone, high speed or wireless Internet, conference rooms, computer equipment and audio-visual equipment.

Read about the Hotels of Costa Rica

Banking and Currency:

The national currency is the colon. U.S. dollars and the Euro are easily exchanged in most banks. Other foreign currency can be exchanged through private agencies. Credit cards are widely accepted in heavily touristed spots, but you can't use them in some of the more rural areas. Hotels and restaurants will generally accept credit cards and dollars, but once you fan out from San Jose, small businesses, restaurants, and hotels will ask for cash payment in colones. Don't worry, ATMs are scattered throughout the country, and usually offer good exchange rates.The colon exchanges at 550 per dollar (as of September 2008).

Read more about Banking and Costa Rican Currency

Here is a list of Major Banks in Costa Rica

Tipping

Restaurant bills will almost always include tax and tip, except in certain tourist areas. Before you buy, look for I.V.I. on both the menu and bill which means that a 13% sales tax and 10% tip have already been added. Note: 10% can seem like a stingy tip, but in Costa Rica, it's perfectly acceptable. If service is exceptional, feel free to round up or add a small additional tip.

At hotels and the airport, $0.50-$1/bag is an appropriate tip for the concierge or baggage handlers. On the street, you'll often find area guards willing to watch your car until you return.  For their services, a $1 tip is appropriate. Tip tour guides $5-$20 per person, depending on the guide's knowledge and the cost of the tour. Don't tip the taxi driver, unless you want to round the fare up a bit.

Communications:

Phones: The country code for Costa Rica is 506. An area code is not necessary when dialing inside the country. All calls within Costa Rica are considered local calls. Note: Effective March 20, 2008, all land line phone numbers must have a 2 dialed first, and all cell phone numbers are preceded by 8. Phone calls made from Costa Rica to the U.S. are 27 cents per minute, regardless of the time of day.

Cell phones from other countries generally do not work in Costa Rica. Those that do work usually only get service in the San Jose area and roaming costs are very expensive.

Cell phones can be rented from local tour operators, car rental companies and hotels for as little as $5 per day, but often come with additional minimum calling fees per day. (specific conditions and other fees may apply)

Internet: Internet service is widely available throughout Costa Rica and Internet cafes can be found in almost every city. Central Valley cities and popular beach destinations now have high speed Internet (through cable modem, satellite or ADSL) and there are several Wi-Fi hot spots in and around San José. Several hotels offer Wi-Fi free to their guests. Dial-up Internet connection is still the norm for many smaller towns outside the Central Valley.

Post Offices: There are postal and telegraph offices in cities and towns throughout the country. The Central Post Office is located in San Jose on Second Street between Avenues 1 and 3, and is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 6pm and Saturdays from 7am. to 12 noon. Radiografica Costarricense is located on Fifth Avenue between Streets 1 and 3. This company provides telex, fax, international data transmission, and many other services (including Internet access). Read more about Communications in Costa Rica.

Cuisine:

A typical Costa Rican meal, commonly known as a casado, consists of rice, beans, sweet plantain, salad and some type of roasted or fried meat or fish. A casado, also sold as a "plato del día", is typically accompanied by a natural fruit juice (blackberry, pineapple, papaya etc.).

Costa Rica has many modern malls, shopping plazas, supermarkets, restaurants and fast food chains where visitors can enjoy local or international food. In larger towns, American food is easy to find, as is European, Middle-Eastern and Asian cuisine.

Foreign Citizens Residing in Costa Rica:

As of 2007, the country hosts over 50,000 foreign citizens. According to the U.S. Embassy, over 20,000 of these are U.S. citizens.

Language:

Costa Rica's official language is Spanish, though a large number of its citizens are at least moderately bilingual. In fact, all Costa Rican public and private schools require a second language and to graduate, all students must pass an English or French exam.

English, due to its status as the international language of tourists, is the most common second language in Costa Rica. In most areas frequented by tourists – hotels, restaurants and national parks – visitors will find signs in English and employees who speak it fluently. In addition, the Caribbean coast considers its local creole, which is very similar to Jamaican English, as one of its unofficial languages.

However, when you stop for a snack at a roadside stand, enjoy a typical meal at a family-run restaurant, or order some beachside ceviche, you may want to give your high school Spanish a test run. You'll find Costa Ricans to be very accommodating and patient with your Spanish, no matter how rudimentary, and you'll have a blast communicating with a combination of dictionary words and lively charades. Learn about Costa Rica's Slang and Idioms

Medical Facilities & Services:

Any foreigner who is temporarily in the country has the right to receive health care at hospitals and clinics in case of an emergency, sudden illness or a chronic disease.

Costa Rica has a modern public health system with hospitals throughout the country administered by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).

Excellent private health care is also available; several modern hospitals such as the renowned CIMA hospital in Escazu cater to foreign residents in Costa Rica. CIMA has a staff of internationally trained doctors that speak English and other foreign languages.

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Safety/Travel Advisories:

Currently there are no travel warnings for Costa Rica. It is one of the safest countries in the world to visit. Visit the CIA World Fact Book site and see for yourself!

Visitors should be aware that car break-ins are becoming increasingly common, especially in urban areas and on remote roads in national parks. Travelers should carry their passports (or a copy with most recent entry stamps) and money on their person at all times. Many hotels offer secure in-room safes. Contact your country's embassy as soon as possible after loss or theft of a passport. Use our Commercial Directory to search for Foreign Embassies in Costa Rica. (Click "search" in our Commercial Directory and type in the keyword "embassy" to view a list of embassies).

Requirements for Entry/Exit:

With a valid passport and round trip or continuing ticket, citizens of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy can travel to Costa Rica for a 90-day stay without a consular visa. To stay legally beyond the period granted, travelers will need to submit an application for an extension to the Office of Temporary Permits in the Costa Rican Department of Immigration.

Tourist visas are normally not extended except under special circumstances, such as academic, employment, or medical grounds and extension requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There is a departure tax for short-term visitors. Tourists who stay over ninety days without receiving a formal extension can expect to pay a higher departure tax at the airport or land border, and may experience some delay at the airport. Persons who have overstayed previously may be denied entry to Costa Rica.

Read More... Passport & Visa Info, Exiting Costa Rica

Visas:

If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you may need a visa to enter Costa Rica. For current visa entry requirements, please visit our Visa Resource Center.