Costa Rica’s currency is called the colon (CRC), named after Christopher Columbus. In most tourist towns, stores and restaurants accept U.S. dollars. You can exchange U.S. dollars and Euros at banks throughout the country.

Yes, but the exchange rate is not favorable. Try and exchange currency at a local bank. If you must get colones at the airport, exchange the bare minimum and then head to a bank to exchange larger denominations. Airport taxi drivers will accept U.S. dollars. 

The current exchange rate hovers around 500 CRC to $1 USD. The Costa Rican Central Bank sets Costa Rica’s floating exchange rate. A daily band – minimum and maximum for buying and selling colones, or CRC – exists, and individual banks and currency houses set their exchange rates from within the set band.