🇨🇷 Costa Rica travel essentials
Everything you need to plan a trip to Costa Rica — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.
Top cities in Costa Rica
Public holidays in Costa Rica
Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.
Money & currency
The Costa Rican Colón (CRC, symbol ₡) is the official currency. Live exchange rates are updated daily.
Cost of living & travel — San José
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $32 | $115 | $325 |
| Food | $20 | $50 | $135 |
| Transit | $6 | $14 | $45 |
| Activities | $25 | $50 | $130 |
| Daily total | $83 | $229 | $635 |
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.
Visas & entry rules
Top-passport entry rules for Costa Rica — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:
| Passport | Rule | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US passport | Visa-free | up to 180 days | — |
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | Visa-free | up to 180 days | — |
| 🇪🇺 EU passport | Visa-free | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian passport | Visa-free | up to 180 days | — |
| 🇦🇺 Australian passport | Visa-free | up to 90 days | — |
Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.
Plan a trip to Costa Rica
Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:
What to pack
Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and Costa Rica's dress code.