{"id":45151,"date":"2024-01-08T08:59:54","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T12:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/?p=45151"},"modified":"2025-08-31T16:15:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T21:15:22","slug":"monnaie-en-costa-rica-payer-atm-echanger-de-largent-etc","status":"publish","type":"travel-guide","link":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/guide-de-voyage\/monnaie-en-costa-rica-payer-atm-echanger-de-largent-etc\/","title":{"rendered":"Monnaie au Costa Rica : Payer, ATM ; Echanger de l'argent, etc..."},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>The Official Currency: The Col\u00f3n (CRC)<\/h2>\n<h3>Understanding the Col\u00f3n<\/h3>\n<p>The official currency of Costa Rica is the col\u00f3n (plural: colones). While US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, using colones is often more practical and can result in better value, especially for everyday purchases.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Symbol:<\/strong> The symbol for the col\u00f3n is \u20a1, a C with two diagonal strokes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Common Banknotes:<\/strong> You will encounter banknotes in denominations of \u20a11,000, \u20a12,000, \u20a15,000, \u20a110,000, and \u20a120,000. These notes are a vibrant celebration of Costa Rica&#8217;s natural heritage; each one is beautifully designed to feature important national ecosystems and their iconic wildlife, such as sloths, hummingbirds, and sea turtles.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Common Coins:<\/strong> Coins are available in values of \u20a15, \u20a110, \u20a125, \u20a150, \u20a1100, and \u20a1500.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quick Conversion:<\/strong> The exchange rate is dynamic and fluctuates daily. For a simple mental estimate, you can think of \u20a11,000 as being roughly equivalent to $1.75 to $2.00 USD. For the most accurate, real-time rates during your travels, we advise downloading a currency converter application for your smartphone before you depart.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Utilisation des dollars am\u00e9ricains (USD) : la deuxi\u00e8me monnaie non officielle<\/h2>\n<h3>O\u00f9 le USD est accept\u00e9<\/h3>\n<p>Les dollars am\u00e9ricains sont fr\u00e9quemment utilis\u00e9s dans les transactions li\u00e9es au tourisme, ce qui est pratique pour de nombreux voyageurs. Cependant, leur acceptation n'est pas universelle dans tout le pays.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Widely Accepted:<\/strong> You can comfortably use US dollars at major hotels, formal restaurants within tourist hubs, with most tour operators, at car rental agencies, and for private shuttle services.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Less Common\/Not Accepted:<\/strong> For a more local experience, you will need colones. USD is generally not accepted at small local restaurants (known as <em>sodas<\/em>), local markets, for public bus fares, or in official taxis, which are required to use a meter priced in colones. Acceptance is also rare in rural towns that are off the main tourist track.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Meilleures pratiques pour payer en USD<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Use Small Bills:<\/strong> It is essential to carry small denominations. Bills of $1, $5, $10, and $20 are ideal. Attempting to pay for a small item with a $50 or $100 bill will often be met with refusal, as smaller businesses may not have sufficient change or may be wary of counterfeit notes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bill Condition is Key:<\/strong> Costa Rican businesses are very particular about the condition of US currency. Ensure your bills are in excellent shape\u2014crisp and free of any rips, tears, tape, or writing. Damaged or heavily worn bills will almost certainly be rejected.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Expect Change in Colones:<\/strong> This is a crucial point to remember. When you pay for an item in USD, your change will nearly always be given in colones. The exchange rate used for this transaction is set by the vendor and is typically not in your favor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>M\u00e9thodes de paiement : esp\u00e8ces ou carte<\/h2>\n<h3>Quand utiliser l'argent liquide (les colones sont les meilleures)<\/h3>\n<p>L'argent liquide est indispensable pour la vie quotidienne et pour d\u00e9couvrir le Costa Rica comme un local. Avoir des colones \u00e0 port\u00e9e de main est toujours la meilleure approche pour les petites transactions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For small purchases at local shops (<em>pulper\u00edas<\/em>), bakeries, or roadside fruit stands.<\/li>\n<li>At charming local eateries known as <em>sodas<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>Payer pour les transports en commun et certains taxis.<\/li>\n<li>When shopping at the wonderful weekend farmers&#8217; markets (<em>ferias<\/em>).<\/li>\n<li>Pour r\u00e9compenser vos guides, chauffeurs et le personnel de l'h\u00f4tel, o\u00f9 l'argent liquide est grandement pr\u00e9f\u00e9r\u00e9.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Quand utiliser les cartes de cr\u00e9dit\/d\u00e9bit<\/h3>\n<p>Les cartes sont pratiques et s\u00e9curis\u00e9es pour les d\u00e9penses plus importantes dans les entreprises plus \u00e9tablies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dans les grands \u00e9tablissements tels que les h\u00f4tels, les centres de vill\u00e9giature, les agences de location de voitures et les restaurants haut de gamme.<\/li>\n<li>Pour r\u00e9server des visites et des activit\u00e9s aupr\u00e8s d'entreprises \u00e9tablies et professionnelles.<\/li>\n<li>Chez les grandes cha\u00eenes de supermarch\u00e9s comme Auto Mercado, Mas x Menos et Pali.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Card Acceptance:<\/strong> Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere that takes cards. American Express and Discover have a much more limited acceptance and should not be relied upon as a primary card.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Conseils essentiels sur l'utilisation des cartes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Inform Your Bank:<\/strong> It is imperative that you notify your credit card company and your bank of your travel dates and destinations before you leave home. This simple step prevents your account from being frozen due to transactions being flagged as potentially fraudulent.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Frais de transaction \u00e0 l'\u00e9tranger :<\/strong> Review your card&#8217;s terms to see if it charges a foreign transaction fee, which is often a percentage (typically 1-3%) added to every purchase made abroad. If possible, travel with a card that has no such fees.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Always Pay in the Local Currency:<\/strong> If a credit card terminal presents you with the option to be charged in your home currency (e.g., USD) or the local currency (CRC), <strong>always choose CRC (colones)<\/strong>. Selecting USD activates a service called Dynamic Currency Conversion, where the vendor&#8217;s bank determines the exchange rate, which is invariably less favorable than the rate your own bank will provide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Accessing Your Money: ATMs (Cajeros Autom\u00e1ticos)<\/h2>\n<h3>Trouver et utiliser des guichets automatiques<\/h3>\n<p>Les guichets automatiques sont le moyen le plus efficace et le plus recommand\u00e9 pour obtenir de la monnaie locale \u00e0 votre arriv\u00e9e et tout au long de votre voyage.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Best Sources:<\/strong> For security and reliability, always use ATMs that are physically attached to official, reputable banks. Look for Banco Nacional (BN), Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), Scotiabank, or BAC Credomatic.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Availability:<\/strong> ATMs are abundant in cities and major tourist towns. However, they become scarce in remote villages and rural areas. It is wise to plan ahead and withdraw sufficient cash before venturing into more isolated regions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dispensing Options:<\/strong> Most bank ATMs conveniently offer the choice to withdraw either Costa Rican Colones or US Dollars. For the best value on everyday purchases and to avoid unfavorable vendor exchange rates, we advise that withdrawing colones is almost always the superior choice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Frais et limites des guichets automatiques<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Local ATM Fee:<\/strong> Be aware that most Costa Rican banks will charge a small, flat fee for each withdrawal made with a foreign card.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Your Home Bank Fee:<\/strong> In addition to the local fee, your own bank will likely charge its own fees for the transaction, such as an out-of-network fee and\/or a foreign transaction fee.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Withdrawal Limits:<\/strong> You will be subject to daily withdrawal limits. These are imposed by both the local Costa Rican ATM (usually around the equivalent of $400-$500 USD) and, separately, by your own bank back home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u00c9changer de la devise : les meilleures et les pires fa\u00e7ons<\/h2>\n<h3>La meilleure m\u00e9thode : Guichets automatiques bancaires<\/h3>\n<p>To reiterate this important point, withdrawing colones directly from a reputable bank&#8217;s ATM is the most secure method and consistently provides the best available exchange rate. It is the preferred method for savvy travelers.<\/p>\n<h3>Une bonne m\u00e9thode : Banques officielles<\/h3>\n<p>Vous pouvez \u00e9changer des dollars am\u00e9ricains contre des colones dans une succursale bancaire pendant les heures d'ouverture. Bien que ce soit une option s\u00fbre, elle comporte des exigences sp\u00e9cifiques.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>CRITICAL:<\/strong> You are required to present your <strong>original physical passport<\/strong> for any currency exchange transaction. Photocopies or digital images will not be accepted.<\/li>\n<li>Ce processus peut \u00eatre assez long, impliquant souvent de longues files d'attente.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>M\u00e9thodes \u00e0 \u00c9VITER<\/h3>\n<p>Pour votre s\u00e9curit\u00e9 financi\u00e8re, nous d\u00e9conseillons fortement d'utiliser les m\u00e9thodes suivantes pour le change de devises.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Airport Exchange Kiosks:<\/strong> These kiosks are notorious for offering very poor exchange rates and levying high fees. They prey on convenience. Only use them to exchange a very small amount if you are in an absolute emergency upon arrival.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Street Exchangers:<\/strong> Never exchange money with individuals on the street. This practice is unofficial and poses a significant risk of scams, receiving counterfeit bills, or being short-changed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hotel Front Desks:<\/strong> While convenient, exchanging money at your hotel&#8217;s front desk will come at a cost. The exchange rate offered will be significantly less favorable than the rate you would receive at a bank or an ATM.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><p>Pourboires au Costa Rica<\/p><\/h2>\n<h3>Restaurants<\/h3>\n<p>La culture du pourboire dans les restaurants costaricains est simple, car un frais de service est g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement inclus dans le prix final.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>By law, a 10% service charge (<em>servicio<\/em>) and a 13% tax (<em>impuesto<\/em>) are automatically added to your bill. You will see these listed as separate line items.<\/li>\n<li>Le pourboire au-del\u00e0 de ce 10% l\u00e9galement obligatoire n'est pas obligatoire. Cependant, si vous avez re\u00e7u un service vraiment exceptionnel, laisser un suppl\u00e9ment de 5-10% en esp\u00e8ces directement \u00e0 votre serveur est un geste attentionn\u00e9 et toujours appr\u00e9ci\u00e9.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Guides touristiques, chauffeurs et personnel d'activit\u00e9s<\/h3>\n<p>Pour ceux qui travaillent dans l'industrie du tourisme, les pourboires sont coutumiers et constituent une partie importante de leurs revenus. Votre g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9 est une reconnaissance directe de leur travail acharn\u00e9 et de leur expertise.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Full-Day Private Guide:<\/strong> A suitable tip is $15-$20 USD per person.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Group Tour Guide:<\/strong> For a shared tour, $5-$10 USD per person is appropriate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Private Driver (full day):<\/strong> For a dedicated driver, a tip of $10-$20 USD for the group is a kind gesture.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shuttle\/Boat Drivers:<\/strong> For shorter transfers, $2-$5 USD per person is standard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Personnel de l'h\u00f4tel<\/h3>\n<p>Reconna\u00eetre le service du personnel de l'h\u00f4tel assure un s\u00e9jour agr\u00e9able pour tous.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bellhops:<\/strong> $1-$2 USD per bag is customary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>M\u00e9nage :<\/strong> A tip of $2-$5 USD per day is greatly appreciated. It is best to leave the tip on the pillow or nightstand each day, as your housekeeper may change during your stay.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ma\u00eetriser la monnaie costaricienne : de l'utilisation des colones aux conseils sur les distributeurs automatiques de billets, en passant par le savoir-faire en mati\u00e8re de change.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":45480,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Currency in Costa Rica: Paying, ATM; Exchanging money, etc&#8230;","_seopress_titles_desc":"Master Costa Rican currency: from using colones to ATM tips and exchange know-how.","_seopress_robots_index":""},"tags":[553,23],"article-type":[24794],"collection":[27040],"continent":[24764],"country":[49],"class_list":["post-45151","travel-guide","type-travel-guide","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-costa-rica","tag-practical-information","article-type-practical-information","collection-repull","continent-central-america","country-costa-rica"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travel-guide\/45151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travel-guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/travel-guide"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45151"},{"taxonomy":"article-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-type?post=45151"},{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=45151"},{"taxonomy":"continent","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/continent?post=45151"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=45151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}