The currency used throughout Costa Rica is the colon, pronounced similarly to the English word "cologne." The plural form is "colones."
Colones are available in coins and paper bills. The coins in circulation range from 5 colones to 500. The paper bank notes range from 1,000 colones to 10,000.
U.S. dollars are accepted in many places throughout Costa Rica. In fact, many ATMs allow you to withdraw either colones or U.S. dollars. However, if you make a purchase with U.S. dollars, you will most likely receive colones in change.
Credit cards are often accepted in Costa Rica, particularly in hotels and popular tourist destinations. However, it is wise to have cash on hand, particularly for taxi drivers or small shops.
Though the exchange rate fluctuates daily, it is roughly 500 colones to 1 U.S. dollar. Therefore, something that costs 5,000 colones is about $10.
