Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of Latin America's easiest destinations. Uber and DiDi work in San José. WhatsApp for tour operators.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
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The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.
Wide coverage in San José.
China's dominant ride-hailing app, also big in Latin America. China uses a separate app (DiDi China) from the DiDi Rider app used everywhere else.
Often cheaper.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
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Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Strong for cities; offline for jungle drives.
📱Messaging
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The dominant messenger in Europe, Latin America, India, Middle East, Africa.
Universal — tour guides, hotels, drivers.
🍱Food Delivery
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Wide coverage in US, UK, Japan, Australia, parts of Europe and LATAM.
Most-used food delivery in the San José area.
✈️Travel Planning
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Activities, attractions, and SIM cards across Asia. Better than GetYourGuide in Asia.
For zip lines, volcano tours, wildlife trips.
Is Costa Rica one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- A / B
- Voltage
- 120V
- Frequency
- 60Hz
- Type A: Two flat parallel pins. Common in North America, Japan, parts of Central America and Asia.
- Type B: Two flat pins + grounding pin. Standard in North America for grounded appliances.
Same as the US.
Tipping
Restaurants legally add a 10% service charge plus tax, so additional tipping is optional, though rounding up or leaving a little extra for great service is appreciated. Tipping guides and drivers a few dollars is customary.
CurrencyCRC
Spanish you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Greet warmly with 'Buenos dias' or 'Pura vida'; Costa Ricans (Ticos) are friendly and polite
- Embrace the 'pura vida' attitude: relaxed, positive, and unhurried; do not rush people
- Use polite titles like 'Don' and 'Doña' with first names to show respect for elders
- A light handshake is standard; women friends may greet with a single cheek kiss
- Be patient with 'Tico time', as social events often start later than scheduled
- Show appreciation for nature and follow eco-friendly rules, as conservation is a national point of pride
✕Don't
- Do not call the US 'America' or reserve 'American' for US citizens; Costa Ricans are Americans too, and locals are 'Ticos'
- Avoid disturbing or feeding wildlife, and never remove plants, shells, or animals from parks
- Do not be confrontational or raise your voice; politeness and avoiding conflict are valued
- Avoid flaunting expensive valuables, which invites theft in busy areas
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Unofficial taxis (use red taxis with a yellow triangle, or licensed airport orange taxis) that overcharge or have rigged meters
- The slashed-tire or distraction trick in parking lots where a 'helper' offers aid while an accomplice grabs valuables
- Overpriced 'tours' sold by unlicensed operators, or being pushed to exchange money at poor rates
- Card skimming at unfamiliar ATMs; use machines inside banks where possible
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.