last edited Dec 11, 2019
Other Practical Information for Costa Rica
Luggage and Equipment to Bring
For coastal areas, pack lightweight clothing at all times and a warm layer for evenings or air-conditioned spaces. For the central region and mountains, warmer clothes are recommended. Also bring sun protection and, most importantly, rain gear (even in the dry season), as well as good hiking shoes for national parks or if you plan to hike.
Communications
Phone
International dialing code: (00 +) 506.
To call Costa Rica from abroad, dial 00 506 followed by the 8-digit number of the person you’re calling. Conversely, when calling from Costa Rica, dial 00 followed by the country code of the person you’re calling and their number, omitting the initial 0.
Internet
Internet is widely available and reliable in the country. Between Wi-Fi and cybercafés in cities or tourist areas, it’s easy to connect for free or at a low cost.
Post
Time Difference
Local time: .
Costa Rica is on GMT-6. This means it’s 7 hours behind France in winter and 8 hours behind in summer. Note that there’s a one-hour difference with neighboring Panama, which is on GMT-5 (when it’s 2:00 PM in Costa Rica, it’s 3:00 PM in Panama).
Electricity
120 V (60 Hz) with "American" plugs (officially types A and B), which will require an adapter for French plugs.
Opening Hours
Shops, banks, and many services are generally open on weekdays and Saturdays from around 8:00/9:00 AM until the end of the day. During Holy Week, many places are closed.
Laundromats
Local Tourist Offices
Weights and Measures
The standards for weights and measures are the same as in France.
French Language Use
While you may occasionally encounter people who speak French, it’s far from widespread, unlike English, which is nearly ubiquitous in tourist areas—largely because North American visitors make up the majority of the clientele in many places.