To help you plan your trip to Playas del Coco, we compiled a list of items that would be wise to pack for your vacation. Everything mentioned in the list below is available to purchase in the area however, you will suffer from some sticker shock if you are conscious of prices. It is quite expensive! Make sure you are fully prepared for your trip so you can save your pennies for nice dinners, excursions, and some Holiday shopping if desired.
Understand your restaurant check
It’s worth noting that anytime you dine at a restaurant on your vacation, there will be a 10% service charge and a 13% tax added to your bill. A 23% jump can be alarming however, it’s not
necessary to tip your server additionally due to the built-in gratuity. If you had exceptional service, it’s quite acceptable to leave a couple colons on the table.
Tipping
Most service staff in Costa Rica hope to receive a tip. If you don’t feel comfortable tipping in CR because of your cultural norms or a different reason, do not feel pressured to do so. As mentioned above, most restaurants have built-in gratuities. Tips may be provided in either American dollars or local Costa Rican colones. Colones are typically preferred because they save tour guides, drivers, waiters/waitresses, and/or hotel staff a trip to the bank to exchange the funds. Here is a list of services that should be helpful while in CR:
Tour Guides - Consider tipping your tour guide between 10%-15% of the tour cost. For example: If you book a tour to Rio Celeste for $135 US dollars, the minimum you should offer if you were happy with the excursion would be $15 US dollars per person or couple. If there are several tour guides through your tour, feel free to divide that total tip between all of them or leave it in the tip jar which is sometimes available at the end of your tour.
Tour Drivers - In general, it's nice to give a flat rate of $2-$5 (not per person)
Shuttle service drivers - If you're travelling alone or as a couple, typically an offering between $2-$5 US dollar is acceptable. If there are three or more, consider $5-$10 US dollars.
Taxi Drivers - Tipping taxi drivers isn’t as common a practice as tipping other drivers in Costa Rica. However, it’s kind to show your appreciation for the ride by rounding up the total shown on the maria (meter).
Restaurant Servers - Most restaurants add a 10% gratuity charge on your final bill however, if the service was great, we personally always leave a couple extra colons on the table. If there is no service charge added, consider leaving 10-15%
Some rough roads
If you plan on driving in CR its worth noting the roads are bad! The good news is, from the airport to Coco and all around the Gulf of Papagayo, the conditions are perfectly acceptable, and a small car will suffice! If you plan to travel with your vehicle, Costa Rica is known to have some of the worst roads in the America’s! Do yourself a favour and spend a little extra on getting a 4x4. You will need it.
Car Insurance
As mentioned in our transportation section, car insurance can seem very inexpensive when you book online and ahead of time. If you do not have the option to purchase insurance once you check out, you will be surprised with this mandatory cost when you get your vehicle. It can feel like a “scam” but rest assured, purchasing this insurance is required by law. There are SOME credit card companies that offer car insurance while travelling internationally. We suggest calling ahead of time and finding this information out. If this is the case, you MUST have a hard copy written letter from the card company to show them you are covered. Alamo seems to be the most recommended car rental company though we’ve rented from Budget and had no problems.
Drive safe
We feel this might be obvious, but we are human and friendly reminders are necessary! Our area isn’t too crowded or difficult however, if you decide to travel into the cities or further distances, drivers tend to be fast and impatient. Make sure you have a driver who is experienced and confident that is insured to drive the vehicle.
Currency
The colón is the currency of Costa Rica. Fun fact: The name of the Colon is derived from the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus. Having said that, just about anywhere will accept USD
as payment too, you just may get a bad exchange rate. Always be aware of what the exchange rate is when you are travelling. Downloading the XE travelling app would be beneficial to make sure you aren’t losing money during the sale. Sometimes, sales associates will pull a fast one on you and give you back a lot less when you aren’t aware of the exchange. I found it easiest to travel with Colons, that way there is no confusion.
Footwear
Plan your footwear around the time of year you are visiting and what activities you plan on doing while in CR. We added some suggestions in our “What to pack” section. The one type of footwear you will absolutely want is water shoes. Pick up a cheap pair and throw them in your suitcase. You will be glad you did when taking a dip near the waterfalls or in the ocean at certain beaches.
Take advantage of the Sodas
We’ve mentioned a few times that Costa Rica can be costly. To save some money on food, skip some tourist restaurants and eat at a local deli. Sodas are local family run restaurants that serve typical Costa Rican food and drinks. Sodas are where the locals eat and where your best value for food can be had. There are a few excellent ones to try in Playas del Coco.
Speaking of Food - Groceries
Coco actually has 4 supermarkets, but I have to say the Automercado is the best. You can find almost anything you need, and the quality and service is excellent. If you are craving items you
love back home, this is the place you will find it all. That said, the sticker shock is real. Anything imported is pricey! Look for local items to save some money. It feels no different then shopping in a Longos or Fortinos except for the fact that you are paying triple for imported goods. To give you an example: I lost my sunscreen while travelling alone and ended up paying almost $20 US dollars for 1 bottle.
Luperon is the closest option to both our units just as you exit the condo community
and a local supermarket. Because of this, you will find some more cost effective items here. Don’t expect a fancy grocery store – it’s not. But if you want to save a bit of money, are cool with the local brands and don’t need amazing air-conditioning, this is a great option. We’ve shopped here many times and have been satisfied with the food.
Super Compro is in the center of town, it’s in a convenient location which is closest to our units on the main strip. It does not have a wide selection however, if you need to pick up a few key items, this store is perfectly fine.
Mega super is a bit of a walk from town but reasonably priced and has great produce sales on the weekends.
*All supermarkets accept credit cards
**Most supermarkets close at 8:00pm
If you get a chance, we highly recommend checking out the local farmers market in Coco on Sundays (called feria in Spanish). They usually have excellent local produce for good prices and it’s a fun cultural experience. The market is located at the Hotel La Puerta Del Sol from 10am-2pm. You will get the best bang for your buck at this market!
Learn the Language
You won’t struggle to find locals with good English in Costa Rica, but picking up some Spanish can not only earn you kudos and a warm welcome – it can really boost your bargaining power. Bringing a small handbook of commonly used Spanish phrases will help you during your trip.
Tap Water
Generally, it’s safe to drink unless you are visiting Rural areas but to be on the safe side, always bring your bottled water (preferably a reusable one) with water from our Filtered jug in the unit. Bottom line, don’t fret if you have some in our unit, it’s safe!
We hope this section provided some useful information when planning your trip to Costa Rica. Do not hesitate to message us before or during your stay for any clarification or additional information. We want your experience to be easy, breezy!
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