Parts 1 and 2 of this series covered the planning and the packing. This last part is for once you've actually landed including how to handle money, what to do about medications, and who to call if something comes up during your stay.
Cash, cards, and colones
Costa Rica runs on both the Colones and the US dollar, and both are widely accepted around Potrero, Flamingo, and Tamarindo. We recommend bringing some of each currency. US dollars are fine for bigger purchases, tours, and rentals; colones work better for small purchases, local sodas (family-run restaurants), and street vendors, where dollars aren't always accepted or you'll get change back in colones at an unfavorable rate.
There are ATMs in the Potrero area, but they occasionally run out of cash or go offline so don't rely on finding one at the last minute, particularly during high season when there is often long lines. BAC San Jose and Promerica tend to be the most reliable for foreign cards; expect $5 fee per withdrawal. Withdraw larger amounts less often to minimize the fee hit.
Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and tour operators, but smaller sodas, roadside stands, and rural spots are much more cash-dependent. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other contactless options are becoming more common at larger supermarkets and retailers but are still inconsistent so treat it as a bonus, not a plan.
When it comes to tipping, restaurants legally include a 10% service charge on the bill, so additional tipping isn't expected, though rounding up is always appreciated. For tour guides, $20 for a half-day tour is a fair benchmark. And keep a stash of small bills on hand because nobody at a parking stand or roadside stall can break a large one.
Medications: bring what you need
You can find a lot of medications at Costa Rican pharmacies, often without needing the prescription you'd require back home, but don't count on it because supply isn't always consistent, and you don't want to burn a vacation day hunting for a specific brand or dosage. Bring what you need in original, labeled packaging.
Personal prescriptions covering about a month's supply are generally fine to bring in; longer supplies may need documentation. It's smart to travel with a copy of your prescription or a doctor's note, especially for controlled substances. Beyond your regular prescriptions, it's worth packing pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medication, motion sickness tablets, and any kids' medications. The pharmacies are good in Potrero, but having your own on day one removes the guesswork.
One more thing worth packing deliberately: insect repellent. Guanacaste periodically sees mosquito-borne illness activity, so a DEET or picaridin-based repellent is worth using, especially around dawn and dusk.
Healthcare & pharmacy access in Potrero
The Potrero area is well covered for both routine and emergency care:
- Beachside Clinic in Huacas (about 20 minutes away) is open 24 hours with a pharmacy attached.
- Huacas Medical Center handles emergencies.
- 911 connects you to dispatch for medical, police, or road assistance, and Medi-Vac air ambulance service is available for serious situations.
Healthcare quality in this part of Costa Rica is genuinely good, and significantly more affordable than in the US, but it isn't free for visitors, which is the best argument for the travel insurance we talked about in part 1. If anyone in your group has an ongoing condition, it's worth discussing your itinerary with your doctor before you go, especially if you're planning more strenuous excursions.
A few more things worth knowing
You'll need a rental car to make the most of this area, and Costa Rican law requires liability insurance on it. Most US credit card coverage only handles collision damage, so budget for that and read the fine print at the counter. Google Maps and Waze both work well here; Apple Maps doesn't, so switch before you land.
And the one piece of advice that applies to almost everything in this series: bring a relaxed attitude. The power might blip, the internet might drop for an hour, a bridge might close for the afternoon. Things move at a different pace here, and letting that go is most of what makes a Costa Rica trip actually feel like a vacation.
A few practical tips
- Carry small bills for parking attendants, tips, and roadside stands.
- Withdraw larger ATM amounts less frequently to reduce the per-transaction fee hit.
- Keep medications in their original, labeled containers, and pack them in your carry-on rather than checked luggage.
- You'll get Lis's direct contact details in your private digital guidebook a few days before arrival - she's your first call for anything that comes up during your stay.
Our best advice
Patience is the most useful thing you can pack. Nearly everything in this post - an ATM that's out of cash, a pharmacy that doesn't have your exact brand, an internet outage resolve themselves faster than it feels like it will in the moment. Pura vida is a pace, not just a phrase.
Catch up on the series: start with passports, visas & travel insurance, or go back to what to pack.
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Questions about anything in this series? Reach out - you'll get us, not a call center.