Costa Rica ATM Travel Guide
Some ATMs in Costa Rica have a reputation for being unreliable as there can be issues with the computer links, or the machines can run out of money.
Examples being Agujitas, Drake Bay, Corcovado National Park, Osa and Pavones.
If there are no ATMs close by, the ATMs in Costa Rica are not working with your card, or you want to avoid paying ATM fees / make larger withdrawals, check back here for our guide below. It explains how you can send yourself money online and pick it up at an authorized local cash pick up point.
It is a very similar process to buying something online with your debit card and is probably the quickest way to send money to yourself in Costa Rica.
There’s also currently a promo code so you pay NO FEE on your first money transfer.
Here are two useful links to find the nearest ATMs in Costa Rica : Visa / MasterCard
Costa Rica ATM Fees & General Information
Most ATMs in Costa Rica charge fees, though we have heard of some cards not being charged a fee with Banco de Costa Rica so this is worth trying first.
Fees are usually around 1,500 to 2,000 Costa Rican Colon, with the standalone machines in shops and tourist areas attracting higher fees and also taking a surprisingly high commission with the currency exchange rate they offer.
You will also probably get charged a fee by your own bank.
Having a Wise (formerly TransferWise) MasterCard can help reduce your home bank fees and gives a great exchange rate on purchases. With their borderless account / card you can hold your money in more than 40 currencies and use the debit card to get your cash out with low conversion fees and zero transaction fees. Click here for more info.
Withdrawal limits depend on the bank, and even vary as the cash point runs low.
They are usually between 100,000 and 250,000 Colon, meaning it may be worth asking around for which cash points handle larger withdrawals.
It’s also worth noting that in small villages, cash machines may have limited funds available.
With the method of sending yourself money to Costa Rica outlined below, you can send much more than ATM withdrawal limits and avoid having to make multiple withdrawals and the associated fees.
Major hotels take debit/credit cards, but cheaper accommodations, tourist sites and restaurants tend to only take cash. In tourist spots you will find that USD is more useful with some places not accepting the local currency. It’s best to have USD as change given will most likely be in Colon anyway.
ATMs in Costa Rica are not generally open 24/7. Many close at 10 p.m.
Unfortunately, ATM fraud in Costa Rica is becoming more common with the introduction of more private/standalone cash points. Stick to ATMs attached to banks where possible and check out our Travel Money Tips for what to look out for and more general information covering pre-trip planning, fees, scams, and general safety.
Getting Cash Without Using The ATMs In Costa Rica:
– Send Money To Costa Rica & Pick It Up Locally
With so many overseas Costa Ricans sending money home to their families, there are cash pick up points scattered across the country to collect these funds.
In a similar way, you can use your ATM card (debit/credit) or bank details to securely send yourself funds online through a reputable International money transfer service that has a partnership with a local cash pick-up point.
There’s also currently a promo code so you pay NO FEE on your first money transfer.
Check HERE to see if there is a local authorized cash pick-up point where you are.
In Costa Rica, this is any branch of Teledolar.
If there’s a branch locally, then follow the step-by-step guide below.
– Step By Step Guide…incl fee free promo code
Note: The process is quicker than the detailed guide suggests. It is currently possible to send from 50 countries, however, Israel and a few others are not yet included due to local government policies
- To begin, click World Remit LTD
(IMPORTANT: If you don’t see ‘Costa Rica’ in the Choose a Country To Send To list, this is because you must first choose which overseas country to send money from. The “Send From” option can be found at the top of the page on PC/Laptop. On mobile it is the last option in the drop down menu at the top of the page represented by the 3 horizontal lines) - Once You have chosen ‘Costa Rica’ as the Country To Send To, click “Get Started”
- On the next page make sure the Cash Pickup tab is ticked and click “Continue”
- On the next page, where it says “Select a cash pickup payout network” choose the option depending upon if you’d prefer to receive Costa Rican Colon (CRC) or US Dollar (USD).
- Enter the amount to send in your currency or receive in Costa Rican Colon (CRC) or US Dollar (USD). The exchange rate & fee (which you can remove with a promo code later) will automatically show. Once you’re happy click “Continue”. You are then prompted to register / create an account.
There is no need for a referral code on this page as you will apply your fee-free promo code on the payment page as you process your money transfer. - Once registered with your home details, you will need to input details of who you are sending the money to, so for the recipient, put yourself (as your name appears on your Passport) and use the address of your current accommodation. As the system is set up to transfer money from one country to another, you will also be required to provide a local mobile number. When possible, obtain a local sim, however if you don’t have one, people have asked their accommodation to use their number. The transaction ID that will be sent to this number is also sent to your registered email address, so you don’t particularly need access to the local phone (Obviously just ensure they cannot use your ID and the transaction number they received to withdraw your transfer). For the sending reason, select “Sending Funds To Self”.
- When it comes to payment details, it is important to make sure your name and address match the name on your Debit card and the billing address is used. Don’t forget to use the promotion code “FREE” (without quotes) on the payment page to get your first transfer FEE-FREE!
If your card payment fails for any reason, select the Sofort option and pay using your online banking log-in details. - Almost instantly you will receive a welcome email (don’t worry if this does not arrive) and a confirmation email of your transfer informing you to wait for a further email. In most cases this takes 10-30 minutes (longer if paying via bank details & not debit card or your financial situation is complicated). The final email will say whether identity / regulatory checks have been completed and inform you if your transfer is available to pick up. Note: Sometimes further information may be required from you before they can process the transfer in order to comply with regulatory requirements, however this is unlikely in most cases.
- Once complete just go to the pickup point you chose, show your Passport and quote the 11-digit transaction reference number starting with MMTR.
We update this guide every month or so, however, if you have any feedback to help keep this guide up-to-date or make it more comprehensive and easier for others to follow, please Message us on Facebook
Sending Money To A Bank Account Instead
You can also use the above method to quickly transfer money to an overseas bank account, perhaps to pay for your accommodation or an activity. The promo code above for NO FEE on your first money transfer also applies for these transactions.
Click HERE for this service.
IMPORTANT: If you don’t see ‘Costa Rica’ in the Choose a Country To Send To list, this is because you must first choose which overseas country to send money from. The “Send From” option can be found at the top of the page on PC/Laptop. On mobile it is the last option in the drop down menu at the top of the page represented by the 3 horizontal lines.
Once You have chosen ‘Costa Rica’ as the Country To Send To, click “Get Started”
On the next page make sure the ‘Bank Transfer’ tab is ticked, click “Continue” and proceed with your transfer. Don’t forget to use the promotion code “FREE” (without quotes) on the payment page to get your first transfer FEE-FREE!
For more information visit this FAQs section.
Wise, formerly TransferWise is another service that also offers bank transfers. If you are new to the service, and follow THIS LINK, you will automatically pay NO FEES on your first transfer of up to £500 (or the equivalent amount in any other currency).
Arguably the best thing about them is that they give you the mid-market rate on the currency exchange, so it’s much cheaper than a traditional bank to bank wire transfer. You won’t need any SWIFT or IBAN numbers, just the name of the account holder, their account number, the bank name and branch location.
Useful Links: