Costa Rican Colón · ₡ · Official currency of Costa Rica
The Costa Rican colón (₡) is named after Christopher Columbus (Colón in Spanish) and was introduced in 1896. It's considered one of the more stable currencies in Central America.
Six denominations circulate: ₡1,000, ₡2,000, ₡5,000, ₡10,000, ₡20,000, and ₡50,000, featuring flora and fauna symbolizing Costa Rica's biodiversity.
US dollars are commonly accepted at tourist spots, but change is often given in colones, so you'll likely end up holding some local cash regardless. Card payments are widely used in cities and tourist areas, but national park entrance fees or small kiosks may require cash. Exchanging at a bank in the city usually gets a better rate than at the airport.
You can view the real banknote designs on the Banco Central de Costa Rica's official page.
See Costa Rican Colón banknotes at today's exchange rate →