When it comes to tipping in Costa Rica,it’s important to know about the Costa Rican tipping culture so you know what to expect. It will also help to know about tipping in Costa Rica to get an idea of how much cash to bring to Costa Rica.
Something very important to note is that I am writing this from a Costa Rican AND foreigner point of view since Yeison is Costa Rican and I am from the United States. Obviously the tipping cultures in both countries are drastically different so what someone from the United States tells you about the Costa Rica tipping culture may be different than what Yeison, who is Costa Rican, tells you.
So in this post, I’m going to tell you about the tipping culture in Costa Rica from a local and foreigner point of view. There are affiliate links in this post.
Tipping in Costa Rica
So first things first. Tipping is not a mandatory part of the Costa Rican culture. Costa Ricans normally don’t give extra no matter how great or lousy the service is. It’s nothing personal. It’s just not their culture because the tip is already included in the price (of certain things). That is what they’re used to and what they grew up with.
Yeison never tipped as a Costa Rican growing up, even working in the tourism industry. It just isn’t part of the Costa Rican culture and it’s not something taught to them. Tipping in Costa Rica is not mandatory as it is like the United States.
How Much to Tip in Costa Rica
But as a tourist, what if you want to tip?
Then that is totally fine and is very very much appreciated. The standard percentage to tip in Costa Rica is 10%.
A good way to see the tipping etiquette in Costa Rica for tourists is that there isn’t a mandatory minimum percentage so any amount is very much appreciated. Especially since the minimum wage is not that high in Costa Rica. If you have the privilege to travel to Costa Rica, then we highly recommend to tip, particularly if you think the service was great.
Tipping in Costa Rica – Dollars or Colones?
You can tip in either Costa Rican colones or USD or both. Locals readily accept USD as USD can be used in Costa Rica and many Costa Ricans have a bank account in both local currency and USD.
You can read more about exchanging money, Costa Rican currency and using USD in this post.
Something interesting about the tourism industry is that you will see more tip boxes and people asking for tips in Guanacaste, La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio. This is because these areas receive a lot of American tourists.
Tipping Culture in Costa Rica for Restaurants
When it comes to tipping at restaurants, in Costa Rica, it is required by law that restaurants include the service tax, which they call tips and sales tax in their menu price. Sales tax is 13% and service tax (tip) is 10%. So they need to include two different types of taxes to the price.
However, some restaurants don’t include the taxes in the menu prices and will write somewhere “taxes not included” or impuestos no incluidos. If neither of the taxes are included, then you should expect to pay an extra 23% on top of the menu price. If just service tax is not included, it’s an extra 10%.
Sometimes they will include only one of the taxes but not the other so just keep that in mind.
Menu that includes all taxes in their listed prices will say something like this.
Menu that does not include the 10% service tax in their listed prices look something like this.
If you want to tip at a restaurant, we recommend to leave local currency cash.
Watch out for this…
In the more touristic areas, some resorts will give you an extra receipt with a tip section. You do not need to tip extra if you don’t want to as you will be paying extra on top of the 23% you already paid for service and sales tax.
For example, you get your bill and it comes to $50 USD with the 10% service tax and 13% sales tax included. At this point, you’ve paid everything you’re supposed to. But then they hand you another American looking receipt in English with a “tip” section, making you think you haven’t tipped yet so then you add an extra tip which in the US, it is a minimum 15-18%, even 20% now.
Tiping Etiquette in Costa Rica for Tour Guides
Some tour places (particularly in Guanacaste where they get mostly American tourists) will have tip boxes. Again, this is optional. You can tip in USD or CRC and the amount is up to you. If you feel they did an exceptional job, feel free to tip more if you want to.
Tipping Drivers
Same with drivers. If you want to tip the driver, do. For a normal shuttle driver, you can tip the standard 10%.
If you hired a private driver who guided you around and speaks English, I highly recommend giving them a tip 10% or more.
Tipping Taxis
Tipping the taxi driver is not normal in Costa Rica for locals. Yeison has never tipped taxis and they unfortunately have a pretty bad reputation so service is not usually good from taxis. But again, you can if you want to. If you do – tip in CRC. Also, make sure you pay taxi drivers in local currency only (small bills are the best).
Tipping Etiquette in Costa Rica for Hotel Maids
We always try to leave a little for the maids since they don’t make very much here. You can leave around 1000-2000 CRC or a few dollars a day.
Tipping All Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica
We like to give a small tip to the valet (if we use one), hotel maids and the bell boys. We don’t normally tip bartenders unless they are really good. I usually like to give a little bit to the masseuse too if we go to the spa.
Parking guys…watch out for them
These are the ones wearing an orange vest. They’ll come up to your car and charge you for parking, saying they’ll “watch your car” for you or that you have to pay them to park in “their spot”. However, these guys are not official nor is the parking lot an official parking lot. This means they do not own that parking lot, do not have insurance and do not have security cameras or actual guards. Basically it means they will not be responsible if anything happens to your car or belongings.
I feel kind of torn about this because Yeison had a terrible experience with them before. Instead of watching the vehicle like they said they would, it got broken into it and robbed since the parking guy was in on the robbery.
Also another thing we don’t really like about them is that they can be rude and persistent to get you to park in “their area.” We’ve seen some of them get nasty if you try to ask a question, leave, or not give them “enough.” I’ve seen them charge international and local tourists a ridiculous amount of money to park, especially during the holidays in very touristic places such as Manuel Antonio National Park and Tamarindo beach.
At the end of it, we avoid parking in unofficial places if we can’t help it. Unfortunately in Costa Rica, majority of parking is unofficial or street parking, so if we have to pay, we will give them the money after we get back to the car.
To Tip or Not to Tip
The bottom line is that tipping in Costa Rica is completely optional but very very much appreciated. 10% is the standard percentage.
So coming from a Costa Rican point of view, Ticos do not tip since it’s not the tipping culture in Costa Rica. But tipping has become more of an expectation in the more touristic and Westernized destinations.
So as tourists, it is very very much appreciated to tip in Costa Rica and we do recommend to tip well if you feel the service was good. You can tip in USD or local currency, both are accepted in Costa Rica.
Read more travel tips for Costa Rica!
Guide to finding accommodation in Costa Rica
Cost of traveling in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica. Get 10% off your Airalo eSIM package with our promo code “mytanfeet”
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Ian Howarth says
In spite of the clarity of your advice, I remain a bit confused…so if I go to a restaurant where the 10% service tax is included in the bill, do I not tip? Is the tax really a government tax, or is it just a levy that the restaurant adds to the bill in lieu of an optional tip?
Thanks!
Sammi says
The 10% service tax is a government tax and it is to go to the staff, usually shared among them, so the amount in the end, is small. If you want to tip, you can. If you don’t, that’s fine too. If you feel like you had exceptional service where they deserve more tip, feel free but it’s not mandatory, just greatly appreciated.
Nan says
We have planned a trip April 17 to 26, we realized to late that it will be extremely Hot. Your site has given us some excellent tips and recommendations that we intend to use in hopes that we can enjoy our trip despite the heat. There is so much good information here. Thank you
Harriet says
Can we use credit cards everywhere?
Sammi says
Almost everywhere but some establishments may not take credit card, only cash so it’s good to have cash handy.
Dennis says
I’m going to San Jose in a couple of weeks. I read your advise on tipping drivers but the Dental office is sending a driver to fetch me from SJO Airport and take me to my hotel. I imagine he might have to wait awhile for me to get through customs.
What would be a decent tip for this situation?
Thank you.
Sammi says
Normally 10% but you can tip more if you feel the service was better/deserved more. For private transfers, it is normal for drivers to wait for the clients to complete immigration/customs
Louise says
At La Fortuna, where we park for the river hot swim . We had been asking to pay for parking on the street. The guy was insisting. At first I said no .. todo bien. He was angry and insist. We finally give him the money. That was really inconfortable moment. In my opinion, They wont be able to stop a stoler anyway. If it help them to eat more … ok then
Tara says
This may be a bit different than tipping – I will be at a homestay and would like to bring a gift for the family. Is there a recommended gift or type of gift. If money is preferred, about how much per week?
Thanks!
Tara
Sammi says
For gifts, anything from your hometown is nice, like if your hometown is known for something. Or like graphic tees/clothes are always appreciated as clothes are kinda expensive here.
Tara says
Thanks…I’m in NYC, so not much that is hometown-ish, but will look for some T-shirts!
David says
Thanks for this article – it is very helpful. I have a situation that is not covered. My wife and I are going on a 13 night birding tour and out Guide/Driver is one of the owners of the company. The cost includes lodging, meals, transportation, entry fees, etc. – only alcohol is not covered. Would we be expected to tip? If so (or if we want to), how do we determine what is appropriate? Since the cost includes more than simply the cost of our guide/driver, a straight percentage would seem to be too much. We have no idea what an appropriate daily tip would be that we could multiply by 13. Thoughts?
Sammi says
Tipping is techncially optional in Costa Rica, if you wish to tip usually it’s 10% and you can tip more if you want or less depending on how you feel the service
frank Bradish says
I love the basic down to earth stuff you present in the various pages. Some of it has been very helpful. With a 75 day trip upcoming in Jan. I will use much of what I have learned.Thanks so much.
Heily says
Of course I read this the last day we are here, lol. You made it very clear. My family and I have been debating it this whole time and we couldn’t agree. Can’t wait to show them this post
Ann says
We didn’t read up ahead of time unfortunately and early in the trip someone told us that the would NOT receive the service charge so we were a bit confused. By the end of the trip we had it figured out but it certainly cost us more than it should have. Thank you for all your helpful info. We used Adobe for car rental because of you.
Sammi says
Always look at the menu, they will write if the service charge is included or not (some restaurants will not include service charge in the price even though by law they are supposed to and they will put a small note on the bottom of the menu saying service tax is included or not).
Glad the blog was helpful and hope you had a good trip!
Sammi says
For maid service, you can leave like 500, 1000 colones a day… for grounds people I would assume maybe the same as the maid. I’ve never had to tip a grounds person or concierge before… so to be honest not really sure. I guess depending on the length of your stay and what they do for you, maybe like 3000 colones a day for the concierge.
Sues says
We are renting 2 different houses during our stay – each house will have maid service, a grounds person and a concierge available to us. What would be an acceptable tipping point for these folks?
Brooke says
Thank you for this! It’s so different in every country! End it really is hard being brought up in the US to not tip!
Sammi says
Hi Brooke, you’re welcome. I know, tipping is so different around the globe so it’s good to know about it before going so to respect their customs and culture. The US has a strong and forceful tipping culture which is unlike many countries like Costa Rica.
Chris says
I was paying my bill by credit card in Santa Teresa and the server asked if I “wanted to tip?” I said I already did, the 10% service fee is included right here beside the tax (23% total). He said “that goes to the government”. Very awkward. Was he trying to scam me?
viviana says
I was born and raised in CR and yoy did a great job here!
Tip: As a native I know hownto handle the “parking guys” (we call them “güachimanes” btw, but dont say it to their faces) if you want your car safe, sayou pay when you get back, not before that way they wil wait for the money and actually watch your car.
Positive vibe to you guys!
Pura Vida<3
Sammi says
Hola Viviana! Haha I have heard Yeison use that term several times about those guys. We normally give them money when we leave anyways, it is just a bit off putting when they are very demanding and charge something ridiculous like 3,000. And I still wouldn’t trust them to watch our car after what happened to Yeison! But it is what it is. Thanks for commenting and pura vida 🙂
The Guy says
What a great little guide Sammi. I like most of the transparency there appears to be in Costa Rica.
I understand the sympathy for some who are genuinely lowly paid, or should I even say under paid. They work hard and deserve a fair pay.
As for the pressure to tip, especially if people stand over you or make a snard remark, for me that is begging and in a rude way too. It really gets my back up.
As a Brit I love transparency of pricing, or at least showing the highest price you will pay then you can barter down 🙂
I also really hate those car park attendants looking for tips. I see a fair bit of this in South Africa and some parts of the US (as well as less desirable areas of the UK). I learn quickly though and will move on and try to park somewhere else if I can which also feels safe.
Sammi says
I’m all for transparency! Or at least making it simple so it’s a flat rate but the US for some reasons loves to put these “options” which in reality is more of an expectation and just about mandatory. I can totally understand why people from other countries find it so frustrating and are confused when they visit the US and are greeted with this terrible attitude about tipping. I didn’t know you can barter in England – good to know! I’m a big fan of bartering now 😀
The Guy @flightsandfrustration.com says
Well barter isn’t all that common in England but that I suppose is because often people don’t try. You may not get anywhere with some big name retailers and supermarkets but some shops will be open to the idea.
I often hear the phrase “everything is negotiable” so I need to keep adopting it as a mantra 😉
Sammi says
Haha I like that. I love how you can barter everything in Asia too!
Michelle at Triposs says
Great infographic! We are planning a trip to multiple continents and tipping is definitely something that we are thinking about. I had no idea about Japan and China and their views towards tipping.
Sammi says
It’s definitely something to read up about so you don’t land in some awkward situations. The whole world has a very different view on tipping so it’s something good to know!
Dan @ A Cruising Couple says
This is perfect! We have been in Costa Rica for a month now and are still trying to figure out how it works :-p You laid it out so clearly. Thank you so much for putting this together!
yeison says
Hi Dan, I hope you guys are doing great ! Glad you found this useful, thanks for the comment … Pura vida !