Colon, Which Is The Term For Costa Rica Money Has Been The Official Currency Since It Was Introduced In 1896. Its Name Was Derived From Christopher Columbus Who Is Known In Spanish As Cristobal Colon. The Present Costa Rica Money Replaced The Old Currency Which Was The Peso, And Is Closely Associated With Costa Ricas History And Culture. This Is Clearly Defined As The Bills Show Images Of People That Are Important In The Countrys History. The Costa Rica Money Is Reflective Of The Fact That Costa Rica Is Central Americas Most Expensive Country. Basically, Everything In The Country Costs Higher Than Expected. Prices Of Some Goods Are Just About The Same As In The U.S., Which Comes As A Surprise To American Guests And The People Who Come From Countries With Cheaper Merchandise. Generally, The U.S. Dollar Is Widely Accepted And Has Been The Second Costa Rica Money. This Is Mostly True Though Within The Tourists Areas. Costa Ricans Or Ticos Basically Transact Using Costa Rica Money. This Means That They Are Being Paid In Colones And That They Buy And Sell Using Colones. It Would Be Very Wise To Get A Little Bit Acquainted With Costa Rica Money Before You Actually Go For A Visit. While U.S. Dollars And Credit Cards May Be Acceptable In Most Establishments, Paying With The Costa Rica Money Can Give You A Fair Deal. If You Insist On Using Your Dollars To Pay For Your Purchases, Make Sure You Know The Current Exchange Rate To Avoid Getting A Fake Rate. It Is Wise To Have Your Dollars Exchanged To The Costa Rica Money. However, The Best Choices To Have Them Changed Would Be At The Bank Or The Casa De Cambio. The Four Major Government-owned Banks Give The Best Exchange Rates For Your Cash Although The Lines Are Almost Always Very Long. These Banks Generally Have A 3 Charge For Travelers Checks. Smaller Banks May Have Shorter Lines But Have Higher Transaction Fees As Well. All Banks Are Closed On Weekends So The Best Place To Exchange For Costa Rica Money Are At The Main Hotels. They Charge May Be Higher And The Exchange Rates May Be Lower Than In The Banks But You Are Assured That The Costa Rica Money Is Genuine Which Means That There Is No Chance Of Getting Ripped Off. Counterfeit Currency Is Rampant In Central America. And While Moneychangers Offer Higher Rates, It Is Not Worth The Risk Of Getting Fake Costa Rica Money.
