We are travelling from Canada to Costa Rica this May, and are going to be backpacking for two weeks all over the country. How do the majority of travellers deal with currency exchange...???

You can change dollars for Colones at the airport. There are many ATMs around the country but they mostly require a Visa card with access to the "+" system. MasterCard is not universally accepted in CR. Travellers checks can be exchanged at banks for a small fee; most hotels will cash them also.

Gets a little more confusing for our neighbors north of the border. Those of us from the states can just use dollars in small denominations. I am assuming you would have to at least exchange your Canadian money for that if not colones. Btw, I just returned from almost 3 weeks down there and never exchanged any money into colones. Considering your type of travel you would probably be best advised not to carry a lot of cash with you. dncee11 had good advice about what to do regarding getting money once down there.

If i have travellers cheques...will there be anywhere to cash them in say Quepos/Jaco/Montezuma/Puerto Jiminez/Etc.???

I would take a credit card and use that when u r able too . Take a couple of hundred in travellers checques , but save it as back-up . Take 2-3 hundred in U.S. , with a fair amt. in small bills , u will be able to use this all over . Then as u need money, take it out in small amounts at the atm's . You never want to have huge amounts of cash on u .

Thanks for the info Faithie...the best yet!

Where are you flying out of ? I live in Montreal , but am from P.E.I. ?? Read between the lines for the sansa thing .... You might have to get yourself "back"to San Jose first before catching your flights elsewhere .... I have personally never heard this pass spoken about ?

Also , sounds like u might like the volcano area , then Montezuma -Malpais area on the Nicoya pen. , then Manuel Antonio -Dominical area , and back to San Jose ...??? Choosing the appropriate tour for the area . Shillmac and others can offer "tons" of invaluable info. as well !! Punch itinerary in the search box above and read away , also do the same for areas you might be interesred in . Interbus , as well local buses are an option to combine with flying as well .... Faith

Thanks Faithie.