Hi, I'm a little confused about the departure tax in CR. I asked my travel agent about it, and she felt that they were included in our plane ticket. She called Delta and they agreed. Could that be true, or is it an extra tax that we have to pay at the airport? Thanks for any info on this. We leave tomorrow!! Thanks, Susan

It's extra/separate.

When you arrive at the airport prior to departure, your first stop is the line to pay the exit tax. It's generally pretty long but moves quickly. Cash only. I've generally gotten through in 10-15 minutes.

Then you check in for your flight.

Have fun!

Buzzer, thanks so much for your help.I just finished packing and am ready to go!! I'll post a report when I return. Thanks, Susan

If you're worried about being pressed for time in the airport, you can also pay your tax ahead of time at Banco de Costa Rica (not sure if other banks will accept it as well...I know not all do). You do need to have your passport with you when you pay, other than that, you get a certificate --- not the interchangeable stamps like in years past.

Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

There is also a desk in the arrival area where you can buy the stamp(s)as soon as you get there. While one of you is in line for the immigration the other can be buying the stamps. Have the passports with you when buying them.

Whatever you do, don't buy stamps from random guys outside the airport who claim they offer that service. They're not legitimate or legal. Get the stamp at the airport or the Banco.

Have a great trip! CR is amazing.

Have they stopped taking credit cards for the departure tax? We did pay with either Visa or Mastercard, though it's been over a year ago now.

They were still taking credit cards last week. $26 per person.

Oops. I *assumed* they don't take credits cards.

Apologies -

buzzer

I used a credit card to pay departure tax last year, and discovered a $10 surcharge added on when I received my cc statement. You might prefer to pay cash!

It is somewhat surprising that neither your travel agent nor Delta airlines gave you correct information.

My boss is making his first visit to Costa Rica in July. And I'd like to confirm for him that the amount of departure tax is still $26 ???

Also, I was surprised to see you can pay with a credit card (albeit with addl charges). Seemed to be when I was there several years ago, payment was in cash only. Guess that's no longer the case.

Shillmac, Have to say, I have thorougly read and enjoyed all of your posts about CR all around Fodors. Have made notes of where you've seen certain birds...etc. Thank you so much for sharing!!

We didn't have any additional charge when we paid with credit card--when did this change take place?

Officially, a using a credt card to pay the exit tax gets billed as a cash advance and not a purchase, which means there is an additional charge, and that the interest starts accumulation from the moment of the transaction. I know people who have had it show up on their statement that way, and others who have not.

About a month ago we paid for the exit tax with a credit card and it happened just as Jeff_Costa_Rica described. My husband argued with about three people at the credit card company and finally got the extra charged removed from our statement...

That's nasty--glad it wasn't in force when we left CR.

I just checked my Visa statement, and lo and behold, there was the cash advance charge of $5.00 and interest of $0.62. I'll take it up with my card company.

Best to pay in cash!

Do you really have any choice but to pay the cash advance and interest charge? It would seem if that's the way the Costa Rican bank that sells the exit tax chooses to bill it, then isn't that just the way it is?

I agree: Pay with cash. It's easiest.

info on costa rica departure taxes and other costa rica general info here:

http://costa.rica.typepad.com/costa_...nfo/index.html