Laureen

How easy/difficult is it to find ATM machines to get dollars out near San Jose? Is the exchange acurate? Laureen

TioGringo

Well, my own experience was that finding an ATM was only half the battle. Finding one that would actually WORK with a U.S. issued bank card was quite another. I'd say 80 percent of the time, the machine wouldn't take my card, the network wouldn't work, or something. I finally learned that when you find one that works, you max out your daily withdrawal limit... ;-)

Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

Iza

Laureen, first of all I should clarify that you will not get dollars from an ATM in Costa Rica. You will get colones. The exchange rate is accurate and actually good (comparable to what you would get on a credit card).
We used ATMs twice (in San Jose and Liberia) and had no problems - both worked on the first try.
Generally, it is easier to find an ATM that works with Visa based cards (as opposed to MC), although ours is MC based and we had no problems.
Don't count on being able to withdraw any time and anywhere, like you can do here in the States. Plan a few days ahead and make just a couple of withdrawals when you are passing through larger cities or towns.

Laureen

Thanks TioGringo! Iza, EXACTLY where did you find success...the location, I mean. Thanks...laureen

Rory

We weren't in San Jose, but I had trouble with the ATM in the Guanacaste region. We stayed at the Sol Playa Hermosa which was very nice.

I believe we were in Liberia for shopping when I needed money. I had a Visa, afterwards I was told at the bank next door that the machine only worked for Visa Plus. Also, I do not speak or read Spanish. I started out fine, then when I specified colones it gave the rest of the instructions in Spanish. I gave up and used my credit card in the bank to withdraw money. The teller was so nice, he spoke very little English but we managed to communicate and I got my money in colones. Buy the Costa Rican phrase book if possible. Good luck!
Rory

TioGringo

Not sure what the NAME of the bank is whose ATMs worked well for me, but I can tell you where it is. It's in downtown San Jose. If you're standing at the top of the steps in front of the Museos de Banco Central de Costa Rica, it is directly across the street from you. Worked like a champ when all others failed.

Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

Laureen

Thanks for the help. L.

JeanH

I could be suffering from memory loss, but it seems to me that the ATM that we used in Quepos gave us the choice or receiving either US dollars or colones. We didn't want dollars, so didn't try and get any. Getting the colones was easy. Also used a machine in some small town (can't even remember the name), but that only took credit cards. So, we had to pay finance charges on that transaction. But, it was nice to have some 'cash on hand'.

Sailing

There are a few machines in Liberia and we should have one soon in Playa del Coco along with another new bank.

kotigre

Its fairly easy to find one but if you want a sure ATM that takes US cards go to a casino and then you get a choice of dollars or colones.

Iza

Laureen, in San Jose, it was a bank on the same street where the Dollar car rental office is located. If you face the rental office, it is a few buildings down the street to your right. In Liberia, when you turn off from the highway to go into town, there was a bank on the right hand side before you got to the main square. Sorry, I can't remember the names of the banks or street names.

Laureen

Thanks Everyone for your help. Laureen