One of the great things about Costa Rica are the local tour guides. The giant taxi industry disrupter arrived in Costa Rica to the same mix of applause and controversy that the company elicits over nearly all of its ever-expanding turf. One big upside to calling a taxi? Do you tip in COSTA RICA? If you are in San Jose, you will see something like TSJ001 (TSJ stands for Taxi San Jose and the numbers tells you the taxi number), in Heredia you will see plates TH, in Limon TL, etc. Housekeeping: $5 USD to $10 USD per night. Your email address will not be published. driver slurring his words, no meter you can report it to ARESEP at 800-027-3737. Tipping in Costa Rica Visiting Costa Rica for business or leisure? Sign up for insider info on All Things Costa Rica! Corporate team building? Remember that tipping is ultimately a personal decision and should be based on the quality of service you receive. U.S. dollars are also widely accepted at most places, but it is wise to exchange currency once you reach your hotel. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Yes, it is customary to tip taxi drivers in Costa Rica. Most restaurants will indicateimpuestos incluidos(taxes included) somewhere on the bottom of their menus. #costaricawildlife #drakebaycostarica #osapeninsulacostarica #costaricafacts #travelphotography, Up high, above the treetops, piercing through the sky beyond where the eye can see, there is a universe with things that explode. The area offers a range of outdoor activities and is home to diverse wildlife, including monkeys and sloths. There are street names, but nobody actually knows them. They charge more than the RED ones but they are just right there outside the arrivals door. The meter fare for official taxis is regulated by the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP). Every now and then, you will find a driver that goes out of his way for passengers to see wildlife or try fruits or see a banana flower, for example. If youre a newbie, we hope the following guide will make clear your options. Have you ever experienced it? Unfortunately, there are some destinations where only pirate taxis exist. The taxi driver drove him to where he wanted to go but then forced him to pay almost $100 for a ride that should cost about $20. Most of the Costa Ricans will help you and you will have a good experience, but always keep your eyes open and use common sense. These are private chauffeurs who shuttle people around for a fixed or negotiable price. Then avoid any tipping missteps with our handy tip calculator. Spam is very unfashionable. I mention this because often people will spend a few nights in one place and then get a taxi to go pick up their rental car. Manage Settings Also, maybe email the hotel you are staying at in MA. driver slurring his words, no meter you can report it to, administration has reiterated on numerous occasions that it considers the company to be operating illegally, but has made very little effort to do anything about it. If you need a taxi from the airport make sure it is a legal driver. It is best to avoid Uber because the police are cracking down on its usage. How much to tip in Costa Rica - Costa Rica Inspirations The popular way to call them are Taxis Piratas which mean pirate cab drivers. We'll also cover how to save on currency exchange with Wise, so you can tip generously and still have more to spend on yourself! Costa Rica hotels also add the 13% sales tax and 10% service charge. These are probably your best bet if youre on the street and a torrential downpour suddenly makes you think twice about walking home. Call us if there is something we can help with right away! Check out our blog for guides, activities, and experiences in Costa Rica. Is that the case in Costa Rica, too? These guys are the best and if you contact them here you can get a price quote with a discount. And depending on the trip, if you are a family in a private tour, the recco would be for half a day $20, for a whole day $30 or up. Was their care personalized? Share your thoughts below! Official taxis in Costa Rica are red with the yellow triangle and light like the one shown below. First, as noted, restaurants usually include a 10% service charge in your bill, so youll be paying this tip whether you want to or not. On time? Do it softly and your driver will be happy. We suggest taking a taxi if you are staying at a resort in Papagayo, Coco, Flamingo, or Tamarindo. The tipping culture in Costa Rica is very similar to that in the United States. If the taxi driver says something like, Follow me, my car is across the street, they are likely not an official driver. In Costa Rica tipping is an expected part of most restaurant transactions. Easy Taxi works exclusively with licensed red taxis. This Costa Rica tipping guide will help you know how much to tip for great. Tipping in Costa Rica. How much, to who, and when. If she had downloaded offline Google Maps she could have realized that her driver was taking advantage of an unaware woman. In the Costa Rican airports, these people stand in the middle of a crowdholding a sign while people come out. Costa Rican drivers take great care of their car as cars, so please dont slam the door when you close it. A taxi pirata also might be your neighbors trusted driver who comes highly recommended and will give you a great deal on rides to the airport in his or her unmarked, smooth-driving car. Hit the subscribe button below to join the growing community and receive exclusive travel tips, packing checklists, solo travel safety guides, and much more! Tipping and Gratuities in Costa Rica - Tico Times Orange airport taxis are the only ones officially authorized to pick up and drop off passengers at Juan Santamara International Airport outside San Jos. Taxis also have a yellow taxi hat on top and a yellow triangle on the door displaying the taxi license number and the area where the taxi is permitted to operate. (In a beach hotel) Is there sand all over the room? Tipping is recognizing a job well done. If they tell you that this is the best option in the area you are in, you can assess the situation and decide if you should trust them. Use it and leave it where it was. The reason for this is that while US dollars are accepted in many establishments, tipping in US dollars may not always be appreciated by service staff. You will immediately be able to tell the difference between a pirate and real taxi. Gave you all the information? It is part of the Osa Conservation Area. Even though this is the law, some establishments will only include of these additional charges in the menu items, none at all, or both. There are just over 11,000 of them across the country. It is considerate to tip on arrival and departure if assisted with luggage both times. You can also let the driver keep the change for shorter distances. A Guide to Taxi Etiquette and Tipping in Costa Rica - TripSavvy Both San Jose and Liberia Airports now have an official taxi stand which is right outside the exit. Find out all the details here. Bartenders/Waitresses: 5% - 15%. Another option is to take a private shuttle down to MA. You shouldnt experience the aggressive transactional expectation of being harassed for tips or made to feel guilty about not tipping. Instead, they may take you on a longer route than necessary. Its always a good idea to carry small bills when you drive to tip people like this. If you feel service has been outstanding, please use an envelope with a note. Adobe will deliver your car to you for free within 12 miles of any of their locations. Thank you for wanting to Get Inspired with us! All Rights Reserved. It's usually not tipping that puts the pay scale out of whack, but rather the base amount charged on a per person basis. Therefore, a tip may be an essential income supplement for some employees. At the bus terminals, ignore all the people asking if you need a ride and look around for an official taxi. In general, tipping is expected in most establishments across Costa Rica. Tipping In Costa Rican Restaurants. You can call ahead for reservations, 2221-6865 or 2222-6865, or just grab one when you arrive. Always have change with you and small bills in, Costa Rica does not really have addresses so drivers will not know where you are going if your address is, It is not absolutely mandatory to tip your driver but you may if you want to (10% is standard and we recommend to give local currency). Maybe their sisters husbands brother drives people around for a really great rate. In conclusion, taxis in Costa Rica are a great way to get around . Travel news, itineraries, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox. Copyright 2023 Some of them may be employed by nearby hotels and restaurants, or they may be part of a community service initiative designed to keep popular tourist areas safe. Lifetime Traveller, Food Lover, Photography Enthusiast & Passionate Tech Geek. Get inspired to hit the road and experience the thrill of the ride! Mostly all hotels in Costa Rica offer an envelope for gratuities. Tipping - Costa Rica Forum - Tripadvisor Answer 1 of 6: What is the custom with respect to tipping in Costa Rica? A beautiful poem written by @soytribu during his visit to Costa Rica last year. Ticos very rarely tip when they go out to dinner, though this may seem odd to North Americans. Bars: When ordering drinks at a bar, tipping is not mandatory, but you can leave the change or tip around 5-10% for exceptional service. In some places, you may even find a tipping jar where you can pop your tip in. Re: Tipping in Costa Rica 4 years ago Save This is a controversial topic, but tipping guides and drivers is close to standard practice. Uber in Costa Rica currently exists in some legal gray zone. Recommended:La horma de mi zapato: On love and taxis, COSTA RICA\'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER, The Ultimate Guide to Taxis in Costa Rica, The ride-hailing service Uber arrived in Costa Rica last year, and continues to be controversial, while private chauffeurs, known as. #costaricainspiration #travelgram #tropicalvibes #whattoseeincostarica #whattodoincostarica, Experience Costa Rica's natural beauty on the "Can't Help Falling in Love" vacation experience! Tipping shuttle drivers in Costa Rica is also not always required. Tipping in restaurants. Also, keep in mind that unless you switch your phone number to a Costa Rican number in the Uber app you will not be able to communicate with the driver. One thing to note, your Uber driver will ask you to sit in the front seat while driving. If you are to tip the guide for any particular service he/she provided, my suggestion is to wait and call him/her separately. Ready to experience the beauty and adventure of Costa Rica? Suggested tip: 50 Malaysian ringgits taxi bill = 5 Malaysian ringgits tip for a longer journey. Tourism is a big industry in Costa Rica and tipping is one way you can show your appreciation to the hard work the Ticos put into making you have a great trip. Theyll take you anywhere in the country. Tipping in Costa Rica: A guideline - CAMINO TRAVEL Tips in Costa Rica for hotel maids have a broad range, as it depends on how chaotic is the room. The short answer is no, but if youre going to be staying there you might consider giving a large tip in the beginning to whoever is bringing you drinks poolside. Meanwhile, Uber drivers say theyve been attacked by disgruntled taxi drivers, and the company recently abandoned a job fair following sustained protests and confrontations with job-seekers. The over-all labor force daily wage scale is less then $18 a day, so anything extra you can give them, helps make their day. Were they brought fast? Don't forget, if you're using local taxis rather than a ride-hailing service such as Uber, you'll need to agree on the fare before your journey. Spa Services: For spa services, such as massages or beauty treatments, a 10-15% tip is considered standard if the service charge is not included in the bill. And a lot of that $200 may go to a tour company/middle man. This means a 10% tip is already included in your bill, and no additional tip is needed. How to Tip in Costa Rica Tipping and Gratuities in Costa Rica Costa Rica has a very different approach to tipping than the U.S. The tour driver: (On a several days tour). Do NOT believe them. Required fields are marked *. Whilst all thoughts and recommendations are strictly my own, Im a member of the Amazon EU Associates Program, and my posts may include affiliate links. I would break it down into two tipping cultures: people who aren't expected to tip and people who aren't. Let's break it down: Costa Ricans Costa Ricans don't tip. Find an official taxi (remember an official taxi will be red and has the yellow triangle symbol on it) and take that instead. Private Tour: $8-$12 per person, per day. I hope you get INSPIRED with these adventures in travel, lifestyle, and food. My first rule, regarding this rather spiny subject, is: If you are not sure about the Costa Rican currency, tip in U.S. dollars. If youre planning on tipping in Costa Rica, youll need to make sure that you have a good travel wallet to keep your cash safe every time you flash your cash. Costa Rica. This Costa Rica tipping guide will help you navigate when/where you can leave a little extra for great service. In other words, every official red taxi should be charging the same exact rate per time. Taxis cannot operate across province lines so for example, a San Jose licensed taxi cannot operate in Guanacaste. All red taxis are supposed to have meters, which means there should be no negotiating over the price of a ride between driver and customer. In Costa Rica, tipping etiquette is a bit different. Using taxis in Costa Rica is a great way to get around. The Easy Guide to Tipping in Costa Rica - MytanFeet Tipping in Costa Rica Etiquette: Who & Where to Tip - Wise You can find porteadores at the airport (even though theyre not supposed to pick up passengers there) and in tourist areas. If he/she goes with you on the bus back to your hotel, tip them when coming down from the bus. They are just simply normal people with their own personal cars. Tipping in Costa Rica - Costa Rica Forum - Tripadvisor However, if youve found the additional tour guides to provide a great service, theres nothing to stop you from tipping them as well. And there we have it, all that you need to know about tipping in Costa Rica. As staff are often paid low wages . I believe that all cruise terminals have an official taxi stand where you can find an official driver. Some hotels and resorts in Costa Rica have tipping policies in place. The only time you should ever take a non-official taxi is if you are in a very small town in Costa Rica in which there might not be many official taxis. These are mostly local establishments or fast food places. If you want to recognize a well-done job, put a bit of emotion into the money. However, it is perfectly acceptable to leave a tip in US dollars. You also can not negotiate a rate with a taxi driver. Tipping in Costa Rica: Tipping drivers including tour drivers, shared shuttle service drivers, private transfer service drivers, and/or taxi drivers Tour drivers Shared shuttle service drivers and private transfer service drivers Taxi drivers Tipping in Costa Rica: Tipping waiters and waitresses Tipping in Costa Rica: Tipping hotel staff Bellhops Like in any part of the world, some cab drivers will try to take advantage of tourists or people that they normally dont work with by charging more or denying to use the meter. More likely, though, a pirate taxi driver will ask you to sit up front in the passenger seat to begin with and, if stopped, pretend like you know him or her. Well, the answer is yes. However, while there are no hard and fast rules about gratuities in Costa Rica, some general customs should be observed when traveling. Airport taxis. Dont get me wrong, taxis are necessary but like anyone else, we hate the constant taxi badgering when we leave the airport or are walking down the street. | 23% or 10% | not customary? Were they there? A student group tour? The standard tipping rate for spa services in Costa Rica is 10-15%, but you may want to tip a bit more if you received an exceptional massage or treatment. If it is around Christmas or New Year`s Day, a tip is very much appreciated. Rio Celeste HIdeaway, an unusual, yet, magical destination! - Home The tour driver: Large group $2-$4 per person per day. Heres a quick guide on tipping in Costa Rica, so you have a better idea of how much cash to have in your wallet during your travels here. These are places outside the city in more remote areas such as Tamarindo and Montezuma. There are no hard and fast rules about exactly how much to tip, but there are a few suggestions of what will show appreciation for each service. If the service charge is not included, a 10-15% tip is considered standard. 1-866-816-0197 Taxis in the City or Countryside Taxis are a viable method of transportation in the countryside as well as in the cities and towns of Costa Rica. Never mind how small it is. This is especially true if you are tipping a restaurant server or hotel staff, though tipping taxi drivers and tour guides are also customary. Also, if something seems off with the red taxi you hail e.g. This will then be shared between all the staff. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Tipping in Costa Rica isn't mandatory, but there is a time and place to leave a little extra gratuity. The Complete Guide to Tipping in Costa Rica - Do You Tip Hotel Bartender: Its standard to leave about 500CRC (or $1US) per drink. Tipping in Costa Rica | Tripmasters Tipping in Costa Rica: The Costa Rica Tipping Guide - SmarterTravel How to Tip in Costa Rica - Easy Guide for Costa Rica Tipping They are just the best. Did he/she provide optical gear for you to be able to see the sloth moths? Walk to where you see all the orange taxis lined up and ask one of them for a ride. It is helpful to leave your biggest tip on the 1st day to ensure excellent service. In Costa Rica tipping is an expected part of most restaurant transactions. When you land in the San Jose airport, you might see orange taxis, instead of red. that most travelers won't know. Sign up for our free newsletter. Did they serve drinks or fruits? Tipping in colonesis fine, just make sure you are giving the fair amount. You will also enjoy:Our tour guides: How do we choose them? Restaurant Server:A 10 percent service charge will be included on the final bill, and is considered a sufficient tip. Did they realize that they were giving almost nothing? Hello, What to Know About Tipping in Costa Rica - Special Places of Costa Rica Hotels: A trip that should have taken 20 minutes and cost $15 actually took 40 minutes and cost almost $40. At the airport, you will find three people in a row: Skycap, tour guide, and driver. The Ultimate Guide To La Fortuna Costa Rica, When Is The Best Time To Go To Costa Rica, The Ultimate Guide To Santa Teresa Costa Rica. Last year, the Luis Guillermo Sols administration tried to reign in consolidation of the porteadores business by announcing that it would only renew half of the existing permits, those owned by individual drivers. Travel Smarter! Below is a suggested tipping guide for your travels and stay in Costa Rica: US$ 2 per day. Nothing? Note: If you take a taxi and know you will be needing another one at some point in that area, ask your driver for their phone number or card. +506-8904-6809. As for rates, the rates are regulated by the government. If they are efficient and kind,give you the insiders look, and the ride felt smooth and comfortable. Tips for Tipping in Costa Rica: Gratuity Etiquette 101. The same goes for any tour guide, who may be herding you and dozens of disorderly tourists around while trying to educate you on local culture while at the same time directing you to the nearest bathroom and trying to get everyone back on the bus on time. While tipping is not mandatory, it is always appreciated by service staff. The guy deserves it! If you are eating at any sit-down restaurant, I would tip. It can be very helpful to know where you are going and the route that is necessary to get there. A Wellness Retreat? Tipping is don a normal part of the Costa Rican business. That means, even if you happen to interact with additional tour guides, you dont have to tip them. However, it doesnt mean they wont appreciate the extra money. Tipping in U.S. dollars is customary. While this is happening the driver is to park somewhere close and wait for the guides call. The rest of the passengers gave around $10 to $20 per couple And yet, this peoplecame to us with big smiles on their faces and gave a bit less than two dollars tip! They deserve a bit more. Typically their rates are cheaper than the private shuttle your hotel will provide, but you can always get a quote and check. There are a few things to look for when choosing a travel wallet, such as size, security and convenience. Can be found playing guitar at various restaurants and bars. It's a country of "paz y amor." Theres no need to tip in addition to the already included 10% tip (service charge). But if you feel that they've provided a great service, then tipping them 10-15% of the fare is considered to be standard practice. If you are coming from a country where tipping is not customary, you may be wondering whether tipping in Costa Rica is still necessary. First, you should be aware that most hotels and restaurants will add 13% tax and a10% service chargeto your bill. You may not realize that your service starts long before your arrival to the gate. Did they bring you the Camino Travel papers? Sales tax is 13% and service tax (tip) is 10%. It just means that anything extra you give will be much appreciated, but not expected. A $1 tip will generally be appreciated by those who are cleaning your room, while tipping more for exceptional service or if you have a larger room is also perfectly acceptable. It is always best to pay in colones so you dont get scammed out of money. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. this can get pricey. Tour Guide: Base the amount you tip on the size of the tour. Down low, beneath the earth, crossing layers of soil, subsoil, and defeats, there are universes that occasionally collide. CREATE YOUR UNFORGETTABLE COSTA RICAN VACATION. Did you know that Costa Ricans have a unique philosophy of life that emphasizes positivity, simplicity, and gratitude? Poas Volcano is located in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The above are general guidelines and obviously if somebody give you service above your expectations a tip is appreciated. Usually we leave about 10% or a few extra dollars. Book your vacation now and discover all that this stunning destination has to offer! Could I blame any of these people? Get a Quote! The Ultimate Guide to Costa Rica in May: Weather, Animals, and Activities, Exploring Costa Rica on Two Wheels: A Look at the Motorcycle Adventures. You wont find Uber drivers too much throughout the country, but around the San Jose area, they are everywhere. Dont take up their offer to go to a cheaper/better restaurant/souvenir store/business/whatever. Tipping in Costa Rica: How much you should Tip - Peter Pan Traveler If you find a cab driver that doesnt want to use it even if you ask, you can get their plate number and report the cab driver to the government. The main reasons why I dont use them are that they can charge whatever they want, they dont have the same insurance as the legal ones and they arent as safe.