ATMs, Money, and Paying in Santa Teresa

Money in Santa Teresa is simple in theory and occasionally maddening in practice. The town runs on a mix of colones, dollars, and tap-to-pay, but the ATM situation is genuinely precarious enough that getting caught cashless on a Sunday evening is a real thing that happens to real people. Here is what you actually need to know before you arrive.

The ATM Situation (Read This First)

There are two ATMs in Santa Teresa proper, and both have a habit of running out of cash on busy weekends, during Semana Santa, and around Christmas. This is not an exaggeration or outdated advice. As of mid-2026, it remains one of the most consistent complaints from both visitors and residents, per feelingpuravida.com and roammate.com.

The more reliable ATM cluster is in Cobano, about 30 minutes up the road. Cobano has a Banco Nacional and a BN-affiliated machine that handles larger withdrawal volumes. If you are arriving on a Friday and plan to spend the weekend, pull cash in Cobano on the way in. Do not wait until Saturday afternoon.

Practical ATM rules for Santa Teresa:

• Pull cash early in the week or when you first arrive, not when you need it
• Withdrawal limits vary by card and machine, typically around 100,000-150,000 colones per transaction (roughly 190-285 USD at current rates, confirm locally)
• Foreign card fees apply at most machines, usually 1,500-3,000 colones per transaction depending on your bank
• Notify your bank before you travel. Cards get blocked here constantly
• The machines in town sometimes accept Visa but not Mastercard, or vice versa. Having both card networks is genuinely useful

Colones vs. Dollars: Which to Use

The official currency is the Costa Rican colon (CRC), but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Santa Teresa, from surf shops to restaurants to taxis. That said, paying in dollars usually means you get a worse deal. Businesses set their own exchange rates, and they are rarely generous. You might see a 500-600 CRC per dollar rate when the actual rate is closer to 530-545. Over a week of spending, that adds up.

As bontraveler.com puts it: always try to pay in colones if possible. For tours and excursions, dollars are fine and often expected.

A few specifics:

• Sodas and small tiendas are almost always cash only, and colones preferred
• Taxis and quad rentals often quote in dollars but accept either
• Larger restaurants and hotels take cards and usually post prices in dollars
• Change given in dollars is rare. If you pay with a $20 for a 3,000 colon purchase, expect your change in colones

Card Acceptance: Better Than It Used to Be

Santa Teresa has improved significantly on card infrastructure in the last few years. Most restaurants, surf shops, hotels, and wellness studios now accept Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, and contactless payment is increasingly common. AMEX is still hit or miss, so don't rely on it.

Where cards consistently work:

• Established restaurants and bars (see /directory/eat and /directory/drink)
• Surf schools and board rental shops (see /guides/surf-board-rental-repair-santa-teresa)
• Hotels and guesthouses (see /guides/best-hotels-santa-teresa)
• Yoga studios and spas (see /guides/best-yoga-studios-santa-teresa)

Where you need cash:

• Farmers markets, including the Thursday market
• Smaller sodas and lunch spots (see /guides/cheap-eats-santa-teresa)
• Beach vendors, fruit stands, and tiendas
• Parking attendants and informal transport

Some businesses add a 3-5% card surcharge, which is legal in Costa Rica. Ask before you pay if it matters to you.

Currency Exchange

There is no formal currency exchange office in Santa Teresa. Your options are:

• ATMs (you withdraw colones directly, this is the cleanest method)
• Your hotel or rental host, some will exchange at a reasonable rate for guests
• Banco Nacional in Cobano, which does official exchange but requires your passport and some patience with the queue

Do not exchange money at the airport unless you need a small amount to get started. The rates at Juan Santamaria and Liberia airports are poor. If you are coming through Liberia, pull colones from the ATM inside the terminal before you leave, the rate is better than the exchange windows.

For more on getting here and what to have ready on arrival, see /guides/getting-to-santa-teresa and /guides/liberia-to-santa-teresa.

Tipping

Tipping culture in Costa Rica is real but not aggressive. A 10% service charge (el servicio) is legally required to be added to restaurant bills, so check before you tip on top of it. Many tourists tip an additional 5-10% for good service, which is appreciated but not expected.

For a full breakdown of who to tip, how much, and when, see our dedicated /guides/tipping-costa-rica guide. The short version: tip your surf instructor, tip your massage therapist, tip at sodas if the service was personal and good.

How Much Cash to Carry Day to Day

A reasonable daily cash budget for someone eating a mix of sodas and nicer spots, renting a board, and having a drink at sunset:

• Budget traveler: 15,000-25,000 CRC (roughly 28-47 USD)
• Mid-range: 30,000-60,000 CRC (roughly 56-113 USD)
• Splurge day with a tour, nice dinner, and a few cocktails: 80,000-150,000 CRC+

For a broader look at what things actually cost here, see /guides/cost-of-living-santa-teresa.

Keep small bills. A 10,000 colon note (roughly 19 USD) is hard to break at a fruit stand. Ask for change at a larger purchase when you can.

FAQ

Are there ATMs in Santa Teresa or do I need to go to Cobano? There are two ATMs in Santa Teresa, but they run out of cash regularly. Cobano, about 30 minutes away, has more reliable machines. Pull cash early and do not wait until you need it urgently, per pragmatictravel.com.

Can I get by on cards alone in Santa Teresa? Mostly, but not entirely. Larger businesses are card-friendly, but sodas, beach vendors, markets, and taxis often require cash. Carry at least 10,000-20,000 colones at all times as a buffer.

Should I bring US dollars or get colones? Both. Dollars are widely accepted but you will get a worse exchange rate using them directly. Withdraw colones from ATMs for daily spending and use dollars as a backup or for tours.

Is it safe to use ATMs in Santa Teresa? Yes, the ATMs here are in reasonably public, well-lit spots. Standard precautions apply: cover your PIN, be aware of your surroundings, and do not withdraw large amounts at night. For broader safety context, see /guides/safety-santa-teresa.

Do restaurants include the tip automatically? Yes, a 10% service charge is legally required on restaurant bills in Costa Rica. Check your bill before adding more. See /guides/tipping-costa-rica for the full picture.

Find local services including money transfer spots and more in our /directory/services hub.