Tipping in Costa Rica is lighter than in the U.S. Sit-down restaurants and bars already add a 10% service charge to the bill by law, so you don’t need to tip again unless the service was great. Tips are expected, or at least welcome, for tour guides, drivers and hotel staff, and they’re optional almost everywhere else.
This guide explains how the restaurant service charge works, then gives typical tip amounts for guides, drivers, hotel staff, taxis and the small services you’ll run into, plus the mistakes visitors make most.
| Who | Typical tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant with table service | 10% already on the bill | Add a little extra only for standout service |
| Soda or counter service | Not expected | Rounding up is a nice touch |
| Group tour guide | $5–$10 per person (half day); $10–$20 (full day) | Give it directly to the guide |
| Private guide | 10%–15% of the tour price | More for long or specialized trips |
| Shuttle or transfer driver | $2–$5 per person | More for help with heavy bags |
| Private driver (full day) | $10–$20 | Per group, not per person |
| Housekeeping | $2–$5 a day (about ₡1,000–₡2,500) | Leave it daily with a note |
| Bellhop | $1–$2 per bag | At hotels that offer the service |
| Taxi or Uber | Not expected | Round up for help with luggage |
The basics
How the 10% Restaurant Service Charge Works
Costa Rican law requires restaurants, bars, sodas and other places with table service to add a 10% service charge to the bill. It appears as a separate line, usually labeled servicio. The money goes to the staff, and employers aren’t allowed to keep any of it.
That charge is separate from the 13% sales tax (IVA). Together they add 23% to the base price. Many menus already show final prices with both included, often marked “i.v.i.” or “impuestos incluidos.” Others list base prices and add the 23% at the end, so check the menu before you order.
- Good service: The 10% is enough. You don’t need to add more.
- Great service: Leave a little extra in cash, such as rounding up or adding 5% to 10%, and hand it to your server.
- Counter service and sodas without table service: No charge and no tip expected, though rounding up is appreciated.
Sodas are small, inexpensive local restaurants. See our guide to Costa Rica sodas for what to order.
Tours
How Much to Tip Tour Guides in Costa Rica
Guides are where your tip matters most. Naturalist guides spot wildlife you’d never find on your own, and tips make up a real share of their income in tourist areas.
- Group tours: $5 to $10 per person for a half day, and $10 to $20 per person for a full day, depending on group size and how good the guide was.
- Private guides: 10% to 15% of the tour price is common.
- Zip lines, rafting and other adventure tours: Several staff often share one tip box. $5 to $10 per person is typical.
- Multi-day trips: Tip at the end, and ask if the guide and driver share tips or should be tipped separately.
Planning activities? See our guides to ziplining in Costa Rica and white-water rafting.
Getting around
Tipping Drivers, Shuttles and Taxis
- Shared shuttles: $2 to $5 per person, more on long routes or if the driver handles a lot of luggage.
- Private transfers: $5 to $10 for an airport run, and more for a long cross-country drive. Read about private transfers in Costa Rica.
- Private driver for the day: $10 to $20 per group, more if the driver doubles as a guide.
- Red taxis and Uber: Not expected. Locals don’t tip taxi drivers, but rounding up for help with bags is a kind gesture. Official red taxis should use the meter, known as la maría. See our guide to Uber in Costa Rica.
Where you stay
Tipping at Hotels and Spas
- Housekeeping: $2 to $5 a day, or about ₡1,000 to ₡2,500. Leave it daily rather than at the end, since staff rotate, and add a note so it’s clearly a tip.
- Bellhops: $1 to $2 per bag.
- Concierge: Not needed for directions; $5 to $10 for real legwork, such as landing a hard-to-get reservation.
- Spas: Check the bill first. Many add a service charge; if not, 10% to 15% is a generous tip.
- All-inclusive resorts: Policies vary. Some include gratuities and some don’t, so ask at check-in. See our all-inclusive resort picks.
Small services
Gas Stations, Parking Attendants and Other Small Tips
- Gas stations: Attendants pump the gas at every station. No tip is expected, but a few hundred colones is a nice thank-you if they clean your windshield or check your tires. See our guide to gas stations in Costa Rica.
- Street parking watchers (guachimanes): These informal attendants watch parked cars for a small tip, usually a few hundred colones up to ₡1,000, paid when you leave. Read our parking tips.
- Bartenders: The bar bill includes the 10% service. Add about ₡500 to ₡1,000 per round if you want to.
- Boat captains and water taxis: A few dollars per person for a tour; nothing extra for a simple crossing you’ve paid for.
Cash
Should You Tip in Colones or Dollars?
Both work in tourist areas, but colones are easier for workers to spend and don’t cost them a trip to the bank to exchange. Small bills are best: ₡1,000 and ₡2,000 notes for small tips, and $5 or $10 bills for guides if you’re paying in dollars. Avoid coins in dollars, since banks won’t exchange them.
Most tipping happens in cash, so keep a stash of small bills. Read do you need cash in Costa Rica? and our guide to the best currency to bring. Many workers also accept SINPE Móvil, Costa Rica’s mobile transfer system, if you have a local bank account; see can tourists use SINPE Móvil?
Avoid these
Common Tipping Mistakes in Costa Rica
- Tipping 20% on top of the service charge. That adds more than 30% to your bill without you meaning to. Check for servicio first.
- Leaving cash on the table in a busy place. Hand tips to the person directly.
- Waiting until the last day to tip housekeeping. The person who cleaned your room all week may not be working that day.
- Tipping with large bills. A ₡20,000 note or a $50 bill is hard to split or break.
- Skipping the guide. Restaurants are covered by the service charge; guides depend on tips.
FAQ
Tipping in Costa Rica FAQ
Do you tip in Costa Rica?
Yes, but less than in the U.S. Restaurants add a 10% service charge by law, so extra tips there are optional. Tour guides, drivers and hotel staff appreciate tips, and they’re common in tourist areas.
How much should I tip in Costa Rica?
Nothing extra at restaurants unless service was great. For guides, $5 to $10 per person for a half-day group tour and $10 to $20 for a full day. For housekeeping, $2 to $5 a day. For shuttle drivers, $2 to $5 per person.
Is the 10% service charge a tip?
Yes. It’s a mandatory service charge that goes to the staff, separate from the 13% sales tax. You don’t need to tip again on top of it.
Do Costa Ricans tip?
Not much. Locals usually rely on the 10% restaurant service charge and rarely tip taxis or other services, though rounding up is common.
Should I tip in dollars or colones?
Either works in tourist areas, but colones are easier for workers to use. Bring small bills, and avoid U.S. coins.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Costa Rica?
It’s not expected. Rounding up the fare or adding a little for help with luggage is a nice gesture.
The short version
Restaurants already add 10% for service, so only tip extra for great service.
Do tip tour guides, drivers and housekeeping; they count on it in tourist areas.
Carry small bills, ideally in colones, and hand tips to the person directly.