How to call Costa Rica | In-depth guide with examples

Costa Rica has long been a destination of interest for travelers, retirees, and businesses alike. Known for its rich biodiversity, stable democracy, and growing technology sector, Costa Rica has attracted significant foreign investment and a large expatriate community — making international calls to the country a routine need for thousands of people in the United States. Whether you're coordinating with a call center partner in San José, confirming ecotourism reservations in the Monteverde cloud forest, or checking in with family in Liberia or Cartago, understanding how to dial correctly saves time and frustration.

Costa Rica has also become a notable nearshore destination for business process outsourcing (BPO) and tech startups, particularly in the San José metropolitan area. Companies across North America maintain offices and operations there, and reliable phone connectivity is essential to keeping those relationships running smoothly.

Guide to calling Costa Rica

Before dialing, ensure you're aware of the rates charged by your carrier for international calls to Costa Rica. You should also make sure your connection is reliable to avoid any issues caused by latency or choppy voice transmission.

1. Check the time in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is in the Central Standard Time Zone (CST), which is UTC-6. Unlike most of the U.S., Costa Rica does not observe Daylight Saving Time, which means the offset shifts when the U.S. adjusts its clocks:

• Eastern Time (ET): Costa Rica is 1 hour behind (2 hours behind during EDT in summer)
• Central Time (CT): Same as Costa Rica during winter; 1 hour behind during summer CDT
• Mountain Time (MT): Costa Rica is 1 hour ahead (same during MDT)
• Pacific Time (PT): Costa Rica is 2–3 hours ahead

Always verify the local time before calling, especially during Daylight Saving transitions.

2. Dial the exit code

For international calls from the U.S., the exit code is 011, indicating you're making an international call.

3. Enter Costa Rica's country code

Next, dial Costa Rica's country code, which is +506, to connect your call to Costa Rica.

4. Dial the area code and local number

Start with 011, followed by 506, the country code for Costa Rica.

For a landline

Costa Rica does not use area codes. All phone numbers — landlines and mobile — are 8 digits long. Landline numbers typically begin with 2. To call a Costa Rican landline (e.g., 2222-1234), dial: 011-506-2222-1234.

For a mobile phone

Mobile numbers in Costa Rica also follow the 8-digit format (no area code). Mobile numbers generally begin with 6, 7, or 8. To call a Costa Rican mobile (e.g., 8888-5678), dial: 011-506-8888-5678.

Tips for a successful call

1. No area codes — ever. One common source of confusion is expecting to dial a regional area code before the local number. Costa Rica eliminated area codes in 2008 when it expanded to 8-digit numbers nationwide. Just dial 011 + 506 + the 8-digit number.

2. Call during business hours. Costa Rican business hours are typically 8 AM to 5 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Given the minimal time difference from the U.S. Eastern and Central time zones, scheduling calls is straightforward — but always double-check during Daylight Saving Time transitions.

3. Respect cultural norms around communication. Costa Ricans (known as Ticos) tend to be warm, indirect, and relationship-oriented in business settings. Don't rush straight to business on a first call — a brief personal exchange is considered polite and helps build rapport. Patience and a friendly tone go a long way.

4. Have WhatsApp as a backup. WhatsApp is extremely popular in Costa Rica for both personal and business communication. If a call doesn't connect or quality degrades, a WhatsApp voice or video call is a widely accepted alternative that most contacts will appreciate.

How Telnyx can help

International calling to Costa Rica is one of many use cases where Telnyx delivers enterprise-grade voice infrastructure at consumer-grade prices. With direct carrier connections across Latin America, Telnyx routes calls to Costa Rica over owned network infrastructure — reducing latency, improving call clarity, and delivering rates as low as $0.01–0.05 per minute depending on destination.

For businesses with BPO operations, contact centers, or partner relationships in Costa Rica, Telnyx's SIP trunking provides a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to traditional carrier services. The platform integrates with leading PBX systems and UCaaS tools, and comes with real-time analytics through the Mission Control Portal.

Learn more about Telnyx voice services and discover how owned infrastructure translates into better calls — whether you're dialing San José once a month or managing hundreds of calls per day.