Air EXIT•DEPARTURE TAX in Costa Rica = $29

Costa Rica has a mandatory Costa Rica Air Departure•Exit Tax for ALL people flying OUT of Costa Rica.  For most airlines you have to pre-pay for that (details below on options for paying that).  The price for this tax is:

$29

NEWS!!!
For tickets purchase on or after Monday, March 23, 2015 - 

for travel on
American Airlines, Copa and USAirways

(JUST these 3 for now.  I'm sure others will follow through with it soon), 

the $29 Costa Rica Air Departure•Exit Tax will be INCLUDED IN the price of airline tickets

(like much of the world has done for AGES) - 

BUT

ONLY for flights Departing Costa Rica on or AFTER June 15, 2015.

OTHERWISE HOW CAN I PAY:

OTHERWISE:
You have a few options on how/where to pay that tax.

#1 (and to me - THE easiest/most convenient) is to Pay the tax AT the Airport.
In the times I've flown out of SJO or took people to the airport and helped them - there were never more than 1-5 people in line and it was REALLY FAST!!!

WHAT FORM OF PAYMENT DO THEY ACCEPT?
You can pay with:
•  Costa Rican colones (a good way to get rid of them)
•  US$s
•  Or a combination of the 2. 
•  They also take Visa (which until a few years ago used to have a monopoly with this) and NOW MasterCard - BUT - there CAN BE a nice $10 "Convenience Fee" that they charge if you use either of these cards - BUT - that is ONLY if you're using a CREDIT card as it's considered a "Cash Advance".
•  BUT - if you use a Visa or MasterCard DEBIT card there is NO Extra Fee (according to Roy at the Departure Tax desk).

WHERE IS THE COUNTER?
As you walk in the first set of doors it's to your RIGHT - just before BAC bank/atm machine -  ACROSS from the ticket counters from Jet Blue, AeroJet and Continental

HOURS?
Daily 3am and 8pm (or 1am if there's a later flight [like Spirit Air's 1am flight]).


WHERE ELSE CAN I PAY FOR IT?
BANKS  -  You can pay at a Banco Costa Rica/BCR, Bancredito and Banco LaFise.
Some people like to do it this way - in advance but MY experience with the national banks in Costa Rica is there OFTEN is a line of 15-30++ minutes - ESPECIALLY within a day or 2 before a pay period (when bosses are going to get cash) or 1-2 days after.  Pay Periods are often on the last or first day of the month and the 15th).  SO - Getting into a car, driving to the bank, standing in THAT line and driving back = added to the price of gas at over $5.75 or so (or in my case - a taxi).  Does THIS way sound easier/less stressful for you?? 

Many of the large hotels near the airport and some Tour Companies offer this Pre-Paid service though usually with a nice size fee added to it (I've been to 2 places that charged $5-$10 PER TICKET extra - but hey - then YOU don't have to do anything - so it's just a "Convenience Fee"!!).  Check with the Concierge. (I'm working on a list of some of them but they often charge a Service/Convenience Fee)

TACA Airlines ticket offices.

This site has a list of places where you can pay it -

CoimsaCR.com/Recaudadores.aspx

So for ME - if you have to pay the Exit•Departure Tax - paying for it at the Air Exit•Departure Tax Counter AT the airport sure seems like a WAYYYY better/more convenient•TIME Efficient option! 


HOW MUCH IN ADVANCE CAN I PAY THE EXIT•DEPARTURE TAX?
I have seen something about it being good for 6 months, I've seen it does not matter - but I was told that the $7 Land Exit Tax leaving Costa Rica at the border of Nicaragua & Panama it is only good for 7 days - so - go figure!!.


CAN I USE IT AGAIN•FOR MORE THAN ONE TRIP?
It is ONLY good for one trip.

You get to figure out/do what works best for YOU!!!

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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/08/exit-tax-at-sjo-airport.html

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