Costa Rica → Information → Calling

Calling Costa Rica

If you are interested in calling Costa Rica, the first thing you need to know is that, since it is such a small country, Costa Rica’s phone numbers have 7 digits and only 1 area code for the entire country. This area code is 506 and to phone Costa Rica on a specific location, the phone numbers of that location usually have the same first 3 digits. For example, if you are going to call Costa Rica, in the town of Quepos, in most cases you will have to dial:

International code + Costa Rica code (506) + phone number (777-????)

In the example above, you can see that the first 3 digits: “777” is in fact the location code you are used to seeing in phone numbers all over the world. Although being Costa Rica a small country, these location codes are usually the town, but there’s no political division between area codes. So remember: Costa Rica phone numbers have 7 digits in total, the first 3 digits usually represent some kind of location but more as an aid than as a geographical demarcation.

To Call Costa Rica internationally, private companies in your country may have their own systems, calling plans or stipulations to make the phone call. Check with your local phone services provider for prices, international call plans or please seek advice from our travel advisors on how to phone Costa Rica from your specific country. From the US and Canada, the international calling code is 011. Usually you’ll see the phone number written down with the (506) before the 7 digit phone number, you do not need to dial 506 twice. To call Costa Rica dial:

011 + 506 + The 7 digit phone number

To make calls from Costa Rica you can either purchase a calling card (please refer to our information in calling cards) or make the international phone call collect or charge it at your hotel and pay it with a credit card. To make an international phone call from Costa Rica you must dial:

001 + country code + area code + phone number

Please be aware that all of the explained above is based on general requirements, for specific information please contact our travel advisors for guidance in calling Costa Rica from and to your country.