Costa Rica is a country located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua and Panama and facing both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Costa Rica operates on Central Standard Time (CST) and uses one time zone across the entire country. The country does not observe daylight saving time, meaning the time remains the same throughout the year.
The capital city San José serves as the main reference for the country’s official time.
Current Time
Costa Rica follows Central Standard Time (CST).
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
UTC Offset: UTC −6
IANA Time Zone: America/Costa_Rica
Quick Facts
- Capital: San José
- Continent/Region: Central America (North America)
- Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
- UTC Offset: UTC −6
- IANA Time Zone: America/Costa_Rica
- International Dialing Code: +506
- Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Time Difference From
Common time differences between Costa Rica and major cities:
- Sydney: Costa Rica is 17 hours behind Sydney
- London: Costa Rica is 6 hours behind London
- New York: Costa Rica is 1 hour behind New York
- Tokyo: Costa Rica is 15 hours behind Tokyo
Daylight Saving Time
Costa Rica does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).
The country remains on UTC−6 throughout the year, and clocks do not change during summer or winter.
Best Time to Call
Recommended calling windows:
- From Australia: 10:00 PM – 1:00 PM (next day) Sydney time
- From United Kingdom: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM London time
- From United States: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM New York time
Typical working hours in Costa Rica are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM local time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone does Costa Rica use?
Costa Rica uses Central Standard Time (CST), UTC−6.
Does Costa Rica have multiple time zones?
No. Costa Rica uses one time zone nationwide.
Does Costa Rica observe daylight saving time?
No. Costa Rica keeps the same time throughout the year.
What is the IANA time zone for Costa Rica?
The official time zone identifier is America/Costa_Rica.
Where Is Located
Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordered by:
- Nicaragua to the north
- Panama to the southeast
- Pacific Ocean to the west
- Caribbean Sea to the east
What Is Famous For
Costa Rica is famous for:
- Its rich biodiversity and tropical rainforests
- Beautiful national parks and wildlife reserves
- Popular eco-tourism destinations
- Stunning beaches and volcanoes
- The national phrase “Pura Vida”, meaning pure life
Additional Note
Costa Rica uses one consistent time zone and does not change clocks for daylight saving time, making time coordination easy for travel, business, and international communication.
