Paying with dollars?

Taxi only accept dollars if it is from and to airport.
Grocery stores like Walmart , Pricemart( Costco), Automercados will take$,
Some places in tourist's beach areas, but everywhere else you need colones.
Exchange  rate is the best in Banks, right now $1 = 530 colones

Every little shop I have come across in Puriscal accepts dollars and most even post the rate.  We always pay in our local currency but do notice a lot paying in USD.

I disagree that  'everywhere else you need colones'.
We are in a rural area and all our local stores will accept dollars.

Most  stores will not accept a bill larger than $20. Not the large grocery stores nor in the tourist areas.

I don't know about taxis, but as others have noted, I find that most stores and restaurants accept dollars.  Costa Rica pretty much has a dual currency (Colones/Dollars).

Same in our area. I'm sure a taxi would accept dollars, too, rather than lose the fare.

In my experiance almost everyone will take dollars. But they use 500 colones for the exchange rate so your loosing on the change. I cant remember in seven years where someone wouldnt take dollars. But thats just my experiance here in la zona sur. I hope that helps, just remember your loosing a little spending dollars.

Good point about the bills and not taking 50's. I live near Paso Canoas and spend dollars on the panameñan side and tico sides sometimes. Dollars are common and no big deal at all.

Puerto Viejo takes dollars everywhere pretty much but yea anything over $20s is hit and miss.