How to charge the iPhone 6 when staying in Costa Rica

A step by step guide showing you how to charge the iPhone 6 with a Costa Rican power outlet by using the Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger and how to recharge the iPhone 6 using a Type B USB charger.

Costa Rican power outlet

When planning a trip to Costa Rica it's helpful to know if you'll be able to power your vital electronics like mobiles or laptop computers when you arrive. By not knowing which wall socket to expect you could bring the wrong charger, leaving you needing to purchase a potentially overpriced power adaptor when you're there. Varying different combinations of region codes and plugs can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country if you've never visited before. These instructions were written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 6 when Costa Rica.This page has simple instructions demonstrating exactly how to charge your iPhone 6 when you are travelling to Costa Rica by using the standard types B or A Costa Rican 120 volt 60Hz wall outlets, Type B power outlets are used by most Costa Ricans. If the iPhone 6 slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when you are visiting Costa Rica from a different country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which originate from a different country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) either take longer to charge or won't power up, so check that the iPhone 6 is a dual voltage device (normally marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. If you intend on visiting a city such as San José or Limón we suggest referring to the Costa Rica country page on wikipedia.org [1] for further information on visiting the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 6.

Charging the iPhone 6 in Costa Rica

Can the iPhone 6 be used in Costa Rica?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 6 in Costa Rica.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 6 in Costa Rica?

When you are travelling to multiple countries or bringing along more than just your iPhone 6 the best travel charger for Costa Rica is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of wall outlets that Costa Ricans use (types B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by switching the plugs. If your type of iPhone 6 supports Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel chargers plus support for certain power demanding devices. Unlike other chargers having a four port charger will also allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel adapters. Because you are only bringing a single lightweight travel charger will keep the overall weight and size down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling. Due to their flexibility these types of adapters can be used when back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets without using up an additional wall outlet.

We suggest buying an adaptable power charger like this online - the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Costa Rica

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices via USB, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be useful when visiting counties with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Costa Rica and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from America visiting Costa Rica using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting Costa Rica. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 6 in Costa Rica?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Costa Rican power outlet

Instructions showing how to recharge the iPhone 6 with a Costa Rican power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable with a Type A power charger.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 6 using a Costa Rican power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply this cable when you first purchase your iPhone 6).
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Costa Rican power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 slots next to each other for live and neutral blades.
  3. Connect the USB end of the cord into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 6 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your cell will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 6 is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Costa Rican power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Costa Rican power outlet

Using a USB Lightning cable with a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter to recharge your iPhone 6 from a Costa Rican power outlet.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 6 using a Costa Rican power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply this cable with your iPhone 6).
  2. Start by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter in the Costa Rican power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 slots next to each other for live and neutral blades with a single hole below for the ground pin.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6 situated at the bottom of your iPhone 6.
  4. Switch on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 6 will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 6 is charging which typically takes roughly 1 - 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Costa Rican power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Costa Rica country page on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device charging..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..