The Complete Packing List for Costa Rica: The Essential Items to Bring

What do I need to pack for Costa Rica? As one of the most common questions we get, this Costa Rica packing list post will help you immensely.

The most important thing to know about packing for Costa Rica is that there around 27 micro-climates in the country so don’t just throw your shorts and flip flops in your bag, read our packing list for Costa Rica to find out exactly what you need to bring!

*Click the link to get our free packing checklist to help you stay organized!*

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Essential items You CANNOT Forget to Bring to Costa Rica

• Original passport. No photocopies, no color copies. Must be your original passport that is not expired and will not expire during your time in Costa Rica.
• Original valid driver’s license (if you are renting a car or driving). No temporary licenses, no photocopies, no paper copies. Cannot be expired or will expire while you are in Costa Rica.
• Physical no foreign transaction fee credit card. Bring a Visa since AMEX is not as widely accepted. Almost no places accept Discover Card. Apple Pay/digital cards are not widely accepted in Costa Rica.
• Your return flight ticket out of Costa Rica. Can be printed or saved on your phone to show to immigration. Check the Costa Rica entry requirements for your passport country.
• Hotels, tours, car rentals, shuttle bookings and flights. Can be printed or saved on your phone

Extra essential for pro travelers: Travel insurance. We personally never travel internationally without it. Our recommendations are Safety Wing (great for digital nomads) and World Nomads (ideal for adventurers). You can browse through various options to find one that fits your needs.

Want to see the gear we recommend for your trip to Costa Rica? Check our Amazon storefront to see the products we personally use and recommend.

The Essential Things to Bring to Costa Rica

These are the essential items for your Costa Rica packing list: lightweight dry fast clothes, comfortable sandals, swimwear, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, battery pack, medical kit, waterproof phone case, camera, day pack, rain jacket, and an insulated water bottle.

Clothes

Costa Rica doesn’t have a strict dress code so comfortable and casual is best for the entire country.

At the beach, where daytime temperatures can reach up to 95° F (35° C) with high humidity, your wardrobe will consist of shorts, tank tops, tshirts and flip flops.

In the city, where average daytime temperatures are around 78° F (25° C), we recommend closed toed shoes, long pants and a jacket or sweater.

For higher elevation area such as Monteverde, Bajos del Toro, Poas, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, San Gerardo de Dota, then long pants, a warm sweater or jacket and long sock are necessary, as night time temperatures can go down to the 50s° F (12° C).

For women, there is no real dress code. You can perfectly wear tank tops and show your shoulders. It is not common for local women to wear leggings as daily wear though.

Our Clothing Recommendations

For Costa Rica, clothes that dry fast and wick away moisture with SPF sun protection are the best. In the city, normal city wear is fine.

For outdoor activities, I personally prefer hiking pants rather than leggings because of the humidity and insects.

Our closet is full of Columbia, REI, prAna, Nike, North Face, Craghoppers and Eddie Bauer with lots of lightweight, moisture wicking, sun protection and insect repellent clothes for our life on the hot North Pacific coast and adventures in the tropical rainforest.

For sun shirts, I love these ones. This brand has styles for men and women. Comfortable, lightweight, reasonably priced and has lasted us a long time.

For ladies, I highly recommend microfiber bras/bralettes and seamless moisture wicking undies. Lightweight, incredibly comfortable for any activity, washes easy and dries quick. I also have some from Uniqlo which are awesome.

For men, Yeison always buys moisture wicking bamboo boxers. He has a whole drawer full of them.

If you are visiting during rainy season, then a waterproof rain jacket or shell is mandatory.

Shoes

If you’re doing any activities, hiking shoes/sandals (with straps), sneakers, trail running shoes or hiking shoes are necessary. For the beach, flip flops are necessary.

Whenever we travel around Costa Rica, I normally bring one pair of flip flops and one pair of sneakers/hiking shoes or closed toed hiking sandals depending on what we’re doing.

For light activities that don’t require closed shoes, I’ll have flip flops and my KEEN hiking sandals. For longer hikes, I have a pair of Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoes and On Cloudtrax hiking shoes.

Yeison usually brings a pair of flip flops and his trail running shoes or closed toed hiking sandals. For long hikes, he has waterproof Salomon trail running shoes.

Our Shoe Recommendations

We love closed toed hiking sandals for light land-water outdoor activities. They dry fast, don’t smell and are more breathable. Waterproof trail running shoes are also amazing for Costa Rica for more intense hikes.

If you don’t want to purchase closed toed hiking sandals, a pair of sneakers + water shoes will be great for light activities like ziplining, rafting, tubing, snorkeling, boating.

We love our KEEN hiking sandals and you can read our in-depth guide to what are the best shoes for Costa Rica.

Remember, many activities require completely CLOSED toed shoes.

Mosquito Repellent

You have to bring mosquito repellent for Costa Rica as they are present all year round. The coasts are the worst places for mosquitoes and there are a few serious diseases you can catch like dengue fever.

There are also other annoying little bugs that bite like gnats and no-see- ums. Mosquitoes are not really found in high elevations above 1500 meters (4900 feet) or so.

Our Repellent Recommendations

You can find mosquito repellent in the supermarkets but we recommend bringing your own as it is a bit more expensive here.

Additionally, there aren’t a ton of natural or non-DEET options. We like this OFF! 20% Picardin and also Avon skin so soft which is DEET free and has SPF.

We use Repel when we’re in deep rainforest. In those situations, non DEET products don’t work well for me and I’m a mosquito magnet.

Read about our favorite mosquito repellent products in this Costa Rica mosquitoes post.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is also a must and bring at least SPF 30. If you burn easily, SPF 50-70 is best and do not forget to reapply.

Costa Rica is only 8-12 degrees from the equator so the sun is strong!

Our Sunscreen Recommendations

If you are going to be going in the ocean, we encourage you to either wear a swim shirt with SPF or use reef safe/friendly sunscreen. We personally love Raw Elements, Stream2Sea, Blue Lizard and Project Reef.

Don’t forget chapstick with SPF and after sun cooling lotion.

PRO TIP: Bring sunscreen. In Costa Rica, sunscreen is expensive with limited options for reef safe/reef friendly/vegan/sustainable.

If you’re surfing, get a mineral face stick sunscreen and wear a rash guard with SPF.

Toiletries and Medications

You can find all toiletries in Costa Rica like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothbrush, mouth wash, toothpaste and floss in the supermarkets.

There are a few items that I do recommend to bring: tampons (not always readily available or very limited options), talc-free body powder, face wash (expensive), hair detangler spray, triple antibiotic ointment, non drowsy allergy medicine, band aids, wet wipes and face wipes.

Menstruation cups are becoming more available in high end/organic markets in Costa Rica but are not sold at all supermarkets and pharmacies.

If you wear contact lenses, bring a couple extra lenses, cases and contact lens solution. They sell contact lens solutions at most supermarkets and the pharmacy but it is expensive.

If you’re taking any medicines, write down a list of them and keep it with you at all times. Include the active ingredients in each medicine or find the Spanish name.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies in Costa Rica are not only for prescription medicines. They sell everything like shampoo, lotion, vitamins, supplements, cold medicine, and toothpaste.

Pharmacies also sell the OTC medicines such as cold, flu, sinus, sleep aids, allergy, diarrhea, nausea and muscle pain. Some of these are not sold in supermarkets so you have to go to the pharmacy.

For example, anti-nausea medicine. In Costa Rica, anti-nausea medicine is sold at the pharmacy, not supermarket.

I personally bring non drowsy Dramamine because this brand isn’t available in Costa Rica. Also the pharmacist may accidentally give you one that induces drowsiness (this has happened to me before).

Allergy medicine is not sold over the counter here so I always bring my own Claritin and Systane eye drops for my bad allergies.

Cough drops are not readily available either. Supermarkets will sell Halls in the tube.

Rain Jacket

A waterproof rain jacket is an essential item if you’re visiting during Costa Rica’s rainy season (May to November).

A poncho works too but get a good quality one that you can keep for future use.

Some places can still rain in the typical dry season months due to their location and elevation, such as Poas, La Fortuna, Bajos del Toro, Bijagua and Monteverde.

The Caribbean (Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo) follows a different weather pattern and it can rain at any time of the year.

Our recommendations: We love our The North Face Venture Jackets. I grew up in Washington state so I have lots of experience with rain jackets. I also purchased a long rain coat which has been nice for more coverage.

We recommend to get a lightweight jacket with zipper ventilation pockets to let air flow through.

Day Bag, Backpacks

For day trips, sight seeing and tours, bring a day backpack. Do not bring those flimsy drawstring gym bags.

Our recommendations: For sightseeing, I use my Sherpani Camden Convertible Backpack 21 L and Yeison has a North Face Router Everyday Backpack 40 L.

Then for hiking and boating, I love my Aqua Quest waterproof backpacks and IDRYBAGS.

For any water activities or if you are visiting during the rainy season, get a waterproof backpack or a rain cover.

If you are traveling with infants/babies, you must bring a child carrier. Most national parks, reserves and hiking trails do not allow or are not suitable for strollers.

Photography Backpacks

For photographers, Yeison has a Shimodo Explore V2 which is an absolutely fantastic travel photography backpack. He also has a WANDRD PRVKE 31 L backpack with a rain cover.

I have the women’s version Shimoda Action x30 with a rain cover and it is amazing!

As a content creator, having a good backpack to protect your gear is absolutely crucial.

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Insulated Water Bottle

I never leave home without my insulated water bottle. It’s the best feeling in the world to take a long sip of fresh cold water when it’s 35° C (95° F) outside.

You can drink tap water in most places in Costa Rica but there are some rural places where you cannot. Hotels are happy to fill up your bottle with filtered water if they don’t have their own filling station.

We both have 40 ounce Hydro Flasks and it keeps our water nice and cold for up to 24 hours. I recommend to get the boot for your water bottle because it will get banged around.

Many national parks do not allow single use plastics inside, including plastic water bottles.

Micro Fiber Towel

Our second favorite item we never leave without.

A micro fiber towel is awesome for wiping sweat off or to wrap your stuff in if it starts raining. We have several of various sizes: a hand towel and body towel.

For surfing, I am in love with my microfiber surf poncho. So comfortable and convenient for changing out of your swimsuit after a surf session.

Sunglasses and Hat

I recommend bringing 2 pairs of sunglasses: your normal pair and a cheap pair. You will want to bring one cheap pair so that you won’t cry if it gets lost in the ocean.

A hat or visor is also essential to bring to Costa Rica.

Sarong and Swimwear

I love my sarongs. It’s so useful as a towel, beach cover up or even as a blanket for those long cold bus rides.

Sometimes I use them to cover my legs at night to protect against mosquitoes when I’m sitting outside. You can buy them in souvenir shops here for around $10-20 USD.

As for swimwear, we recommend at least two pairs.

Ladies, if you’re visiting popular beach towns like Tamarindo and Jaco, you can buy some super cute locally made bikinis.

Cameras and Technology

If you want to capture all those awesome adventures, an action cam is the best.

GoPro is still a great one. We use the DJI Action 5 which is awesome! Another really fun action camera is the Insta360X to capture ALL of the moments from all perspectives.

If you’re a photographer, bring a telephoto lens (at least 300 mm) for birds and wildlife. Ideal length is 600 mm for birds with a tripod. We have a Manfrotto tripod as well as a monopod.

Our Camera Recommendations

Make sure to bring the correct accessories for your action camera to attach it to helmets, surf boards, etc.

For Go Pro, most tour companies will have the part that attaches to the helmet but you need to bring the other part. A chest mount is highly recommended.

Also, bring plenty of SD cards as it is difficult to find Class 10 SD cards and mini SD cards. Bring a universal power adapter if you need to as they’re not super common to find here.

Costa Rica’s power is 110 Volts, the same as US.

Flashlights or Head Lamps

I always bring a small pocket flashlight with me when we travel around Costa Rica. This is because street lights are far and few outside the city.

If you’re walking at night, many streets do not have any street lights or are very dimly lit. Furthermore, there aren’t really sidewalks so you have to walk on the road.

When we stay at eco-lodges, a flashlight is a must when walking around the property at night. Most of these lodges are very “jungley” without much lights at night as not to disturb the wildlife.

Anti Theft Travel Bag

I have an anti theft travel purse which I absolutely LOVE. I use it all the time and bring it with me to Europe and the US. It saved me in Spain when I almost got pick pocketed.

The brand is Sherpani and many of their travel backpacks are convertible for two or three styles, has RFID protection, a chain look system, exterior lock system and are water resistant. Some even have slash proof material.

I have two of their bags which are my go to whenever we travel.

I also have a RFID wallet which I highly recommend.

Battery Pack

Because the electricity may go out, especially in Costa Rica’s rainy season, I always have a fully charged battery pack, wall chargers and extra charging cables with me.

Super useful when we stay in rural areas or are out all day.

If you are working while you travel, I highly recommend this USB C Travel Power Strip. Older or cheaper hotels have very few outlets so this is super handy to charge multiple devices at once.

I also have 10 feet charging cables because some hotels have sockets in weird places.

Waterproof Phone Case/Pouch

These waterproof phone cases are super useful. You can wear it around your neck and use it during light water activities like tubing, canyoning, etc.

This is also really nice alternative if you don’t have a waterproof camera and don’t want to spend $500 USD on a GoPro.

But remember, these are not recommended to take scuba diving or anything like that, just light water activities.

Accessories and Extras

Here are some other items that will be useful.

• Ziplock bags. Good for holding electronics, toiletries, zipping up wet clothes
• Laundry bag and laundry detergent sheets.
• Dryer sheets to keep your luggage smelling clean even with dirty clothes
• Reusable shopping bags
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Collapsible cooler. Super useful if you have a baby, take medication that needs to be kept cold, planning several beach days or just want cold drinks/food when you’re on the move.
• Lots of silk hair ties and clips
• Travel hair dryer. Hostels, cheap/budget hotels, some Airbnbs don’t have hair dryers in the room. If you’re visiting a colder area, bring a small travel hair dryer.
• Ear plugs
• Car cell phone holder, not every single rental car has Car Play or Android Auto. Planning to rent a car? Get our Costa Rica car rental discount and extra freebies here!
• Spanish dictionary or guide. Download our free survival Spanish pocket guide.
• National Geographic Costa Rica map. Nat Geo maps rock. I buy their maps for other countries.
• Binoculars. You do not need a super expensive pair, I have this pair of binoculars which have been great.
• Master Lock. This is especially useful if you are surfing. You can lock the car key and have a safe place for it. Get the XXL size to that it’s big enough to fit an electronic key.

Things NOT to pack for Costa Rica

• Expensive jewelry and designer clothes.
• High heels/stilettos. Costa Ricans sidewalks (when there are any) and roads commonly have pot holes and cracks. Choose cute flats or sandals instead.
• Expensive purses. Better to have a more low key travel purse or practical day bag.
• Rain boots. They take up a ton of room and they’re really not necessary. If you need rain boots, you can buy a cheap pair at the hardware store. Then donate them when you leave.
• Every single credit and debit card you have. Just bring the ones you’re using.

Luggage Recommendations

Carry On

I personally use the Beis The Carry On Roller Bag and absolutely love it. It has many features and pockets that make it super easy to keep organized. I’ve used this for all of our international travels when I’m carry on only.

Yeison uses a Columbia Carry On Roller Bag which he loves.

Columbia no longer stocks this carry on bags anymore, but Eddie Bauer makes a similar one that is excellent.

Check In Luggage

We have several Amazon Basics 24 inch and the Amazon Basics 28 inch. They’re super basic, but if you don’t need anything heavy duty or if you don’t travel often, they’re an affordable option for luggage.

The only thing is that these luggage pieces are common. I see them every time we travel, so I put a ton of stickers and tags on them to recognize them easily.

To help stay organized, packing cubes are very useful. We used to have this eBags set.

Related: What to bring when you move to Costa Rica.

Rainy Season Packing List

Rainy season is generally from May through November. This is the time of thunderstorms, rainstorms and very windy days.

Rainiest months are September and October for most of the country.

October is the summer month for the Caribbean coast but still bring a light rainjacket!

It is very important you come prepared in rainy season since Costa Rica weather can be unpredictable. It can go from a hot sunny morning to a crazy thunderstorm in a matter of minutes.

If you’re coming in rainy season, add these to your list:

• Rain jacket/poncho.
• Waterproof backpack or rain cover/waterproof spray. This is a must!
• Sweaters/jackets.
• Long pants and long sleeve shirt
• Hiking clothing.
• Hiking shoes. Waterproof preferable.
• Socks
• Mosquito repellent x10.

We have a complete Costa Rica rainy season packing list with more information.

OK so by now, you might be wondering what specific items to bring for your destinations. Read the section below to find out!

Packing List for Costa Rica: Different Destinations and Activities

Arenal and La Fortuna

This area gets hot and humid during dry season with temperatures in the high 80s° F (29° C). If you are staying around Lake Arenal or Nuevo Arenal, it is cooler.

In La Fortuna, it is hot and humid so you can perfectly wear shorts, t shirts and sandals.

Hiking: Running shoes or hiking shoes will be fine for most hikes in Costa Rica. In rainy season, I recommend a pair of waterproof hiking shoes or hiking sandals.

Ziplining: No flip flops or loose shoes.

Activities such as canyoning and white water rafting require closed shoes, adventure sandals (back and front strap) or water shoes.

Closed toed hiking sandals work amazing or water shoes for rafting. The Mistico Hanging Bridges Park requires completely closed shoes.

Monteverde

Monteverde sits around 1500 meters (4900 feet) in elevation so it is a lot cooler up there. Dry season temperatures are around high 70s° F (25° C) and at night, it gets down to the high 50s° and 60s° F (14° C).

You need to bring a warm sweater/jacket and long pants for Monteverde. Also expect to run into spring showers even during the dry season months of March and April. Waterproof equipment and clothing is a must for rainy season in Monteverde.

Hiking the cloud forest reserves: Bring a rain jacket and wear closed toed hiking shoes. Some of the reserves have rain boots for rent.

Osa Peninsula (Corcovado National Park, Puerto Jimenez, Drake Bay) and Costa Ballena (Uvita, Dominical, Ojochal)

The Osa Peninsula and Costa Ballena are very humid all year long. Closed toed hiking shoes are a must for the national park.

Trails are well laid out in Corcovado National Park but if you’re doing the walk from Leona Station or Los Patos station to Sirena station, you will have to cross some rivers and walk on the beach.

If you are visiting in rainy season, I recommend solid waterproof hiking shoes or rain boots.

If you are bringing camera equipment, you need waterproof gear since this area is SO humid and rains hard. Bring 100% waterproof backpacks and dry bags.

Must bring items: A micro-fiber towel, a hat, a flashlight, good pair of hiking shoes, lots of mosquito repellent, battery pack, insulated water bottle, quick dry moisture wicking workout clothes, waterproof backpack and an open attitude. You will run into lots of bugs and be hot and sweaty!

The same goes for Sarapiqui. This area is super humid!

Jaco and Manuel Antonio

Both Jaco and Manuel Antonio have similar weather and are hot and fairly humid. Bring all your beach clothes, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, a hat and swimsuit.

Guanacaste (Coco, Tamarindo, Conchal, Samara) and Nicoya Peninsula

The Guanacaste province is extremely hot with a longer dry season. Temperatures are consistently in the low 90s° F (33° C) throughout the year.

You must bring tons of sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, hat and after sun gel.

In dry season, the Nicoya Peninsula is extremely dusty. If you plan to rent an ATV, make sure to bring something to cover your face like Buff Headwear because the dust is incredibly bad there.

Rio Celeste

The Tenorio Volcano National Park where Rio Celeste is rains often so bring a rain jacket, even in dry season. When we visited in April, it rained almost all 3 days we were there.

A waterproof backpack is highly recommended (especially for photographers) and hiking sandals or waterproof hiking shoes is also recommended.

Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo

Since The Caribbean coast can rain almost all year long, be prepared for rain. The dry season month is October but believe me, bring your rain jacket still.

It’s extremely humid in Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo so fast drying clothes is necessary. If you plan to hike in the national park, you can rent boots as it can get muddy.

A battery pack is highly recommended in case the electricity goes out.

Free Costa Rica Packing Check List

Click here to get our FREE packing checklist with an abridged version of the notes above so you can print it out and refer back to it while you’re preparing for your trip!

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Costa Rica Vacation Checklist

• First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
• Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
• Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
• Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
• Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
• Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.

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Read other Costa Rica travel tips below!

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10 day Costa Rica itinerary

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