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.
- No foreign transaction fee credit card. Make sure to bring a Visa because AMEX is not as widely accepted. Almost no places accept Discover Card. Apple Pay/digital cards are not widely accepted in Costa Rica.
- Travel insurance. Highly recommended especially now we know due to the pandemic that anything can happen! Check Safety Wing (great for digital nomads), World Nomads (ideal for adventurers) or browse through various options to find the one that fits your needs.
- Your return flight ticket out of Costa Rica. This can be printed or saved on your phone) to show to immigration if they ask. Group 1 is allowed to stay up to 180 days, make sure to check the Costa Rica entry requirements for your passport country.
- Hotels, tours, car rentals and flight reservations (printed or saved on your phone)
Want to see all the gear and items we recommend for your trip to Costa Rica on one page? Check out 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 SPF 30+, hiking shoes/trail running shoes or closed toed hiking sandals, sunglasses, a hat, battery pack, medical kit, waterproof phone case, camera, day pack, rain jacket, jacket and an insulated water bottle.
Clothes
Costa Rica doesn’t have a strict dress code so comfortable and casual is best for pretty much the entire country.
At the beach where daytime temperatures 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 daytime temperatures are around 78° F (25° C), we recommend closed toed shoes, long pants and a jacket or sweater.
If you’re visiting higher elevation areas (Monteverde, Bajos del Toro, Vara Blanca, Poas, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, San Gerardo de Dota, San Jose, Heredia, etc.), then long pants, a warm sweater, long socks and a jacket are necessary. If you are visiting during rainy season, then a waterproof rain jacket or shell is mandatory.
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. As for the men, no board shorts or short shorts in the city.
Our recommendations: For Costa Rica, clothes that dry fast and wick away moisture are the best. In the city, normal city wear is fine (no beach clothes). For hiking, as a woman, I personally prefer hiking pants rather than leggings due to the intense humidity and mosquitoes. Our closet is full of Columbia, REI, prAna, Nike, North Face and Eddie Bauer with lots of lightweight, moisture wicking clothes for our life on the North Pacific coast.
I personally recommend microfiber bras/bralettes and undies for women. Lightweight, so comfortable for any activity, washes easy and dries quick! I have some from Uniqlo, Aerie and Lululemon that I absolutely love.
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.
I usually bring a pair of flip flops and my KEEN hiking sandals. For hikes, I also have a pair of Salomon 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. If we’re doing long hikes, he wears waterproof Salomon trail running shoes.
Our recommendations: We love closed toed hiking sandals. They are amazing for all sorts of light outdoor activities that go from land to water. They dry fast, don’t smell, your feet can breathe and are much more comfortable than stuffy shoes and socks. 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 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.
Repel is another excellent brand that we use a lot (especially me, as non DEET products don’t work great for me and I’m a mosquito magnet). You can 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! Additionally, after sun care is very important in case you probably will burn.
Our 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, Blue Lizard and Reef Repair.
If you can, bring sunscreen. If you can’t, you can get sunscreen at any supermarket or pharmacy but it is a bit more expensive with limited options. Don’t forget chapstick with SPF!
If you’re surfing, make sure you get a mineral face stick sunscreen with Titanium Dioxide/Zinc Oxide 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. These are tampons for women (not always readily available or very limited options), face wash (expensive), hair detangler spray, wet wipes, triple antibiotic ointment, non drowsy allergy medicine, band aids, a packet of tissues and face wipes. Menstruation cups are becoming more available in high end/organic markets in Costa Rica.
If you wear contact lenses, bring a couple extra lenses, cases and contact lens solution. They do sell contact lens solutions at most supermarkets and the pharmacy but it is a bit more expensive.
If you’re taking any medicines, write down a list of them and keep it with you at all times. Try to 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, toothpaste and OTC things like that as well as prescription medicines.
For basic medicines, you can find them OTC like cold, flu, sinus, diarrhea and muscle pain at the supermarket. As for other medicines, you’ll need to go to a pharmacy so we recommend bringing any specific medicines you prefer to take.
For example, anti-nausea medicine, which I highly recommend to bring due to the very curvy coastal and mountain roads here. In Costa Rica, anti-nausea medicine is sold at the pharmacy, not supermarket.
I like to 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).
I always bring my own Claritin and Systane eye drops for my bad allergies because it is difficult to find non drowsy allergy medicine. Allergy medicine is not sold over the counter here. Cough drops are not readily available OTC either except Halls but in the tube, not in a bag.
Rain Jacket
A rain jacket is an essential item if you’re visiting during Costa Rica’s rainy season (May to beginning of December). And you want to get a waterproof one, trust me! A poncho can work too but get a good quality one, not those dollar store ones that you throw away after one use which is very wasteful.
However, even in dry season, we recommend to bring your lightweight rain jacket if you’re visiting the rainforest or mountains as it can still rain.
These are places like Monteverde, Poas, La Fortuna, Vara Blanca, Bajos del Toro, Dominical, Uvita, Bijagua, Monteverde or Osa Peninsula. Also remember 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 have a Marmot Precip jacket. We recommend to get a lightweight jacket with zipper ventilation pockets to let air flow through.
Day Bag
For day trips, sight seeing and tours, bring a day backpack. Do not bring those flimsy drawstring gym bags.
If you’re not planning on doing long hikes, you can get away with a 20-25 L backpack to hold all the essentials: snacks, water, hand towel, change of clothes, camera, etc.
Our recommendations: We have a bunch of backpacks each with their own purpose. I have a 20 L Osprey, a 30 L Aqua Quest, and Yeison has a 40 L REI. In rainy season, you must bring a waterproof backpack. I love my Aqua Quest waterproof backpacks for hiking and our IDRYBAGS for boating/water activities. If you don’t have a waterproof backpack, you can get a rain cover.
For photographers, Yeison has a Shimodo Explore V2 which is an absolutely fantastic travel photography backpack. He also has a WANDRD backpack. As a content creator, having a good backpack to protect your gear is absolutely crucial. I have the women’s version Shimoda Action x30 with a rain cover and it is amazing!
If you are traveling with infants/babies, you must bring a child carrier. Most places like national parks, reserves, hiking trails, do not allow or are not suitable for strollers.
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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 90° F out.
Additionally, bringing your own water bottle helps to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles and you’ll save money on buying water. You can drink tap water in most places in Costa Rica or bring a water filter if you have a sensitive stomach.
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 as you take it on hikes and adventures.
Many national parks do not allow single use plastics inside, so you will not be able to bring plastic water bottles. Don’t forget your insulated water bottle!
Micro Fiber Towel
Our second favorite item we never leave without. A micro fiber towel is awesome for wiping sweat off, using as a fan to cool off or to wrap your stuff in if it starts raining. We have several of various sizes: a hand towel and body towel.
If you’re a surfer, 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 recently got the DJI Action 5 which is awesome! Another really fun action camera is the Insta360X to capture ALL of the moments.
If you’re a photographer, bring a wide angle for landscape shots and a telephoto lens (at least 300 mm) for birds and wildlife. A sturdy tripod is a must for wildlife photographers (we personally use Manfrotto).
Our 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.
Anti Theft Travel Bag
I have an anti theft travel purse which I absolutely LOVE. I use it all the time and brought it with me to Europe and the US (it saved me in Spain when I almost got pick pocketed). It’s super useful, spacious and handy for everyday use, light hiking and travel.
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 purse/backpacks which are my go to in Costa Rica and during our international travels.
I also have a RFID wallet which I highly recommend!
Battery Pack
And 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 on a long drive!
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, or not many sockets.
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.
- Small first aid kit
- Ziplock bags. Good for holding electronics, toiletries, zipping up wet clothes
- Laundry bag and laundry detergent sheets. That way you can do a quick wash in your hotel room.
- 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
- Sleeping pills. You can find magnesium/melatonin easily in Costa Rica though.
- 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, if you’re staying in a hostel, in town or roadside.
- 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. Though English is widely spoken since Costa Rica is a touristic country, it is still helpful to know some phrases and words in Spanish.
- Map. The National Geographic Costa Rica map is fantastic. 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. This way 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 do 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 want to be carry on only.
Yeison uses a Columbia Carry On Roller Bag which he loves. It’s soft shell but super durable and easy to clean. This one has two wheels. It’s amazing how much clothes he can pack in this carry on as it looks small but it holds a lot!
Check In Luggage
We have several Amazon Basics 24 inch and the Amazon Basics 28 inch. They’re basic like the name but we haven’t had any issues with them the past few years. If you don’t need anything very heavy duty or if you don’t travel often, the Amazon Basics line is a great affordable option for luggage.
The only thing is that these luggage pieces are fairly 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
Generally around beginning of 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. However, 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.
The same packing list for Costa Rica in dry season but 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
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.
Other activities such as horseback riding, canyoning and white water rafting require closed toed 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 to Sirena station, you will have to cross some rivers and walk on the beach. Some hotels have rain boots for rent or you can buy rain boots in Puerto Jimenez.
If you are visiting in rainy season, I recommend solid waterproof hiking shoes or trail running shoes. If you are bringing camera equipment, you need waterproof gear since this area is SO humid and rains hard. Bring 100% waterproof backpacks and ziploc 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 clothes 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 SPF 50 sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, hat and after sun gel.
Protect yourself from the sun! An insulated water bottle will be super useful so you can always have cold water.
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 poured 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!
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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Becca says
Hi! My husband and I are going to be visiting Tortuguero, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio in July. The activities will include hiking, a night hike, boat and kayak tours, a cacao farm tour, and the beach. I’m wondering if we could get away with just bringing closed-toe hiking sandals for the entire trip so that we don’t have to pack several pairs of shoes each, since our trip will only be about 10 days long.
Also, in terms of clothing, should we count on needing long-sleeved shirts (I’m thinking sun shirts or lightweight long-sleeved button downs)? Or should short sleeves be okay as long as we use adequate repellent?
TIA!
Sammi says
I would bring a good trail running or walking shoe instead, for a night walk and chocolate farm you will want closed shoes. You could do walking/running shoes and then buy a pair of water shoes for the boat and kayak tours which are cheap and easy to pack. You can even buy water shoes in La FOrtuna for around $15 USD. Some places may require completely closed shoes like Mistico Hanging Bridges Park (if you don’t have them, you will have to sign a waiver). You can perfectly wear short sleeve and tank tops, it’s very humid in those places so you’ll want short sleeve shirts. When you’re hiking, night walk, and boating, I’d wear the long sleeves.
Becca says
Very helpful, thank you so much!
Rachael Vivian says
We are going in May 8-18th. Wondering how rainy it is, we are going to Manuel Antonio, Arenal and Nicoyo peninsula. Is it still fairly warm in May.
Trying to figure out exactly what to pack or if it will be very rainy.
Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Rachael, sure, you can check our May in Costa Rica blog post to see what it’s like
Kristine says
Hi, thank you for very useful information. We (two adults and two 10 year olds) are going in July, staying in Osa, Samara and Monteverde. We are used to hiking but not in this climate, so I am not sure what footwear to bring. Some says Goretex, others says quick dry tennis shoes because everything will get wet anyway. We will do a day hike from Sirena and probably a few guided hikes in the cloud forest, so nothing very strenious. I appreciate any advice Kristine
Sammi says
For your places, I’d recommend something like closed toed trail running shoes that are water proof or water resistant for July. It’s going to be super humid in Osa, Monteverde is not very humid as it’s much cooler but for any hikes, you’d want good closed toed shoes that are water resistant/proof as it can be misty/rainy up there.
Rachelle Marsden says
Does that Master Lock fit a key fob?
Sammi says
We put a standard normal non electric car key in ours but they sell bigger size ones (different brand) on Amazon that will fit a key fob.
Lisa Carr says
Hello! We will be visiting in February. Trying to decide on what shoes to purchase. We are doing rafting and canyoning in La Fortuna, hiking at Rio Celeste, and hiking at El Tigre. Would closed toe waterproof hiking sandals work for all of these activities? Would sneakers with a little bit of traction work for the 2 hikes instead of trail running shoes? Thank you!
Sammi says
Yes those shoes, the closed toed hiking sandals will work for all of those, including the rafting and canyoning. February is the middle of dry season so you don’t need to worry too much about extremely muddy trails.
Lisa Carr says
Thank you so much!
Dwight Huffman says
Just returned from a weeks stay at end of July, early August. I over prepared with all the gear for staying dry. Not going to happen. Just embrace it. We got the very best rain shells, with maximum ventilation, and wore them once for 15 minutes. The #1 tool in against the rain (in my opinion) is an umbrella – hands down. That with some light wicking clothes, and you’re all set. Besides closed toed sandals, some waterproof trail shoes are a good idea too.
Yelka says
Hi! We are visiting Costa Rica from July 4th – July 12th. We are interested in staying in Manuel Antonio for 4 days. Which hotels do you recommend in Manuel Antonio?
Sammi says
Hello, you can check our recommendations in our guide: Manuel Antonio
Justice Long says
Hello, I loved reading you blog. I am traveling to Costa Rica in a few days for my birthday on May 6th-May 10th. We are staying in savegre. I noticed you said that early May is rainy season. and I checked the weather and it says thunderstorms. Im so sad because I think my trip will be ruined as far as the activites I will be allowed to do. As far as thunderstorms go there, do they lasts all day? Or are they mostly at night? Would you consider savegre to be a rainy city? Also, at night does it get really dark? Thank you again.
Sammi says
Hello, please read our guide to Costa Rica weather and What to know about Costa Rica in rainy season because May is the start of rainy season, it’s like a transition month but it doesn’t necessarily mean rain storms and thunder storms 24/7 (actually it never means that).
andrew pengelly says
I am arriving at San Juan on 1st May, then travelling to a biological station near Sarapiqui. After reading your list of travel requirements I feel rather deficient though I have a day or so to get some supplies. But what really scares me is reading your driving in Costa Rica blog, it sounds like an accident waiting to happen, and I think I’m a good driver. I fly in at 8pm (airport) and have a hotel booked in San Jose, but definitely don’t want to drive there at night. Any suggestions?
Sammi says
Stay a night by the airport and leave the next morning. Be cautious and don’t take risks when driving (like for passing trucks/trailers). Better to go slow if you’re not 100% comfortable to pass. Accidents can happen anywhere if you are not paying attention, driving defensively or being extra cautious as there is a lack of sidewalks, street lights and traffic lights here but outside San Jose, the number of cars goes down a lot, the route to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui from San Jose is on main highway. Might be some traffic coming out of the airport area due to construction but once you’re out going to Sarapiqui shouldn’t be too bad because it’s not a huge major tourist destination like Jaco or Tamarindo.
andrew pengelly says
Thanks
I already booked a hotel at San Jose, and I found there is a bus service to the city, then hopefully I can get a taxi to the hotel. There is also a regular bus service to Sarapiqui, maybe I’ll hire a car once I’m settled in
best wishes Andrew
April says
Hi! I’m driving from San Jose airport to Uvita, with a few girlfriends, is this a safe and pretty straightforward drive? Do you recommend a map or will we get cell service for Google maps?
Thank you!
Sammi says
Yes, via the Route 34 along the coast, very straightforward and easy drive. Quite enjoyable once you get onto Route 34 for the nice views. Use a GPS.
Lynn says
We have a trip planned to Costa Rica at the end of May. Our plane lands in San José at 1:25 PM on a Thursday. We also have a rental car and an Airbnb booked in Cahuita. Do you think it is safe to drive from Juan Santamaría to Cahuita that same day, or should we stay in San José for the first night?
Sammi says
I’d stay in San Jose the first night.
Jackie House says
Hello and thank you for the great suggestions. I will be coming to Costa Rica in late Feb/early Mar 2024 for a birding tour and we will be spending 2 days in San Gerardo de Dota. I plan to bring layers along with gloves and a fleece hat for the cold. I have a down jacket that I often layer with a fleece underneath and a rain jacket on top. Does this seem like a reasonable layer system for that cold/high elevation area? Would the down layer be ok even with humidity? Thank you!
Sammi says
Yes that should be fine. During the day it does get sunny so best to have layers so you can layer up in the mornings and nights when its at the coldest and during the day when its sunny, take off layers. Shouldn’t rain hardcore during those dates but it can be windy. It’s not really humid in Dota but it may sprinkle a bit being so high in elevation
Emily says
Hello!
I LOVE your blog! My dad and I are planning our yearly daddy-daughter vacation and he chose Costa Rica this year 🙂
We are planning on mid Jan-Feb, 3-4 weeks, renting a car, staying mostly in airbnb’s and traveling to some of your highlighted spots (Monteverde, Uvita, Tortuguera, La Fortuna, Rio Celeste and Samara). I have a couple questions I hope you can answer! We like to explore, hike and see the culture (not the inclusive resorts).
1) I REALLY want to go snorkeling in some really pretty costal waters, see some fish and coral reefs… except my dad is afraid of the water. We’d like to stick together, is there a place you recommend that I can snorkel (where’s the BEST place?! We don’t have reservations yet so we aren’t set on cities) and my dad could rent a kayak?
2) Your packing list recommends insect repellant, and it sounds like we will need a large amount. Is it better to bring your items in a checked bag (bug spray, shampoo, face wash, sunscreen etc.) and pay that fee or is it better to buy those things in Costa Rica? I looked and the checked bag fee is $60.
3) You recommend if we want to explore the mountains in Uvita we need 4×4, correct?
4) We would love to meet locals, are there any homestay programs? Or will we meet owners when we stay in airbnbs?
We are looking forward to local Sodas and exploring the country of Costa Rica, thanks for all you do with your blog!
Sammi says
Hi Emily, for snorkeling, I’d recommend in Samara, the kayak and snorkel tour to Isla Chorro. If you can bring those items, I recommend it but you can buy all of those here, it’s just expensive. Like if you get one bottle insect repellent, one shampoo (US brand), one sunscreen and one face wash, that’ll be $60 just right there…and maybe more. You can check a bag and bring the brands you like because selection here is limited compared to Europe/N. America but if you don’t want to check a bag you can just bring small carry on size liquids. Mountains outside of Uvita require 4×4. For Airbnbs, you do not really meet owners unless you specifically book an Airbnb where owners live inside the same house or property. Also note that majority of Airbnb owners in Costa Rica are foreigners, so make sure you read the listing carefully to see if they are Costa Rican or not.
George Chan says
Hi Sammi,
Our flight departs San Jose airport at 1:30AM on Sunday. Our driver going to drop us off at the airport at noon on Saturday. What do you suggest we visit at San Jose for the day? Is there any place at the SJO to secure our luggage? Thanks in advance.
George
Sammi says
I don’t believe there is any luggage storage at SJO Airport, I’d see if your driver can drop you off later cause at the airport itself there’s not much and I do not recommend visiting San Jose with all your luggage… nearby there are just some small establishments, many tourists will go to the Denny’s Restaurant/Rostipollos as there are a couple of hotels there and it’s a common meeting point for tours and shared shuttles so you’ll see tons of tourists with luggage eating at the restaurant and hanging out .
Marion Laney says
Hi, confirmed our Adobe car reservation through MTF today for 3 weeks!
Starting w/6 days at San Jose Intercontinental hotel for travel conference. Then basing out of Atenas for 3 weeks.
We will be checking in for some overnight trip suggestions. Potential expat 60 ish couple 😉
Thanks for the great info site.
¡Pura Vita!
Sammi says
Hi Marion, we’re happy the blog is helpful, I see our team has assisted the completion of your rental car 🙂
Jan Nicholls says
Hi. This is really useful. Especially the hiking shoe/boot and closed/open sandals advice. Normally I would have my 40L travel rucksack and a 25L daypack and that would be fine. But the baggage restrictions on internal flights is so restrictive, I am not going to get away with that. How do you cope with the packing and baggage where you have to take an internal flight? I don’t want to risk a situation where I cannot take my bags on the flight. Many thanks, Jan
Sammi says
You can bring more luggage on the domestic flights but you will have to pay the fee for the extra weight
Janae VanMaanen says
What’s the best tour to visit/waterfall that isn’t a huge drive from The Westin all inclusive hotel?
Sammi says
Catarata Llanos de Cortes is about a 1.5 hr drive from the resort
Grant Moore says
Leave tomorrow for a month really appreciate your list be my first time there and will be renting a suv for abit as well. All the tips and info are great
San says
Hi! Your blog was super helpful in planning our recent trip to Costa Rica. I wanted to thank you so much for all the wonderful tips and information! Your blog is awesome. 🙂
Sammi says
Thanks San for the kind words and for reading the site, we’re glad it’s helpful!
Steph says
I’ve been sent back to this blog over and over and I’m very happy I have because y’all provided the most helpful information for our trip for literally everything! Thank you.
Sammi says
Glad to hear it 🙂
Tasha says
Question: can you explain the masterlock? Where do you attach it to while surfing? I’m the most concerned about protecting our valuables while at the beach
Sammi says
The masterlock is attached to the bed of our pick up truck, we keep our car key in there while we are surfing. If you don’t have a pick up, a lot of people lock it to the thing on the bottom of the car that has a loop, or to the door handle
JMV says
Do you have a photo of the lock situation? I’m not tracking.
Sammi says
You can check the link for the Master Lock on Amazon to see what it’s like
Nicole says
Is there a place in Manuel Antonio to buy life jackets or floaties for my kids who are not strong swimmers? They are too big and bulky to bring from home.
Sammi says
You can check supermarkets, usually they may have something. Also the Marina Pez Vela has lots of swim/surf/fish/dive shops they would most likely have some.
Pat says
Traveling to Guanacaste, Costa Rica in April 2023. Occidental Papagayo. What to take for trip?
Sammi says
Hello Pat, please check our packing list post for tips!
Amy colvin says
Hello and thank you so much for your suggestions I’ve already bought a few things on your packing essentials
Hoping you could maybe help me we’re going to be in dominical from October 20 and checking out on the 27th we have some family that know that area pretty well. Our second place is we will be taking a drive from dominical too Playa Hermosa From the 27th through the 31st and would love some suggestions on either places to stop along the way or some things to do that are close to Playa Hermosa there’s going to be myself my two daughters and their significant others we’re all pretty healthy and we can do hikes but not real strenuous hikes but we would love to know some may be hidden gems either along the way or in that area I love white sandy beach is and chill time and then I was thinking maybe at least one night go out do a little partying one or two of the nights while we’re there
I would really appreciate any help thank you in advance
Sammi says
Hi Amy, there are actually several Playa Hermosas in Costa Rica so I don’t know which one you’re going to, but you can check all our posts on the 4 Playa Hermosa beaches in CR (Guanacaste, Santa Teresa, Jaco and Uvita): https://mytanfeet.com/?s=playa+hermosa
Monica says
Hi Sammi,
Been reading your blog so much in the run-up to our trip in Oct-Jan! First we are in San Jose for 4 nights, San Manuel Antonio 1 week and then we do 1 week of turtle volunteering at Reserva Playa Tortuga – first week of Nov. It’s about 1 hr south of Uvita, on a beach/nature area. We will be doing walks on the beach at night and out at all hours. I originally was going to bring yoga tights to wear at night rather then shorts, for mosquitos but I’m worried that they’ll bite through my tights. So am now wondering what the best pants to get for hot humid weather that are better protection from mozzies? I know you recommended the Nike Dry-fit clothes, would they be suitable for this area? Are there any lightweight hiking pants that are good for the really humid areas? If you could link some of the Nike ones or Hiking pants, that would be very appreciated! After this, we will be spending the rest of the time in Samara/Nicoya peninsula. Thanks for your help, Pura vida! 🙂
Sammi says
For nighttime on the beach, definitely wear hiking pants, with leggings I did find mosquitoes can still bite through and you want to be as protected as possible because mosquitoes are aggressive on the coasts especially this time of year being rainy season. I have a pair of Arc’Teryx Parapet Pants and Columbia Saturday Trail Pants – the Arc’Teryx ones are super light but I would also recommend to check for some water resistant pants due to the rainy season
Diana says
Some of the Amazon items you’ve linked are no longer available.
Sammi says
Thanks for the note – I just went and updated this post with new info and recommendations
Martha says
Should I bring money? Or use my credit card everywhere? Do they take US dollars?
Sammi says
Yes, USD is accepted, you can use both cash and credit card in Costa Rica, here are more things to know about handling money in Costa Rica
Carol Robinson says
My husband (82) and I are going to CR in June. He has mobility issues due to injuries and surgeries. I thought a river raft would be a good way to explore without walking, but not if he has to sit in the bottom . What do you think. Also what would you suggest with minimal walking around Arenal and Puerto Viejo. Our hotel has hot springs.
Sammi says
With mobility issues I would definitely not do a river rafting tour. I’d go for a river safari on a motorized boat as the boat is covered, has firm seats and floor (not like a raft) and doesn’t really require any physical activity except walking up and down the boat launch
Lil says
Thanks for this great list! It was very helpful for my trip to Costa Rica last month. The only thing I would add to this list is binoculars!!! I didn’t bring mine and ended up borrowing some other traveller’s a few times to get a look at a sloth or monkey. Thanks again XX
Alicia says
This post is so helpful! We’re headed to Costa Rica next week. This detailed post is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much!
Sammi says
You’re welcome 🙂
Ashley says
Hello! Thank you so much for your site, its very helpful. My husband and I will be coming for a month in June/July 2022. I am trying to get us some proper rain jackets. I’ve read on a couple sites to be careful to wear muted colors when going wildlife watching. Do you agree? And what exactly is “muted?” Is a muted yellow alright, or do you think it really means neutral colors only?
Sammi says
Usually if you plan to go birding or something, then colors like black, brown or dark green are better (think camo colors). If you are going to go on a nighttime turtle tour, you have to wear black.
Eileen says
We are coming to Costa Rica from the US this Dec- Feb/’22 and will be staying in the Osa Peninsula area. I am so glad I ran across your blog since I am going a little crazy thinking of all I need to pack for our family of 5- your list is very helpful and I will definitely be checking out your links for items we need to purchase! Thank you for sharing your experiences and tips!!
Jodi says
Hello! We have rain jackets but debating rain pants. We have quick dry pants. Will be in Monteverde early August. Thoughts? Thanks!
Sammi says
Sounds perfect. If you guys plan to do a lot of hiking rain pants is very useful but quick dry pants will be great. We don’t have 100% waterproof pants (just like water repellent) and they’ve been great for us each time.
Tracy Weddle says
Thanks for the great list!
For those who recently traveled or are traveling soon…..
After reading our documents, we want to make sure we understand the two things we need (besides regular id and such)to travel into Costa Rica in regards to COVID.
1. fill out Health Pass
2. Buy Travel Insurance
Thank you~
Tracy
Sammi says
Hi Tracy, you can read the details of the entry requirements in this post: Costa Rica COVID travel
Sarah says
I am planning to bring closed toed sandals on my trip in a couple weeks, specifically the Keen Whisper sandals. Do you know if that is okay to wear while horseback riding?
Sammi says
Those are great!
Nancy says
We love all the info in your posts! We always travel with our keen sandals but wondering about the ant situation. Are we better off with waterproof hiking shoes? I have 2 boys 7&9 so more concerned for them. We prefer keens because I don’t have to worry about river crossings and drying out sneakers but certainly don’t want an ant situation!
Sammi says
If you’re going to hike somewhere that doesn’t have as well maintained trails, I would go with the hiking shoes if you’re worried about ants.
Angie says
Is there a reason you recommend KEEN over Merrell or is it just personal preference? I have a high arch and my daughter gets blisters so easily and I am trying to decide which would be best vs. the Keen newport H2 ( more open) and the Merrell Choprock.
Sammi says
KEENS are just my preference 🙂 I actually have a pair of the KEEN hiking sandals and then Merrel normal hiking boots.
Sammantha says
Expecting to visit Costa Rica in April 2021… How travel with COVID, Airline etc? Just kind of nervous in not being able to return or getting stuck.
Sammi says
Hello, we have written two posts regarding Costa Rica and COVID. HEre is our Costa Rica COVID travel and our Costa Rica COVID-19 which are updated often.
Smiles says
Im thinking of going this August and your blog is amazing. I greatly appreciate all the time effort and details you’ve put into this. You’ve answered every question i had and ones I hadn’t thought of. I think you’ve helped me make my decision.
Todd says
If your going to be off the beaten path and may or won’t have good cell phone reception, you might want to consider getting an actual GPS and have it fitted with a map of Costa Rica. After getting lost multiple times and being let down by google maps many times, I went with a company called Navsat. It was $89 for a map of Costa Rica. It works very well. The map is customized for your specific make and model of GPS. Also has a feature that shows where banks, restaurants, hotels and places of interest are. Since Navsat, I have only been lost once in country. If you vacation there, you only have a limited amount of time. I really don’t want to spend my time lost hoping that Google maps downloaded the map I really needed. Free updates for one year on the maps.
Tom Griffiths says
Google Maps is often wrong in Costa Rica but WAZE app has always been great for us. Even when our rental vehicle comes with GPS we end up using WAZE.
Susan says
Wonderful information packed blog! Any insight into the drake Bay Area? Thanks!
Sammi says
Yes! Here is our guide: Drake Bay
patricia kuhling says
Hello. Thank you so much for this comprehensive information about CR. Do you know of any great snorkelling where it can be accessed by shore? I am recovering from a back injury. I did snorkel last week from shore in Bonaire with my husbands help, however not sure how confidant I would be off of a boat in deeper water.
Thanks so much!
Sammi says
There are some beaches like Ocotal, Costa Rica and Playa Conchal in Guanacaste where you can snorkel from shore.
Amy says
Hi Sammi! I was wondering what you’d recommend bringing to wear in the evenings around the beaches. I have been planning to bring various sleeveless knee length casual dresses, but should I consider something else due to the mosquitoes?
Sammi says
It is still really hot in the evening and night, if you’re worried about mosquitoes you can just apply bug spray.
Amber says
Hi Sami! Thank you so much for the information! This is great! Do you have any recommendations on places to stay near arenal? And any suggestions on things to do around Puntarenas?
Sammi says
You can read our La Fortuna guide that has hotel recommendations and our Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Todd says
Great list. Just wanted to add sleeping pills. I found out first-hand that they can be very expensive in CR. If you think you might have trouble sleeping (think about time zone adjustment, jet lag, noises that you are not used to, sleeping in a jungle or busy urban area) then you might want to bring your own. Doesnt take up much room in the suitcase either.
Sammi says
Great tip! Yeison always uses melatonin here but we buy them in the US because it is $$ here!
Liz says
We are visiting in December from Alaska. I am debating whether to bring my higher hiking shoes or whether the the lower ones would be better. I am terrified of snakes, and don’t know how much of difference footwear might make 🙂 We are planning to stay on the main trails around the national parks, hanging bridges, La Fortuna, Arenal, Tenorio, and the pacific beaches. Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Liz, it’s not really common to run into snakes unless you’re going deep into the jungle on a non maintained path. The trails are well maintained at those places. Just make sure to stay on the trails and don’t touch any of the tress, leaves or branches.
Steve says
Hola Sammi! Somos de Washington state tambien. Thank you for writing this packing list. It is very helpful.
Sammi says
Glad it’s helpful!
Alexandra says
Hi. Thank you for the incredibly helpful blog. The checklist is wonderful. I was wondering if you had a plain list as the colors are not printing for me. The gray boxes are coming out black so I can’t see the items. Thanks again.
Sammi says
Hi Alexandra, I don’t have it in black and white but you can select that option when you print (grayscale).
MAURIECE HOOKS says
Hi, i will be in Manuel Antonio next week and am a first timer to the country. Any reccomendations of what to bring along with me on this trip?
Sammi says
Hi Mauriece, you can read our tips for what to bring to Costa Rica during rainy season here: Rainy season packing list Costa Rica
Nina says
Hi Sammi,
we are visiting CR from Europe with only Hand luggage. So I wanted to ask how expensive is a Moskito repellent and a sun screen? And is it possible to buy an adapter in CR?
Sammi says
I’m not sure how much they are in EUrope or your home country but in CR, it is about $20-25 USD depending on which one you get. Adapters are not super common in CR so make sure you bring your own
Jessee says
Hi there! So glad I stumbled across your site, it has been super helpful. 🙂 Quick question, if that’s ok – I see that Costa Rica uses the same voltage and plugs as US and Canada from your response to another reader’s comment, and this may be a dumb question, but am wondering if this applies to the whole country, or just a particular region?
Sammi says
Hi Jessee, it is 110 V throughout the whole country 🙂
Sammi says
Hi, yes you will definitely need your rain jacket but it is best to bring a rain jacket shell, you don’t need a rain jacket that has fleece lining or anything like that. We like our North Face Venture Rain Jackets, they are light and have zipper shell pockets that you can open to let air flow through for ventilation so it doesn’t get super hot and humid.
NW says
Hi. I’ll be in Costa Rica next week (June 25). I’m not sure I should take my rain jacket or not. I heard it’s too hot to wear it. Can anyone help me with this?
Jane B Bonner says
Hi, I am planning a Girl’s trip the second week in July for 7 days. We are flying into LIR and renting a car. We are staying in Flamingo closer to Potrero. What are some fun things to do and visit while we are there including nice places to eat. We will be celebrating my birthday as well. No ziplining. Thanks.
Sammi says
Hi Jane, here is our guide to Flamingo: Flamingo beach Costa Rica Have fun!
Sammi says
Hi Yassie, I wrote tips for what to wear in our post on Buena Vista you can read here: Buena Vista combo tour.
I have never done the beach/pool crawl but I would assume you’d need a swimsuit, shorts, a shirt and flip flops 🙂
yassie says
Hello, I am going with friends to Liberia May 18th and we will be staying in Tamarindo and doing the Buena Vista Combo Tour . We are trying to figure out what we should bring and wear. Also do have any information how the Beach and Pool Crawl is and what to wear/bring?
Thank you
Sammi says
You can check the rainy season details here in this post: Costa Rica weather.
It will be the transition month from dry to rainy so do come prepared for rain. You can read this post for our favorite mosquito repellent: Best mosquito repellent
Missy says
Hi Sammi- I am so glad I found your blog. It has been so helpful. We will be down May 7. We are visiting Grecia, Arenal Observatory Lodge, and Jaco. We are planning hiking, waterfalls, and beach. I am confused what to bring for Grecia and Arenal area besides a rain jacket and boots! Will it be a bit chilly for shorts or too hot for pants and long sleeves? I am trying to keep out bags to a minimum. What do you recommend?
Missy
Sammi says
If you get cold, it’s recommended to bring a sweater or jacket and long pants for night, it does cool down in Grecia and Arenal at night time especially if it rains. In Jaco, you won’t be cold at all, it’s very hot and humid there. But when you’re out during the day, it will still be pretty hot in all those places. It has been raining in the Central Valley so I do recommend bringing long pants and a sweater.
Missy says
Thanks! That is more helpful that you can imagine. I was feeling like I needed to pack so much and I am trying to keep it down to a carry-on. I love Mytanfeet!
Sammi says
You’re very welcome! Glad it’s helpful 🙂
Kelly says
Going to Arenal this June and am not sure what to wear on the hikes. Do I need hiking pants or can I wear leggings and do I need a specific type of shoe or do my regular gym shoes work out?
Sammi says
It depends which hike you’re doing, but for the most part you can wear shorts (it’s hot over there right now since April is the hottest month) or leggings. The hardest hike is Cerro Chato so if you’re doing that one, you can wear shorts or leggings and closed toed hiking shoes. Your regular running shoes will work too but for more traction and support, hiking shoes are better. But if you’re going to Arenal Volcano National Park, you don’t really need hiking shoes since the trail is well laid out and you won’t be walking through mud.
Dana says
Hello! We will be staying at the Dreams resort in Guanacaste region next week. I had a question on what to wear while touring the rain forest and national parks in that region. Would you recommend wearing long pants and long sleeves? I was thinking of wearing light long pants and a tank top.
Enjoy your blog! Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Dana, light long pants and a tank top will be perfect. It’s dry season right now and the rain forest is actually pretty hot (if you’re going to the Arenal area) so you won’t need long sleeves. If you’re going to Monteverde, I recommend bringing a jacket as it gets cold at night.
Dana says
Thank you!
Kathy says
Are mosquitos worse during specific times of the day (e.g. dusk, evening) along the Pacific coast in late June? I notice from videos I’ve seen that some resorts have mosquito netting surrounding the beds and wonder if we’ll need to wear bug repellent 24 hours a day.
Sammi says
Hi Kathy, yes sunset rolls around, the bugs are worse. There are these little gnats at the beach that come out during sunset too that bite hard. Mosquitoes are worse in rainy season so bring plenty of repellent! We have actually only been to 1 hotel that had mosquito netting because we were staying in the middle of the jungle in the Osa Peninsula, you don’t really need mosquito netting in normal hotels.
tammy C Gamble says
We will be in Arenal May 31 thru June 2 then to Tamarindo, will it be rainy season then?
What is the best non DEET repelant.
Sammi says
Hi Linda! We use the High Sierra carry on backpack one and it’s awesome!
Linda says
Need to know what wheeling backpack you use….thanks!
Yancy says
Clothing and shoes can get musty smelling if you can’t wash items during your trip. I recommend bringing a few dryer sheets. You can separate your dirty from your clean and keep your clean clothes smelling fresh while traveling home. This can save you from having to do extra laundry upon your return home. I have done this a few times and it works great. Just bring 1 or 2 drawstring bags to place your dirty clothes in.
Sammi says
That’s a great idea! Thanks Yancy!
Sammi says
Hi Deena, there’s no vaccination against malaria, there are only pills that can help treat it if you get infected and you must start taking them a certain number of weeks before your trip and after – it’s best to ask your doctor about it. However, malaria pills aren’t really needed here and I recommend reading this post for more info about diseases/vaccinations: Vaccinations for Costa Rica.
As for preventing diseases from mosquitoes, we recommend using plenty of repellent. Here are our picks: Best mosquito repellent
DEENA GREENSPAN says
DO you think we sh ould get pills to take against malaria or the other virus you mentioned? i guess we can take them while there then stop when we get home or maybe just get a vaccination?
we will be arriving in 1 week
Sammi says
You’re very welcome! Don’t forget to check out our packing list for rainy season since it’s well under way right now 🙂 Rainy season packing list Costa Rica
Makenzie says
Thanks so much! I leave in a week for Costa Rica and this list was so helpful!
Barbara says
I would also recommend a printed list of all medications and your home contact information, and HAVE IT LAMINATED! It costs only a dollar or little more at an office supply store! I will have mine and my husband’s on a 4 x 6 card. We are senior citizens and I am violently allergic to wasp, bee, and fire ant stings, so this is mandatory for me. I make business card-size versions for us to carry in our wallets – not just our own, but we carry one for our spouse, too. As an RN/paramedic, I can’t stress enough how important these are. They can be lifesavers in an emergency. I would recommend them done in both English and Spanish for travel to costa Rica!
Sammi says
Very true and very important for those taking medications!
Barbara says
Can Epi-Pens be bought over the counter in costa Rica?
Sammi says
I am pretty sure they aren’t, I always advise people to bring one if they have severe allergies.
Alyssa @ Uneven Sidewalks says
Awesome list! It’s so good to know these things before you leave! Our favorite travel hack for Landon was the new style hybrid board shorts. Have you seen those? You can use them as regular shorts and swim trunks at the same time! It’s so awesome! We always pack a money belt too! Great tips!
Sammi says
That sounds pretty awesome. I am sure Yeison would love that! How convenient
Dora says
My husband and I are going to Peru the first week of June and I have found your blogs to be so helpful.Thank you so much!
Heidi Marquisette says
Why the OTC and anti-nausea medicine? My son and I are visiting for the first time end of May, and I was wondering what this would be needed for. I have been told that the water is okay to drink, even though I will drink bottled, but want to make sure I was informed correctly. We’ll be staying in Cahuita.
Thank you for this list, this will make my packing much easier!!! 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Heidi,
I recommend bringing anti-nausea medicine if you get carsick or sea sick (if you plan to go sailing/boating). Some of the roads here are pretty windy and curvy not to mention bumpy on the unpaved roads so I have to take anti-nausea medicine since I get carsick easily. One example is the route from Guanacaste to Arenal. I like stocking up on OTC medicine in the US because it’s brands I’m familiar with and it’s just much easier to know the names in English than in Spanish. Also fyi, in CR they don’t sell medicines at the supermarket, you have to go to the pharmacy. Water here is safe to drink but it’s easier to drink bottled since the minerals and stuff in the water is different so it may still give you some tummy issues.
Hope this clears things up a bit and have a great trip!
Heidi Marquisette says
Thank you!!! We surprised him last night about the trip and have been talking about it all day today!! We’re very excited! Thank you for documenting life there, it really has made planning this trip much easier, and makes me feel far more prepared!! Thank you again!!!
Sammi says
How exciting! I’m sure you guys will have a great trip here, let us know if you have any other questions!
Heidi Marquisette says
Hey guys… Me again! I was wondering, friends and family are worried that our standard electric items may need an adapter to work… Can you tell me if we need to get adapters to plug our electronics in? Thanks!!!
Heidi
yeison says
Hi Heidi!
If you are coming from the United States or Canada you will not need an adapter, we use exactly the same voltage and plugs 🙂
Dale says
I’m really hoping to make it to South America in the new year after doing a little more travelling her in Europe, at least now I can come back and use this list to feel a little more prepared!
Sammi says
Awesome! Hope you make your way over here and glad this list helps 🙂 Been enjoying reading your travels in Europe!
cristina says
Costa Rica is in Central America, not in South America
Mig says
The mosquitos are bad in Costa Rica especially along the coast. Can’t stress the repellent enough. Bring some from home because it is expensive in tourist areas.
Sammi says
Yes they are! Especially in Nicoya is the worst. One minute outside and 5 bites already. Annoying things!
Sammi says
Yes it definitely is! Surfboards are a bit big to bring and I don’t have my own so I just rent. But for hardcore surfers, for sure!