What do I need to pack for Costa Rica? As one of the most common questions we receive, this Costa Rica packing list post will help you immensely. The most important thing to know about packing for Costa Rica is that it depends on where and when you are visiting and what you plan to do. 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!
*You can also get our free packing checklist at the bottom of this post!* This post has been updated January 4, 2020.
**Please check our Costa Rica COVID-19 post for latest information.**
The Essential Items in Our Costa Rica Packing List
The essential items you need to bring to Costa Rica are sandals, swimwear, mosquito repellent, sunscreen with at least SPF 30, hiking shoes or sneakers, sunglasses, a hat, battery pack, medical kit, waterproof phone case, camera and an insulated water bottle.
I’ll go more into details below!
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Clothes
Costa Rica doesn’t have a strict dress code and comfortable casual is best for pretty much the entire country. At the beach, your wardrobe will consist mostly of shorts, tank tops and flip flops. In the city, we recommend closed toed shoes, long pants and a light jacket or sweater. If you’re visiting high elevation areas (Monteverde, Bajos del Toro, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, San Gerardo, San Jose/Central Valley), then long pants and a jacket is necessary.
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, so you might get some looks wearing them in the city. Guys, I don’t recommend wearing board shorts in the city. Jeans or long pants are better.
Our recommendations: For Costa Rica, clothes that dry fast (like Nike Dri-fit clothes) and wick away moisture are the best, especially if you’re visiting the beach or rainforest. Additionally, most laundromats don’t normally use dryers so you will want clothes that dry fast.
Shoes
Flip flops are a must especially if you’re going to the beach. If you’re doing any activities, hiking shoes/sandals (with straps), sneakers or hiking boots 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.
Yeison usually brings a pair of flip flops and his Nike sneakers or closed toed hiking sandals. If we’re doing some long hikes, he wears his KEEN hiking shoes. I usually bring a pair of flip flops and my KEEN hiking sandals. For hikes, I have a pair of Salomon hiking shoes.
Our recommendations: We love closed tied hiking sandals. They are amazing for all sorts of outdoor activities and you can go from land to water easily. They dry fast, don’t smell, your feet can breathe and are much more comfortable than stuffy shoes and socks.
We love our KEEN hiking sandals and you can read our in-depth guide to what are the best shoes for Costa Rica.
Mosquito Repellent
You need 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. Mosquitoes are not found in elevations above 1500 meters (4900 feet) but they are everywhere else.
Our recommendations: You can find mosquito repellent in the supermarkets but we recommend bringing your own as it is very expensive here and they don’t have a ton of natural options. We’ve been using Bullfrog Mosquito Coast and Sunscreen which is DEET free with SPF 30 and it really works for us. You can read about our favorite mosquito repellent products and more information in this Costa Rica mosquitoes post.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is also a must and bring at least SPF 30 (40 if you burn easily). Costa Rica is only 8-12 degrees from the equator so the sun is strong!
Our recommendations: If you are going to be going in the ocean, we encourage you to buy reef safe mineral sunscreen. We personally love Raw Elements and Kiss My Face and you can read more Costa Rica suncreen recommendations here. Bring sunscreen since it’s expensive here! If you forgot sunscreen, go to a macrobiotics store to purchase Sombra sunscreen (made in Costa Rica, natural, reef safe, SPF 40) for $15 USD. Don’t forget chapstick with SPF!
Toiletries and Medications
You can find all toiletries in Costa Rica like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothbrush, mouth wash, toothpaste and floss. There are a few items that I do recommend to bring though. These are tampons for women (small grocery stores sometimes don’t have them), face wash (very expensive), a medical kit, hair detangler spray, hand sanitizer, a packet of tissues and face wipes. If you wear contact lenses, make sure to bring a couple extras.
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.
For basic medicines, you can find mostly all OTC at the pharmacies in Costa Rica. We do recommend bringing allergy medicine like Claritin and Sudafed sinus medication as those are very expensive in Costa Rica. You can buy anti-nausea medicine at the pharmacy.
Rain Jacket
A rain jacket is an essential item if you’re visiting during Costa Rica’s rainy season (end of April 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.
You may also want to bring your rain jacket if you’re visiting Dominical, Uvita, Bijagua, Monteverde or Osa Peninsula during dry season. We’ve run into intense rain in those areas in February and April. Also remember the Caribbean follows a different weather pattern and it can rain all year long on that coast. We recommend a rain jacket for the Caribbean (Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo), especially if you’re visiting in June or November, the rainiest months.
Our recommendations: We love our The North Face Venture Jackets (I’m from Washington state so I have lots of experience with rain jackets). Additionally, look for a jacket with ventilation to let air flow through as it will get humid.
Day Bag
For day trips, sight seeing and tours, bring a day backpack. 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, towel, change of clothes, camera, etc.
Our recommendations: We recommend at least 30 L waterproof backpacks if you have camera gear. I have a 20 L Osprey, a 25 L REI, a 30 L Aqua Quest and Yeison has a 40 L REI. I don’t recommend those sling drawstring gym bags since they’re flimsy. In rainy season, you must bring a waterproof backpack. If you don’t have a waterproof backpack, you can get a rain cover or use waterproof spray.
Insulated Water Bottle
I never leave home without my insulated water bottle. With such high temperatures and humidity on the coasts, it’s the best feeling in the world to take a long sip of fresh cold water in the heat. It also 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. Also very nice for those long drives!
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, a couple from REI and a couple of Shandali we bought online.
Sunglasses and Hat
Two more essential items for Costa Rica and I do recommend bringing 2 pairs of sunglasses. One cheap pair so that you won’t cry if it gets lost in the ocean (which has happened to us and our friends many times) and one nicer pair for lounging and sightseeing. A hat or visor is also essential.
Sarong
Ladies, do not forget your sarong if you’re visiting the beach! You can also buy them in souvenir shops here for around $10-20 USD. I love mine! 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.
Swimwear
If you plan to visit the beach, don’t forget your swimwear! We recommend at least two pairs. For guys, the swim trunks without the mesh is best and ladies, bring all the bikinis and one pieces you want!
Cameras and Technology
If you want to capture all those awesome adventures, an action cam is the best. GoPro and Sony Action Cam are two excellent ones. We have both and love them! GoPro 8 is exceptionally great now and that is what we use for our adventures.
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 tripod is a must for wildlife photographers!
Our recommendations: Make sure to bring the correct accessories for your action camera to attach it to helmets, surf boards, etc. Most tour companies will have the part that attaches to the helmet but you need to bring the other part. Bring plenty of SD cards as it is very difficult to find Class 10 SD cards outside the city. Also bring a surge protector since budget hotels don’t have that many sockets. Costa Rica’s power is 110 Volts, the same as US.
Flashlights or Head Lamps
I always bring a flashlight with me when we travel around Costa Rica. This is because it can be common for the electricity to go out during really rainy days. It is also helpful if you’re walking at night since many streets are not brightly lit and there aren’t really sidewalks.
Anti Theft Travel Belt
I don’t find an anti theft travel belt absolutely necessary in Costa Rica but some of my friends have brought one down for extra security. It will be handy if you’re traveling solo and spending a lot of time in San Jose. One of my friends uses this one.
Battery Pack
And because the electricity may go out (especially in rainy season), I always have a fully charged battery pack with me. Super useful when we stay in rural areas or on a long drive!
Waterproof Phone Case
These phone cases are super useful. You can wear it around your neck and use it during water activities like tubing, ziplining or horseback riding. And because they’re waterproof, they’re great for taking pictures at the beach and protecting your phone from sand and salt water.
This is also really nice alternative if you don’t have a waterproof camera and don’t want to spend $400 USD on a GoPro. We love our Aqua Quest waterproof phone cases, we’ve gotten some great photos while white water tubing with it!
Accessories and Extras
Here are some other items that will be useful.
- Adapter – Costa Rica uses the same voltage as US and Canada (110).
- Ziplock bags to protect your electronics.
- Laundry bag.
- Reusable cloth grocery bags. I love bringing these when I travel internationally because they’re super useful for everything, not just holding groceries.
- Lots of hair ties!
- Sleeping pills if you have trouble sleeping or experiencing extreme jet lag.
- Ear plugs, especially if you’re staying in a hostel or cheap hotel in downtown. Also, if your hotel is by the side of the road, you may hear the very loud trailer trucks engine braking (jake brake) all night long.
- Car cell phone holder if you are renting a car (the one that sticks on the window).
- Spanish dictionary or guide. Download our 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.
- Packing organizer. So helpful for staying organized. Read our review on the PACK here and get 20% off!
- Costa Rica waterproof map – though not absolutely necessary to have a physical map, it is a good idea if you don’t plan to get a sim card or rent a GPS.
- 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, especially if you have an electronic car key.
Don’t forget to bring these to Costa Rica and for traveling internationally!
- Original passport
- Original valid driver’s license (if you are renting a car)
- Credit cards you plan to use (don’t forget to tell your credit card company you are traveling overseas)
- Travel insurance
- Your return flight ticket out of Costa Rica (printed or saved on your phone)
- Hotels, tours, car rentals and flight reservations (printed or saved on your phone)
Things NOT to pack for Costa Rica
- Expensive jewelry. If you plan to be hiking and outdoor most of the time, you won’t really be wearing it anyways.
- High heels, stilettos. Costa Ricans roads are not the best and sidewalks are not common. Even if you’re going for a bachelorette party or plan to party it up, choose cute sandals instead.
- Expensive purses. Better to have a more low key travel purse or day bag.
- Rainboots. They take up a ton of room and they’re really not necessary. Even if you plan to go to very rural areas, you can bring hiking shoes or your hotel may have rainboots for rent or you can buy cheap ones at the hardware store and then leave them in Costa Rica.
- Every single credit and debit card you have. Just bring the ones you’re using.
Rainy Season Packing List
Generally around beginning of May – end of November. This is the time of thunderstorms, rainstorms and very windy days (coincides with hurricane season in the Atlantic). Rainiest months are September and October.
Remember, the Caribbean side can rain all year long, November and June are the rainiest months in Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo but it tends to rain more on this coast.
It is very important you come prepared since Costa Rica weather can be fairly unpredictable. It can go from a hot sunny morning to a 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!
- Sweater/jacket.
- Long pants and long sleeve shirt
- Travel hair dryer – Hostels, cheap/budget hotels don’t have hair dryers in the room. So ladies, if you’re visiting a colder area, a travel hair dryer is a useful thing to bring.
If you are doing activities, bring the appropriate clothing such as:
- Hiking clothing.
- Hiking shoes. Waterproof preferable. There are waterproof sprays for shoes available too.
- 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 pretty hot 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 gets hot and you can wear shorts, t shirts and flip flops.
Hiking: If you’re hiking the national park, running shoes or hiking shoes will be fine. In rainy season, I recommend a pair of waterproof hiking shoes or hiking sandals.
We prefer to wear hiking pants on hikes and I have a pair of Omni-Shield Columbia pants that are water repellent and dry super fast. These are my favorite pants for rainy season hikes! But you can also wear shorts in rainy and dry season.
Ziplining: Closed toed shoes is a must. No flip flops!
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.
Monteverde
Monteverde sits around 1500 meters (4900 feet) in elevation so it is a lot colder up there. Dry season temperatures are around high 70s F (25 C) and at night, it gets down to the 50s and 60s F(14 C). Rainy season is much colder since it’s windy and rainy. You need to bring a jacket and long pants for Monteverde.
Expect to run into spring showers even during the hottest months of March and April. Waterproof equipment and clothing is a must for rainy season in MOnteverde. Beginning of December can still be pretty rainy as well.
Hiking the cloud forest reserves: Bring a rain jacket and wear closed toed hiking shoes. If you go early in the morning in dry season, you may not need a rain jacket. But always be prepared for rain! Some of the reserves have rain boots for rent.
Osa Peninsula (Corcovado National Park, Puerto Jimenez, Drake Bay) and South Pacific (Uvita, Dominical, Ojochal)
This area is very humid. 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 boots for rent or you can buy boots in Puerto Jimenez.
If you are visiting in rainy season, I recommend good waterproof hiking 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 (like Nike dri-fit), 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 of these places are hot and fairly humid so bring all your beach clothes, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, a hat and swimsuit.
Guanacaste (Coco, Tamarindo, Conchal, Samara) and Nicoya Peninsula
This area is extremely hot and dry and has a longer dry season. Temperatures are consistently in the low 90s F (33 C). You must bring tons of SPF 50 (minimum) 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, particularly Santa Teresa 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. The national park has rain boots for rent.
Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo
Since this area 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 pretty humid on the Caribbean side 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 as Puerto Viejo can get very stormy and the power can go out. You will be fine with hiking sandals or sneakers in addition to flip flops.
Free Costa Rica Packing CheckList
Want to save this post for later? Click here to get our FREE packing checklist with an abridged version of the notes below so you can print it out and refer back to it while you’re preparing for your trip!
