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!*
**Please check our Costa Rica COVID-19 post for latest information and what you need to know about Costa Rica COVID-19 Travel**
The Essential Items in Our Costa Rica Packing List
The essential items you need to bring to Costa Rica are face masks, hand sanitizer, 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, day pack, rain jacket and an insulated water bottle.
I’ll go more into details below and I’ve added our personal recommendations due to the changes with COVID-19.
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Face Masks
Face masks are required in Costa Rica due to COVID. They are required for all citizens and tourists inside closed spaces (exception for hotels and home), in stores, supermarkets, airports, convenience stores, banks, churches, movie theaters, theaters and offices. Face masks are required when waiting at the bus stop and riding the bus, train, taxi, ride share and shuttle.
Hotels require face masks for guests in common areas. Adventure parks require face masks for all common areas and when interacting with staff and/or other guests. Establishments may prohibit those not wearing a face mask.
You can purchase face masks in Costa Rica at the supermarket and pharmacy. Masks with the filter are not recommended. Surgical and cloth masks are widely available.
Hand Sanitizer
Many establishments will have hand sanitizer by the front door and require guests to sanitize before entering. However, we highly recommend bringing your own to have with you at all times. You can purchase hand sanitizer in any pharmacy or supermarket.
Disinfectant Wipes
Likewise, we recommend to bring your own disinfectant wipes so you can wipe down shopping carts and baskets, bus or taxi seats, etc. Disinfectant wipes are found in supermarkets, there is no shortage in Costa Rica.
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, 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. In the city, normal city wear is fine (no beach clothes or just swim suits).
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 (40-50 if you burn easily). 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 do burn. Anything with aloe vera is great.
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, wet wipes, a packet of tissues and face wipes. If you wear contact lenses, make sure to bring a couple extra lenses.
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. Supermarkets do have a small over the counter section with cold and flu, diarrhea and muscle pain medicines.
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.
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. I love my Aqua Quest waterproof backpacks. 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.
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 (remember you must purchase insurance in order to enter Costa Rica that will cover medical and lodging costs)
- 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. If you do need rain boots, you can buy a cheap pair at the hardware store instead of packing them.
- 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!
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.
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
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! We wrote a review for it here: High Sierra carry on backpack
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!