What to bring to Costa Rica

The night before your trip you stare at everything in your suitcase, second guessing and doubting whether if you have everything packed that you need.  We’ve all been there before – sometimes when we arrive at our destination and get settled into the hotel, we remember that we should have brought this or that.  What are some things to bring on your trip to Costa Rica, you might ask?  Well, let’s go over them!

Bug spray

We all hate mosquitoes and other insects that bug us, no pun intended.  If you’re going to the beach or plan to do any tours in forests, they will be waiting for you!  Play it safe and spray yourself so you don’t get bit.  When you are at the airport you’ll see lots of people with bites on their legs, so don’t be like them – use bug spray!

Small First Aid Medkit

We all have minor accidents and scrape or cut ourselves on something when we least expect it.  Buy a small medkit that doesn’t take up a lot of room in the suitcase.  If you’re traveling with kids, planning adventurous excursions or just like to play it safe, then it’s a good idea to invest in one.  Cut the risk of having an infected wound by having a first aid medkit readily available.

Hiking boots

If you’re planning trips to various national parks or plan to walk on some mountain trails, then it’s good to invest in some heavy duty hiking boots before coming to Costa Rica.  May to December is the rainy season, so expect to be hiking on muddy terrain.  Lots of tour guides will recommend wearing these hiking boots when doing tours in rainforests and cloud forests.  

Water shoes

There are lots of beautiful beaches along the coast, but many of them have sharp rocks and dead coral reefs.  If you have never been in contact with coral, I can tell you first-hand that it cuts like butter.  Sometimes to get to certain areas that are great for snorkeling by the protected reef, you need to walk a ways on top of the rocks.  There are a lot of rivers throughout Costa Rica, so bring some water shoes to protect your feet from sharp rocks and coral.

Flip flops / Sandals

You can wear flip flops or sandals year-round in Costa Rica.  If you don’t have any, pick up a pair that will last long, not $1 or $5 ones.  Staying here a week or more, I can promise you that you’ll be doing some walking, and the worst thing is having the strap snap, and making them unusable.  Yes, you can buy them here, but expect to pay more for well-known brands.

Cameras

Most everyone has a cell phone nowadays and takes pictures using them.  You’ll see some amazing things here and will want to capture the moment.  I’ve seen people with Canon and Nikon cameras that have lenses as long as an elephant trunk!  Whether you’re a pro or amateur photographer, bring a camera that you think will get the job done.  Also, if you’re big into snorkeling, surfing and sports that are in the water, bring your GoPro or other underwater sport cameras to capture some amazing footage!

Snorkel gear

The dry season is the best time to go snorkeling.  Little to no rain for five months makes Costa Rican waters crystal clear, which is perfect for snorkeling.  I’ve always purchased US Divers snorkel gear in the past and have been happy using their products.  You can buy snorkel gear in Costa Rica at certain beach shops or grocery stores, but you’ll pay more for equipment that usually isn’t good quality.  Tours will include them in the price, but if you want to snorkel near shore, then you’ll need to bring your own with you.

Sunblock / Aloe

It’s a no brainer that we should protect our skin.  The sun rays beat down hard on beach goers, as well as other high altitude places in the mountains.  Bring sunblock and aloe before you come here.  Why?  The price for sunblock and aloe is extremely high throughout Costa Rica and you’ll pay at least 3 times the price.  Be smart and pack it before your trip!

Lotion

Dry Skin?  Don’t forget to bring lotion on your trip to Costa Rica.  Just like sunblock and aloe, lotions are expensive everywhere in the country.  Obviously, you can buy lotions here if you’d like, but you’ll be paying a lot more for them.  Lotion is a must if you come during the dry season.  Pack your favorites and you’ll be good to go!

Light jacket

Contradictory to what most people say, Costa Rica can get a little nippy at certain times and places.  In some places you’ll be protected by mountains, while in other places it will be windy and cold.  Bring a wind breaker jacket and have it ready just in case the weather changes.  It’s possible you won’t need it, depending on when you go, but play it safe and stay warm!

Umbrella

There are two seasons in Costa Rica.  That’s weird, I know, considering most countries have four.  One thing to keep in mind is that tropical weather changes very quickly.  It can be nice one minute and pouring rain the next.  If you’re traveling anytime from May to December, it would be a good idea to have an umbrella packed because you’ll be traveling in the rainy season.  Buy a small umbrella and stay dry!

Medicine

Being out in the sun all day at the beach, trying new food and going from cold places to hot places in a day can affect your body.  Pack some Tums for a tummy ache, Tylenol or Ibuprofen if you have any pain or headaches.  You can go to a pharmacy or local grocery store to get some pills, but if there are none around you, then it would be best to have some with you.  Pack your meds!

Sunglasses

It gets very sunny out there, and you’ll need sunglasses when driving, especially if the sun is in your eyes.  Bring your favorite pair and don’t forget to throw them in your backpack!  

Hats

You can pick up plenty of cool hats down here with Costa Rica logos and phrases in them, but bring your own just in case!

Beach towel

It’s a good plan to bring a nice towel with you when you go to the beach.  There are plenty of places that sell them with different exotic animals, country catch phrases and designs.  Lots of these towels aren’t high quality material, but many look unique.  Pack a nice beach towel or buy a cool Costa Rica one.  The choice is yours!

Cash

I wouldn’t recommend bringing thousands of dollars with you on your trip, but having a few hundred in cash is good.  You never know if you’ll have an emergency or need to pay  for something with cash.  Most places accept credit cards, but there are a few places that only accept cash.  You can exchange money at the airport for the local currency, which is the colon.  You’ll get a better exchange rate at a local bank instead of the airport.  Having both U.S. dollars and Costa Rican colones on hand or packed away would be smart.

Map

We live in a digital age where Google is king when it comes to maps, but having a physical map on hand will be a good back-up for you.  Printing one off before hand is a good idea, and most car rental companies will include them complimentary.  There are two detailed maps you can check out here – Costa Rica Maps.

Small notebook

A small notebook is a good to have if you’re the type of person who likes to learn and write down Spanish words and slash.  There are lots of slang words used in this country, so learning and writing down new ones can always enhance your speaking skill.  

Fanny pack

These are actually quite popular in Costa Rica.  They are great to keep passports, money and other valuables that you already have or purchase in Costa Rica.  Not everyone enjoys or likes wearing them, but if you like having things close and safe in front of you while out in public, then pick up one of these and wear it when you feel it’s needed.

Uber App

Yes, Uber is very popular means of transportation in Costa Rica.  There are certain areas near some beaches where it’s not commonly used.  If you don’t rent a car on your trip, but you need to get somewhere and aren’t looking to spend a lot of money or get ripped off by a taxi driver, then use this app and save yourself both time and money.