Costa Rica is a tropical country; you will probably have to deal with warm and humid weather conditions. Quick-drying and airy clothing is therefore ideal. Shorts, tank tops, and slippers are the first types of clothes you think about. When you go into the jungle for a hike or go out in the evening in places with mosquitoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt are nice to have. Special mosquito repellent pants are available if you want to further limit the chance of mosquito bites, but in my opinion, they are not a necessity for the average tourist activities. If you don't want to overpack, a pair of zip-off pants is ideal. 

Since Costa Rica is a tropical country, it also receives a lot of rain. This varies per region and time of the year (read more at the seasons page), but nonetheless you want to be prepared. A raincoat, umbrella, or poncho is therefore recommended. It stays warm in many places while it rains, so a thin, breathable raincoat is ideal. You can always unzip when it gets too hot. For your day bag, make sure it is weatherproof or has a rain cover. Don't think too lightly about this, especially if you take an expensive camera with you in your bag. 

Last but not least, Costa Rica is a mountainous country. Places with higher altitudes, like the central valley, Cartago, Turrialba, Orosi, and Monteverde, can be a bit colder. Going high into the mountains like Volcano Poas, Volcano Irazu, Cerro de la Muerte, and Cerro Chirripo, to name a few, it can be much colder. If you are going to visit these places, take a warm sweater that you can put on under a thin raincoat.

Swim and Sun Wear

Bring sufficient swimwear. You will probably be visiting beautiful beaches and waterfalls. If you are going snorkeling, swimming, surfing, spending time on a boat, or fishing, you name it, it might be wise to bring a UV50/UPF50 swim shirt or surf shirt. Costa Rica is close to the equator, and the sun is very powerful. For that matter, bring a hat or a cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Reef- and sea life-friendly sunscreen, please. A thin or quick-dry (beach) towel is recommended. Also, don’t forget a dry bag for your valuables. Maybe one that you can put on or attach to your swimwear so you don’t have to leave things like your phone and wallet unattended when you go for a swim. A dry bag is not only a necessity on the beach but also when hiking in a humid rainforest. I also prefer some good water-friendly shoes when walking on the beach or through the sea. You will not be the first to lose flip-flops due to currents or get stung in your feet by whatever tropical sea creature.  

Shoes

The type of shoes also depends on your activities. If you are planning on hiking a lot on jungle trails, hiking shoes are to provide you with good grip and some safety against snake and insect bites (always wear closed shoes when hiking). My personal experience, however, is that sturdy hiking boots or shoes can get uncomfortably warm and heavy and do not dry quickly once they get wet. An often heard complaint from travelers in humid conditions like the rainforest is that their shoes, once wet, stay wet for days. Safety first, though. If you are adventurous and planning on going off the beaten path, bring shoes that provide you with the safety levels you are comfortable with. 

Shoes I find comfortable for daily activities (which do not include the more adventurous hikes) are all-terrain sneakers or trail runners, which are water-friendly, breathable, and quick-drying. This kind of shoe has both sneaker and water shoe abilities and is perfect for the beach, easy trails in national parks, hiking to waterfalls, rafting, etc. Note that activities like zip lining require closed-toe shoes. 

A safety tip when it comes to shoes: every time before you put them on, shake them upside down to check for any creatures that might have crawled in, especially in remote areas. Never happened to me, but you don't want to put your feet in a shoe where a scorpion decided to take a nap.

Toiletries and Travel Meds

Well, you will probably brush your teeth two times a day, so there's no need to remind you to bring your toothbrush. Things like toothpaste and shower gel are widely available in Costa Rica, but expect to pay more or less the same for these kinds of products as you are used to at home. Toiletries and cosmetics are relatively expensive in Costa Rica. For the ladies, note that feminine hygiene products like tampons might be hard to find in certain more remote areas. When it comes to make-up, do not overpack, because you will probably not use a lot due to hot and humid weather conditions. Don’t forget to bring some over-the-counter medication like painkillers, diarrhea medicine (Imodium or Pepto-Bismol), and oral rehydration salts (ORS). Mosquito or insect repellent is highly recommended. Bring motion sickness medicine if you are sensitive to motions caused by driving on windy roads or for wavy boat tours. Of course, this all depends on your personal preferences. Food safety and sanitation standards are high in Costa Rica, and these kinds of over-the-counter meds are widely available. 

Water is drinkable in most parts, but always check with locals or your hotel, because the condition of drinking water depends on weather conditions in certain areas. Bottled water is widely available, but note that in a lot of national parks you are not allowed to bring single-use plastics; pack a reusable water bottle. 

A first aid kit with (blister) plasters and disinfectant is always handy to have with you. Also bring a tick pen. In some areas, such as Corcovado, you may be bothered by ticks. You might also add an after-bite extractor kit to your first aid carry-on, although these kinds of kits are not very effective on deep tissue bites or stings. You can bring a mosquito net if you want, especially when you are planning on staying in budget locations along the coast. I have used a mosquito net just once or twice during many travels in Costa Rica. Repellent, fans, and air conditioning are also effective against mosquitos.

A safety tip when it comes to deep tissue bites or stings from, for example, snakes or scorpions. The first thing you or your fellow travelers want to do is to check what creature stung or bit you and take a photo. These kinds of incidents are extremely rare, but if it does happen, it will save precious time when treatment is needed and you are able to show or tell what bit or stung you.

eSIM - Stay Connected

If you want to stay connected while traveling in Costa Rica, you are able to buy a Kolbi or Clara SIM card upon arrival. There are also eSIM options that allow you to purchase a data plan through a mobile app. These eSIM apps are usually a bit more expensive than buying a regular prepaid SIM card, but eSIM has some advantages, like being able to set up your connectivity before arrival. Check out the Stay Connected page for more information and tips on using eSIM in Costa Rica.

Paperwork

Obviously you should not forget your passport. Talking about passports, have you checked it isn't expired or going to expire soon? Make a photocopy of your passport and your driver’s license in case you lose them. Make sure you are able to show your proof of return ticket (check the Traveling to Costa Rica page for details on Entry Requirements) and the address of your first stay in Costa Rica, as this information might be requested by the customs officer upon arrival. Do you use specific medication (not your over-the-counter travel meds)? Check before you travel if it requires documentation to be allowed to enter through customs, and take the prescription with you in case you need to get it in Costa Rica for whatever unforeseen reason. 

Are you planning on using a credit card insurance policy for your rental car? Make sure you bring a letter of proof and details of the insurance conditions. Do you have travel insurance and health insurance? Make sure you have the (emergency) contact details with you, including contact details for your bank or credit card company. Always ask yourself the question if you have all this information available if your phone gets lost or stolen. Besides a hard copy, I usually keep important information on a cloud drive so I have access from any device.

Packing List

Clothing

• Short sleeve shirts or tank tops, preferably quick dry and UPF rated

• Shorts

• Long sleeve shirts

• Long pants (zip-off)

• Sweater or vest

Swimwear

• Bathing suit

• Slippers / Flip-flops

• Towel (quick dry)

Sunwear

• Sunglasses

• UPF-50 swim shirt or surf shirt

• Cap or hat

• Sunscreen (reef friendly)

Rainwear

• Raincoat or Poncho

• Umbrella

Shoes

• Hiking shoes

• Water shoes / Sandals

• Sneakers with water shoe capabilities / Trail runners

Bags

• Day pack waterproof, weatherproof or with a rain cover

• Dry bag 

• A dry seal phone case

Documents

• Passport

• Driver’s license

• Copies of relevant documentation

Toiletries and First Aid

• Mosquito repellent

• Feminine hygiene products (things like tampons can be hard to find in some places)

• Over the counter meds like:

  • Painkillers (paracetamol aspirin, or ibuprofen)

  • Diarrhea medicine (Imodium or Pepto-Bismol)

  • Motion sickness medicine 

  • Oral rehydration salts (ORS)

• First aid kit

• Tick pen

• After bite extractor kit

Accessories

• Mosquito net (when mosquitos love you, and you're planning on staying in budget accommodations near the coast)

• Water bottle

• Camera (with an appropriate dry bag to store it)

• Flashlight (you want to be able to see where you are going in the dark and not step on a snake or something)

• Red light adapter for your flashlight (with red light you will see your surroundings better at night and the light does not scare away animals)

• Binoculars (if you are a bird enthusiast or for your kids, they will love it when exploring the jungle)

• Power bank

• Chargers

• Adapter (type A or B)

• Padlock (to use for hostel lockers or for your dual zipper backpack)

What to Explore Next