We share some important tips about what to put on in Costa Rica and some of our favourite merchandise. Hopefully, it makes your Costa Rica packing record a breeze. It’s a fairly simple vacation spot for vacationers to pack, as there are solely two seasons. It additionally helps that there’s loads of heat climate and sunshine.
Nevertheless, it does have its share of humidity and rainforests. It’s not all a rainforest regardless of its small dimension, but it surely incorporates many ranging climates. In Costa Rica, you will discover every part from the steamy jungles of the Osa Peninsula to the cool cloud forests of Monteverde or the arid seashores of Guanacaste.
Most vacationers head to the semi-arid area of Guanacaste within the dry season on account of its secure local weather. In fact, this does include a sacrifice, as vacationers could miss out on the pure wonders of the nation’s rainforests.
Simple-to-pack objects like a rain jacket, mountaineering sneakers, and artificial garments will make sure you’re ready regardless of the vacation spot in Costa Rica. We’re right here to assist make your Costa Rica packing record with ease. That means, you don’t find yourself with pointless objects or overlook one thing essential.
What’s The Climate Like In Costa Rica?
Earlier than we dig into this Costa Rica packing record, let’s chat in regards to the climate. Costa Rica enjoys heat climate all 12 months. It’s a tropical local weather with daytime temperatures starting from 22-28°C / 70-85°F. Costa Rica has two seasons that are moist and dry.
Heavy rain showers and excessive humidity from the east dump a lot of rain on the nation from Might to November. Most days are nonetheless sunny through the moist season, however afternoon thunderstorms are frequent. September and October are the rainiest months, with Might and November being the shoulder season months.
The dry season runs from December to April and presents low humidity with cooler evenings. It’s uncommon to see rain in common seaside locations like Gauncaste, however rain in Monteverde or Arenal can occur any time of 12 months.
When you have plans to spend time within the cloud forests, it’s a good suggestion to carry a jacket. Temperatures in these forests vary from 12-18C, which may really feel chilly with no jacket within the wind.
The Caribbean Coast is an exception to all of this info. Its seasons are reversed, so that you’ll expertise dry climate from Might to October and wet climate from November to Might. It’s not the place most guests journey, regardless of being a lovely shoreline stretch.
Seasons in Costa Rica
What Baggage To Deliver To Costa Rica?
Journey Duffel Bag
Journey Backpack
Earlier than we leap into what to put on in Costa Rica, let’s cowl baggage. We now have two bag suggestions for a visit to Costa Rica. The Peak Design Journey Duffel and Osprey Farpoint/Fairview journey backpack. Any backpack or duffel bag will do, however we want these bag kinds over conventional hardshell suitcases.
Whilst you can simply use a standard hardshell suitcase, you could need to avoid a rolling bag, as a lot of the nation could be very hilly with grime/sandy paths. Exterior the five-star resorts the place bellhops will whisk away your suitcase, a duffel or backpack is a greater match for Costa Rica. If you’re heading to a resort or want a suitcase we love the Delsey Helium Aero.
What to Put on In costa Rica
Costa Rica is an off-the-cuff vacation spot, and the nation has no gown code. Most touristic locations are alongside the coast, so the common outfit in Costa Rica consists of shorts, a shirt/tank prime, and sandals.
In direction of the nation’s heart, temperatures are cooler and wetter, so we suggest you put on closed-toe sneakers, lengthy pants, and a light-weight jacket. Should you plan to go to increased elevation locations like Monteverde or Arenal, you’ll need to pack a light-weight jacket and lengthy pants.
Costa Ricans or “Ticos” gown casually, however carrying pants and collared shirts is commonest in public areas. As with many locations in Latin America, most Ticos are non secular and stay conservative in gown.
It will have essentially the most important impression on girls. It’s uncommon for native girls to put on leggings or too revealing clothes, so count on some appears for those who gown like this in additional conventional cities and cities.
Garments To Pack For Costa Rica
T-Shirts
A traditional tee won’t ever exit of fashion. Whereas it’s greatest to keep away from graphic t-shirts in most locations, in Costa Rica, they’re completely intertwined with browsing tradition and laid-back vibes. When you have a cool surf shirt, throw it in your bag. We love the standard and ease of ordering from Bombas for those who’re after a traditional cotton tee.
Some common cotton tees are nice, however we suggest a shirt materials that handles humidity higher. Because of antimicrobial properties, artificial shirts (polyester/nylon) do a a lot better job drying in damp environments and keep away from getting funky. We love the Out of doors Analysis Echo shirt line for mountaineering or figuring out in humid locations, however they’re slightly too athletic for on a regular basis put on.
Should you’re not an enormous fan of artificial merchandise, we’ve fallen in love with wool tee shirts and journey clothes. A merino wool shirt is a worthy funding and probably the greatest journey garments. Wools shirts keep recent longer and do a superb job at temperature administration. I’ve examined a number of wool shirts out, and my favourite for journey up to now is from Unbound Merino.
Lengthy Sleeve Technical Shirt
Pack a protracted sleeve technical shirt for those who head as much as the cloud forest or different rainforest locations. There are a number of little critters within the jungles of Costa Rica, and bites are a damper in your vacation. The lengthy sleeve Out of doors Analysis Echo is a superb selection. It’s additionally nice for solar safety on the water for sports activities like kayaking or SUP.
Or you may go for a traditional technical shirt just like the Columbia Tamiami II. The Tamiami II presents U.V. safety and is light-weight, quick-drying, and rugged. It has wonderful options comparable to a vented again, entrance pockets, antimicrobial remedy, and mesh panels, making the shirt excellent for Costa Rica.
Rain Jacket
When you have plans to discover or journey round Costa Rica, you’ll must pack a rain jacket. A lot of the nation is a rainforest so it’s secure to imagine you’ll see one of many nation’s many showers.
If you’re touring to Costa Rica within the moist season (Might-December), a rain jacket is crucial, however we suggest one any time of the 12 months. Whereas the rain is usually transient, we nonetheless benefit from the possibility to remain dry.
Mountain climbing is among the greatest issues to do in Costa Rica, so we prefer to journey with shell jackets designed for mountaineering. They’re light-weight, sturdy, packable, waterproof, and windproof. Any rain jacket will do, however the top-dollar ones will maintain up and maintain up in inclement climate.
Should you’re searching for an reasonably priced jacket, we’re huge followers of Patagonia’s Torrentshell Jacket. We share our favourite packable rain jackets on this put up if you would like extra suggestions.
Heat Fleece Jacket
It’s an ideal concept to pack your favourite fleece or light-weight jacket. This all is dependent upon the place in Costa Rica you’re touring, however you is perhaps stunned that elements of Costa Rica have cool climate within the evenings. This consists of many common vacationer areas, comparable to Monteverde, San Jose, and Arenal. San Jose even sees the uncommon freezing nighttime temperature.
Fleece is a wonderful possibility as you seemingly gained’t want a winter jacket for Costa Rica. Guarantee it’s light-weight, as you could solely must put on the jacket a handful of instances. That additionally makes it simpler to hold on to a cold flight. One in all my favourite fleece jackets for journey is Patagonia’s Higher Sweater. We additionally suggest extra in our put up about the most effective fleece jackets for journey for those who’re after one thing totally different.
Technical Pants or Shorts
Technical pants like mountaineering pants are waterproof and dry rapidly, to not point out they’re snug on lengthy walks. Historically these pants have been fairly ugly, however now instances are altering, and pants look much like chinos or khakis. They’re a welcome addition to your Costa Rica packing record for those who plan to take some rainforest hikes.
We propose the prAna Halle that rolls into capris for girls and the lads’s KUHL Renegade Rock Pants. They’re each great pairs of mountaineering pants at an inexpensive worth. These pants gained’t maintain up in actually heinous climate, however they appear appropriate for informal walks round city.
Joggers Or Relaxed Pants
We stay in joggers or relaxed pants when touring or on the seaside. Athleisure has come to dominate trend now, and it’s a pattern we will get behind. Joggers or relaxed pants are a terrific approach to stay snug and classy.
Vuori Clothes makes incredible Efficiency Joggers that look sharp, supply wonderful efficiency, and really feel nice for journey days. They make for distinctive journey garments and stay certainly one of our favourite objects. Plus, they double as lounge and fitness center put on, saving area in our luggage.
Different nice choices are the lads’s prAna Vaha Pant and ladies’s Kanab Pants, a few of our all-time favourite pants. We pack them for each journey; their relaxed type and luxury by no means allow us to down. The Vaha pants and shorts are wonderful males’s yoga clothes choices — excellent for Costa Rica.
Journey Shorts
Due to its heat and tropical local weather, you’ll need some shorts to your journey to Costa Rica. They’re additionally simple to pack as they take up much less area in your baggage and will be simply washed. As temperatures common across the 80s F (26+ C), we spend most of our time in shorts.
I prefer to pack two or three pairs for versatility, comparable to fitness center shorts, bermuda shorts, and technical journey shorts. Shorts are a type of objects that I discover to be acceptable as low-cost cotton objects. We’ve examined a number of journey shorts out and solely been impressed by a handful.
Our suggestions for males’s shorts are the Western Rise Evolution, Quicksilver Amphibian, Vuori Kore Shorts, and Outlier OG Freeway. Suggestions for girls embody the prAna Elle Quick, Vuori Sprint, prAna Kanab, and Patagonia Baggies. We propose no matter fits your type and suggest they don’t contain cargo pockets.
Swimsuit
We will’t think about heading to Costa Rica and never having fun with a few of its splendid seashores. A swimsuit is an apparent addition to any packing record. We suggest packing two fits, so that you all the time have a dry one. It’s a simple determination to your Costa Rica packing record.
For a incredible girls’s swimsuit model, we suggest Londre. They make high-quality swimsuits for girls. A lot of their items are fashionable but supportive. So for those who plan to log on, bodyboarding, kitesurfing, or play seaside volleyball and need to guarantee your ta-tas keep intact, these swimsuits are for you.
Vuori makes incredible light-weight Cruise Board Shorts in varied prints and colours. They’re tremendous snug, rapidly dry, and the reduce is ideal. We don’t like board shorts which might be too lengthy or free, as they appear sloppy.
Ladies’s Garments For Costa Rica
Cute Summer season Gown
A pleasant outfit is a lovely concept for these date nights and classy resorts. We suggest a traditional gown like an uncovered shoulder prime, slip, maxi, or your favourite summer season gown. I like to put on a cute summer season gown in Costa Rica.
Proper now, my favourite summer season clothes come from Salty Crush. They make a bunch of high quality bohemian-style summer season clothes. Should you’re after one thing extra fashionable, we love the kinds and presents from Lulus.
Yoga Pants
With the entire eco resorts and surf tradition Costa Rica is a hub for yoga retreats within the Americas. Most huge resorts even supply yoga courses within the morning or night. Pack at the least two pairs of yoga pants in your suitcase.
Our favourite yoga pants and sports activities bras come from Handful – you gained’t discover increased high quality for the value – belief me! Better of all, they’ve a number of initiatives to help girls combating breast most cancers.
Males’s Garments For Costa Rica
Linen/Gown Shirt
Linen is as sensible as it’s fashionable. It’s nice because it tends to dry sooner, really feel lighter, and deal with sweat higher than its cotton counterparts. Pair a linen shirt with sandals, shorts, denims, or sneakers, and even go barefoot. It’s a flexible shirt that appears nice on each sexes and works on the seaside or a restaurant.
We discover it the right resort put on, however you gained’t really feel misplaced strolling round a sleepy surf city. It’s robust to search out first rate linen shirts on-line, however I really like the standard of Everlane’s linen shirts.
Chinos
Pack a pleasant pair of pants like chinos for those who plan an evening out at a resort or restaurant. It’s a traditional look that, when mixed with a gown shirt. I all the time have a pair of dressier journey pants in my bag! In Costa Rica, it’s a stable selection for resort put on or perhaps a hip bar if that’s the place you’ll spend your time in Costa Rica.
My favourite journey pant is the Western Rise Evolution 2.0 Pants in Dune. A flexible shade that may match nearly any shirt and appears sharp with a t-shirt or gown shirt. Be warned; they’ll grow to be your favourite pair of pants!
Bluffworks makes a speciality of males’s journey garments and makes some superior pants, shirts, and blazers. Their journey garments are all snug, wrinkle-resistant, and stain-resistant. Wonderful for journey!
Hat Or Cap
We often advise vacationers to keep away from the baseball cap, besides in a couple of areas the place that’s an exception, like Costa Rica. Hats are nice as they assist preserve the sweat and solar out of your eyes on a scorching sunny day. On the very least, you’ll expertise some scorching and humid climate in Costa Rica!
As self-professed hat snobs, our suggestions embody the Patagonia Lo-Professional Trucker Hat, Out of doors Analysis Swift Cap, and Western Rise Versa Hat. Every one is a unique type. They’re all technical, so that they deal with sweat and pack properly.
Footwear For Costa Rica
Sandals
Sandals are by no means dangerous at seaside locations and ought to be on each traveler’s Costa Rica packing record. Our favourite model is Rainbow Sandals, as they final eternally and are tremendous snug as soon as the leather-based kinds to your foot.
One other enticing possibility for girls is the Sanuk Yoga Sling 2. If thong flip-flops aren’t nice to your ft, select one thing with extra help. Some nice choices could be the Birkenstock Arizona, Teva Authentic, or Chaco Z/Cloud.
Mountain climbing Boots/Sneakers
Costa Rica is a vacation spot value a stroll within the jungle. We went on many hikes to waterfalls, by the forest, and sloth looking. Should you don’t have many hikes or exploring plans, go for a snug path working shoe just like the Hoka One One Speedgoat.
Nevertheless, we propose ankle-high boots for those who plan to spend time mountaineering in Costa Rica. We now have seen quite a few venomous snakes on mountaineering trails within the Osa Peninsula, so ankle safety is significant. To not point out, there isn’t any scarcity of bugs and bugs that chew within the rainforest. Plus, with the considerable rain in Costa Rica, trails typically have mud and standing water. We suggest the Merrel Moab 3 mountaineering boot because it presents a ton of worth and usually matches each foot.
Water Sneakers
Should you plan on many visits to waterfalls and it’s value it to choose up a pair. They’ll enable you grip the slippery rocks and defend your ft from cuts. Try Tropicfeels for a few journey sneakers that double as water sneakers.
Water sneakers are nice for strolling round Costa Rica’s rocks, cliffs, or waterfalls. I’ve been caught a couple of instances with out them, and my ft have paid dearly for my mistake. The opposite possibility could be to carry a pair of mountaineering sandals that maintain higher than conventional sandals.
Costa Rica Packing Checklist
Sun shades
A classy pair of sun shades is a wonderful addition to an outfit. Everybody owns at the least one pair of sun shades. It’s greatest to make sure they’ve UV safety for the well being of your eyes. We journey with two pairs of sun shades as we’re fairly lively.
A pair of Smith Optics for out of doors adventures and a few fashionable sun shades to put on on the seaside or round city for the day. Our two favourite fashionable manufacturers are Persol and Raybans, which have a timeless look. Smith is a model identify you’ll see quite a bit in Costa Rica, particularly in surf cities, because it’s common with surfers — and ski bums like us.
Grayl GeoPress Water Filter & Air purifier
Costa Rica has wonderful water high quality with an abundance of rainfall. Nevertheless, we nonetheless prefer to journey with a water bottle that purifies water in Central and South America.
Our favourite is the Grayl GeoPress air purifier bottle. A air purifier helps lower your expenses, reduces plastic waste, and ensures that our water is secure and freed from viruses and different waterborne sicknesses.
The air purifier is tremendous simple to make use of as you fill it up with water and press the filter system by the bottle. It takes all of thirty seconds to filter a full bottle of water. Better of all, its genius design matches comfortably on the aspect of any bag or backpack.
Fast Dry Journey Towel
We all the time suggest you pack a journey towel for nearly each vacation spot. Fast-dry towels are nice if you’re out exploring Costa Rica. You may take an impromptu dip within the ocean, dry off, and head for fish tacos and an Imperial (native beer).
A towel can also be great if you hike to certainly one of Costa Rica’s quite a few waterfalls, because the towels are sufficiently small to throw in your daypack and depart room for added objects. Most resorts don’t admire you taking their towels alongside for day journeys.
The largest grievance about journey towels is that they typically really feel nothing just like the plush cotton towels we’re accustomed to at dwelling and in resorts. With PackTowl, you may overlook that as a result of they got down to create a towel that mimics its cotton counterparts with the technical options of a journey towel.
Rashguard
When you have any plans to log on, it’s an ideal concept to pack a rashguard. It presents safety from a rash as a result of wax and solar. Solar safety is an enormous one because it’s simple to get burnt out on the water if you’re close to the equator. I discover additionally they present heat when the water is slightly chilly.
Insect Repellant
Costa Rica has year-round heat climate and plenty of rain, which is a breeding floor for mosquitos. They love handy round forests, ponds, lagoons, or wherever with nonetheless water. We suggest packing a bottle of insect repellant with DEET so that you’ll scare away these annoying biting demons.
And in a worst-case situation, it reduces the probabilities of Dengue Fever — though it’s uncommon in Costa Rica. Keep in mind that DEET can destroy plastics, so thoughts your sun shades or digital camera when making use of.
Sunscreen
Pores and skin most cancers is for actual! Don’t overlook your SPF when touring round Costa Rica, as you’re near the Equator. We suggest ordering some on-line earlier than leaving the home, as you will discover a lot increased costs in Costa Rica.
We extremely suggest getting an eco-friendly solar cream that doesn’t comprise dangerous chemical compounds. They’re mineral-based and often solely value a couple of {dollars} extra to assist defend our oceans. Should you’re not going to swim within the ocean, go along with a dependable identify model — granted, runoff typically nonetheless ends in our oceans.
Hand Sanitizer
Strolling round and collaborating in on a regular basis actions in Costa Rica can get fairly soiled. Whereas Costa Rica is among the cleanest and greenest international locations we’ve ever seen, many native soda outlets nonetheless lack hand cleaning soap within the restroom.
It grew to become a reoccurring theme to search out hand cleaning soap nowhere. You may’t go mistaken bringing some hand sanitizer and child wipes in your bag — contemplate it a journey important wherever.
Binoculars
A pair of binoculars is superb for those who’re happening a jungle trek in Manuel Antonio or Corcovado Nationwide Park. Binoculars give you the possibility to view wildlife a lot better than your naked eye – and also you’ll seemingly see a lot of wildlife in Costa Rica, so we extremely suggest including some to your Costa Rica packing record
We’ve spent a number of time on safari and might’t suggest a pair of binoculars sufficient for those who’re a birder or hope to see wildlife. Our advice for a pair of binoculars is the Nikon Monarch 5 8×42.
Yoga Mat
In Costa Rica, you’ll hear the phrases “Pura Vida” many instances. Pura Vida means Pure Life, which isn’t only a saying however a means of being within the nation. You’ll discover many yoga studios round Costa Rica, and we extremely suggest going to a couple. We frequently journey with a yoga mat, so it’s on our Costa Rica packing record so we will follow wherever.
Manduka has a light-weight journey yoga that we now use for journey. It’s not as sturdy as an everyday yoga mat and will be painful on exhausting surfaces. Nevertheless, we prefer it on a mushy carpet, on the seaside, on a towel, or over a yoga studio’s public mats for a extra hygienic expertise.
Hammock
Costa Rica is undoubtedly a simple place to lounge round and do nothing. A journey hammock you can string up between bushes or railings is superb if you need to loosen up. It’s excellent for these instances if you need to loosen up in nature.
The ENO Hammock was the unique producer. Now, you will discover many low-cost ones on-line as they’re simple to fabricate in China, and folks love to purchase and promote them on Amazon. I’d persist with the unique.
Headlamp
After driving throughout Africa, we realized {that a} headlamp is rarely mistaken to pack in your luggage. Our BioLite headlamp got here in helpful once we did night time walks within the jungle, looking for frogs and staying at a treehouse neighborhood off the grid and with out energy.
We nearly all the time pack a headlamp in our luggage because it’s all the time useful to have a light-weight. An amazing possibility is a chargeable headlamp just like the BioLite 330 or 150.
Dry bag
With the entire water round Costa Rica, it’s an ideal concept to carry a dry bag. They’re nice for journey actions on the water or within the rainforest. It’s additionally a beautiful merchandise for the seaside if you wish to defend your electronics. We love this one from Sea Line, however they’re a bunch of low-cost choices on Amazon.
Daypack
We chased a brand new waterfall each day, hiked by the rainforest, or loved the seaside. I really like a flexible dimension across the 30L mark for those who solely have one pack. The dimensions provides sufficient room for gear-heavy days when mountaineering within the mountains, but it surely’s mild sufficient for mild brief treks in locations like Costa Rica.
In fact, any good backpack will do the job for those who don’t have plans for intensive hikes. You can too get an inexpensive foldable bag that may do a superb job securing your issues.
Costa Rica Packing Checklist Electronics
Smartwatch
A smartwatch is commonly an missed journey staple, however having a watch on the highway has grow to be a should for me. It helps preserve me on time once I’m out within the water, on a hike, or catching the subsequent airplane on a layover.
Costa Rica is a vibrant vacation spot, as two of the most well-liked actions are browsing and mountaineering. A smartwatch can monitor your health and assist monitor your well being vitals. We obtained our watches earlier than a visit, which have grow to be part of on a regular basis life. I take advantage of and love the Garmin Intuition.
GoPro
A GoPro is an ideal digital camera to carry to Costa Rica; you’ll see them all over the place. Costa Rica has loads of adventures, from browsing to mountaineering or ATV Excursions to Snorkeling.
Don’t threat bringing a elaborate digital camera to the seaside. We love the GoPro Hero 11. The Hypersmooth movement seize is a complete game-changer. Simply connect it to a wrist strap, so it doesn’t get misplaced!
Energy Financial institution
I really like touring with an influence financial institution to make sure my electronics by no means die. I often don’t must apply it to lengthy flights as some new worldwide flights present leisure programs with USB ports! (All the time be certain that your charging cable is helpful when boarding the airplane)
We additionally be certain that to discover a charging level throughout layovers, however attending to a brand new metropolis with out your lodge reservations and map could be a important ache. I like to recommend buying this energy financial institution as a result of it’s an ideal worth with stable evaluations.
Kindle Paperwhite
A Kindle is an important journey accent for vacationers who like to learn. As a lot as we love an precise ebook, they’re too heavy and take up an excessive amount of room in my suitcase. We not too long ago upgraded to the Kindle Paperwhite and adore it.
It’s small, has touchscreen capabilities, and has a backlight to learn at night time with no harsh glare. We will’t consider a greater approach to disconnect in nature than a superb ebook.
You Want This to Journey to Costa Rica
Journey Insurance coverage
We by no means journey with out journey insurance coverage with Heymondo. With all of the dangers of journey in another country and insurance coverage protection, we by no means have to fret a few good well being plan. Heymondo presents unimaginable flexibility and nice plans!
You by no means know if the more serious may occur when you’re overseas, and your insurance coverage plan at dwelling typically won’t cowl medical emergencies overseas. Having the peace of thoughts that we’ve a superb backup plan helps us sleep at night time.
