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Packing is one of the most daunting parts of traveling, especially when your destination is such a biodiverse country like Costa Rica. In just one trip, you may hike in the rainforest, relax on the beach, and visit a volcano! This detailed packing guide will help ensure you have everything you need to enjoy this tropical paradise to the fullest.
Absolute Essentials for Entrance into Costa Rica
🔹 Passport – You will need a current, active, physical passport that does not expire during your time in Costa Rica.
🔹 Your Return Flight Ticket Out of Costa Rica – You will be asked to present your return ticket (tiquete de salida) at customs. This ensures that you are not staying past the 180 days that you are legally allowed to be in the country (without a special visa). You can show your ticket home on your phone (in an email confirmation or otherwise) or you can print it; it just needs to show the date that you are leaving Costa Rica and your next destination!
🔹 Hotel Confirmation – Another thing that you will need to show the customs officials is your hotel or Airbnb confirmation. More than anything, they are looking for the first address you will stay at. This can also just be saved on your phone, just like your return ticket.
🔹 Driver’s License – Even if you do not plan on driving during your trip in Costa Rica, it is good to have your driver’s license on you as an additional form of ID or in case you decide to rent a car or other kind of vehicle. Be sure that it does not expire during your trip!
Other important things to have on you:
🔹 Credit Card (with no foreign transaction fees!) – Make sure you bring a physical credit card that is NOT an Amex or a Discover card. These cards are rarely accepted in Costa Rica. The best credit card to bring is a Visa or Mastercard. When traveling, I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card. It has no foreign transaction fees and gives you 5 times the points if you book travel through their site!
🔹 Debit Card (with no ATM fees!) – Another great card to have in your wallet is a debit card with 0 ATM fees! This means you can get cash at any ATM, internationally or otherwise, without paying the usual $5 fee for each transaction. This is Charles Schwab‘s claim to fame! By opening a checking account, you can get a debit card with no ATM fees. Cash is great for tips and last minute reservations of activities, so having the ability to get cash out as many times as you need can come in handy.
🔹 Hotel/Rental Cars/Shuttle/Tour Confirmations – You will not need to show this at customs, but it does help to keep yourself organized. I suggest saving a screenshot of any booking confirmations on your phone.
What kinds of clothes should you bring to Costa Rica?
The hottest times of year are March and April, but you will be happy to have light, quick-dry clothing no matter what time of year you are going. If you are coming in the dry season (December to April), you will want to bring plenty of shorts and short-sleeve or sleeveless shirts.
If your trip falls during the rainy season (May to November), consider bringing some longer pants or leggings, as well as a jacket or two. For more information on what kind of weather to expect in each destination, check out this post.
No matter the time of year that you are going, here are the clothes you should consider packing:
🔸 Various casual outfits – Think Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts, or sundresses.
🔸 Various workout outfits – An athletic top with shorts or leggings; something you’re free to move (and sweat) in!
🔸 Several bathings suits! – Especially one you don’t care if you stain with volcanic mud. 🧖♀️ I always suggest a black or dark colored suit, as the mud can stain lighter colors.
🔸 A few nice outfits for dinners out
🔸 A light jacket – The nights in Costa Rica can be cool, especially if you are visiting places like Monteverde, Osa Peninsula, or La Fortuna.
What kinds of shoes should you bring to Costa Rica?
🔸 Walking shoes – A lot of activities in Costa Rica revolve around walking! Whether you’re hiking in the cloud forest of Monteverde, going on a night tour in the rainforest, or walking on the hanging brides, you’ll be happy to have a comfortable pair of shoes that have good traction. If you’re coming during the rainy season, you may want to opt for a darker color shoe as it can be muddy after it rains. Here are my favorite kinds of shoes to pack for hiking in Costa Rica.
🔸 Sandals – I like to bring a flip flop for the beach and casual sandals for day trips or nights out. If you’re looking for a comfortable sandal that you can walk all day in, Birkenstocks never fail!
🔸 Water shoes – If you’re planning on visiting any waterfalls, water shoes are great to protect sensitive feet on the rocky ground.
Everything You Need for the Outdoors
🔸 Sunblock – Since Costa Rica is so near to the equator, I suggest 50+ SPF. If you plan on going snorkeling, try a mineral sunblock that is safe for coral reefs like Blue Lizard.
🔸 A Good Pair of Sunglasses – High quality sunglasses make all the difference, especially in a place like Costa Rica where there can be a big glare from the sun.
🔸 Bugspray – A must any time of year in Costa Rica! Although I generally opt for a 0% deet version like this Off!, it depends on your personal preference. I would suggest, however, going for a spray bottle instead of an aerosol bottle to not run into any issues at the airport.
🔸 Medicine – In addition to your prescription medication, you might want to bring some other essentials medications that you use in a pinch, like Benadryl, Dramamine, Ibuprofen, and Tylenol. All of these medications (except Dramamine) are available in generic pills at pharmacies (not grocery stores), but you may feel more comfortable having these with you.
🔸 Itch relief – Although you can find this at the pharmacy in Costa Rica, you may want to bring your own trusted brand like Cortizone or Benadryl’s itch cream.
🔸 Aloe – In case someone gets a little too much sun, a travel size aloe gel is perfect to relieve sunburn.
🔸 A Hat – Don’t go to Costa Rica without a hat! I usually bring both a ball cap and a sunhat. For the ladies, this roll-up sunhat is one of my favorites since it doesn’t get bent in your bag and has a wide brim for sun protection. For the men, this hat offers great sun protection and is very flattering.
🔸 A Bathing Suit Cover-Up – A cover-up for walking around town and navigating to the beach club’s bathroom is a great thing to pack. Ladies, I love this one that can double as another cool outfit.
🔸 A Compact Beach Towel – A quick dry, sand-free beach towel is a great addition to your travel gear! Dock & Bay is a trusted brand that even comes with a little bag to make your towel compact and easy to transport.
🔸 A Waterproof Bag – Just what you need if you are planning on going tubing, riding four-wheelers, going on a catamaran, or just about anything in between! A completely waterproof bag allows you to enjoy water activities stress-free. I also suggest getting a waterproof phone case like the one included with this bag.
🔸 A Mask & Snorkel! – If you enjoy seeing tropical fish while snorkeling, think about bringing your own mask! At just about any calm beach you can see striking tropical fish like angelfish, butterflyfish, and more! This is great for kids and adventurous adults alike! The Cressi masks linked here are a great brand as they use high quality silicone that is comfortable, and their curved masks offer a wide, unobstructed view.
🔸 An Insulated Water Bottle – It can get up to 95 degrees in the dry season, an insulated water bottle that keeps your drink cool is a lifesaver! I always bring my 18oz Yeti water bottle with a chug cap. The chug cap keeps the mouth safe from sand on the beach and the size of this water bottle is easy to manage when traveling. You can drink the tap water in Costa Rica so reusable water bottles are easy to refill.
🔸 Feminine Products – While pads are widespread in Costa Rica, tampons and menstrual cups are not. It’s good to bring these along with you on your trip.
What should you pack for the rainy season in Costa Rica?
If you are coming between May and November, you will most likely experience some rainy weather! While the rainiest months are October and November, you can expect a couple hours of rain almost everyday during the rainy season.
Here are some things to make your trip comfortable, despite the rain:
🔹 A Travel Umbrella – I like a travel umbrella that folds up small so I can always have it on me.
🔹 A Rain Jacket/Poncho – These are easy to slip into your bag and have on hand if you need it!
🔹 Waterproof Footwear – I like to bring a sneaker that is designed to be waterproof, like Vessi waterproof shoes or these shoes on Amazon. Chacos are also a great sandal since they are comfortable and dry quickly.
🔹 Sweaters/Jackets/Socks – It gets cooler during the rainy season!
🔹 Long Pants/Leggings – This will keep you warm when out facing the weather
🔹 Bug Spray! – Mosquitoes are more active during the rainy season.
For a complete list of things that can help make the rainy season easier, check out the Costa Tica Travel Amazon Storefront.
Final Thoughts on What to Bring to Costa Rica:
It can be intimidating to pack for an international trip, but with this list you can rest assured that you have all of the essentials.
The final thing that you should pack for your trip to Costa Rica is a pura vida attitude. There are so many wonderful things waiting for you on your trip to the rich coast. Come with an open mind, and a desire to experience everything that makes this country so precious. Your trip will be everything you dreamt it to be and more!
Looking for the best products to pack like a pro? Check out our favorite items here.
Take a look at our other travel tips below!
Planning Your Perfect Trip to Costa Rica
Personalized Travel Planning Services
The Top 10 Destinations to Visit in Costa Rica
About Costa Tica Travel
