If you are planning a visit to Costa Rica make sure to pack these 6 items
Costa Rica is a beautiful country full of jungles, volcanoes, beaches, mountains, waterfalls, and biodiversity. So it is no secret why adventure travelers love this place! If you are coming to Costa Rica as an adventure traveler make sure to pack these 6 items!
The adventure traveler needs to pack these 6 things for their Costa Rica trip. Also, if you are a budget traveler or budget conscious you will definitely want to make sure you read this article and pack these basics as well. If you forget something you can get these items in Costa Rica, however, they will be much more expensive if you are coming from the United States or even Canada. The reason some items are more expensive is that Costa Ricans have to import a lot of goods, like sunscreen. Costa Rica also has a 23% tax on most goods and services so this adds to the price as well.
Sunscreen & Hat
With Costa Rica’s tropical climate and year-round sunshine, you will want some SPF protection. This is especially true if you are fair-skinned or burn easily. The sun in Costa Rica is strong and you will start to feel it after only a few minutes during the hottest points of the day. My boyfriend is pretty sensitive to the sun and we went through 2 bottles in about a month’s time. Since most airlines only allow you to travel with 3 oz. or less be sure to pack two bottles. Sunscreen is also quite expensive in Costa Rica so this tip will help the budget traveler as well. We had to buy an additional bottle and it costs $21 USD. It would also be wise to pack your hat and sunglasses.
A good pair of shoes
Costa Rica is known for its rugged and mountainous terrain so a good pair of shoes goes a long way here. Chances are, while you are here you will want to go on a hiking adventure since there are so many! Whether you are hiking the Arenal Volcano in Alajuela or to a waterfall in Dominical or Montezuma you will want a good pair of shoes. We have been to Costa Rica several times and every time we go I pack my hiking shoes and my water shoes. You can get away with just one pair of regular, sturdy tennis shoes as well depending on how much support your feet need. A lot of the roads outside of San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city, and main highways are dirt roads as well. So a good pair of shoes will also be useful for just walking to the local Soda. Click here for our favorite women’s water shoes and hiking boots. And here for our favorite men’s water shoes and hiking boots.
Bathing suit
This one should not be a shock, but I threw it in there because you will want one. The beaches here are beautiful and the water is a nice and refreshing relief from the hot sun. There are so many waterfalls and natural hot springs to try as well. Ladies, you will probably want to pack your cute bathing suit as well as a good one for those hiking days. Guys, it helps to have a suit with a zipper to store some cash and your keys.
Small day pack
You will want a sturdy, but easy to travel with, day pack. Your luggage and travel backpack will probably be too bulky to travel with for quick outings. I like this one from Eagle Creek, it actually folds itself up into the front zipper so it is super easy to pack and take with you everywhere! I also like this Osprey backpacking pack because the front pack can be easily detached and used as a day pack. If you are staying outside of any of the main cities restaurants, hotels, banks, and other places can be pretty spread out so you might spend some time walking from place to place and you will want to have the essentials on you most of the time. By essentials, I mean money, sunscreen, hat, towel, umbrella in case it rains, etc. This pack will help on hikes as well. It helps to keep it small and lightweight as the larger ones can get hot!
Bug spray
For me, this is a must, but my boyfriend never gets bit. Hopefully, you are like him, but on the chance that you are not, pack the bug spray! I actually like to use my Bug Bite Thing Suction Tool. This nifty little tool sucks the poison right out of you. It will leave a little suction ring for a few minutes, but well worth it to avoid the itch, swell, and pain of a bug bite. It also is reusable so you will not need to worry about running out as you do with bug spray.
Some Rope or a Bungee Chord
If you are doing some hiking or do not have maid service where you are staying you might be washing your own clothes. If you leave them in the bathroom to dry they will probably adopt an odd smell. Hanging them outside on a clothesline to dry is the best way to avoid this. This is where your bungee cord will come in handy! Also, if your transportation while in Costa Rica is an ATV or a bike a bungee cord will come in handy for securing your items. I have been very surprised with how much I used my travel bungee chords and it is something I take with me on any trip now.
For tips on things to do in Costa Rica check out my blog post on the 10 best things to do in Santa Teresa (Costa Rica)!
