How to Make Your Costa Rica Trip a Success: A Packing Guide

Helloooo, travel community! I’m back! It has literally been a month since I’ve been able to write a post, and I have missed it. Between prepping for Costa Rica, being there, and dealing with all the work aftermath of being gone for a week, life has been crazy.

But I’m beyond excited to finally start sharing our Costa Rica adventures and what we learned with you!

Girl zip lining in la fortuna costa rica — *This is my ultra-excited face* *lol*

About a week ago, I did an Instagram poll to see how you all wanted to receive my 13 week’s worth of Costa Rica content. Many of you shared your preferences, and the majority voted for me to share everything consecutively. So, I’ll be kicking off my 13-week Costa Rica series with this post.

Today, I’m going to share 10 essential things you need to pack for a trip to Costa Rica. If you’re an avid traveler to the tropics and foreign countries, you may already have some of these at home.

But if you’re not familiar with vacationing in a place like this, there are a few things you probably haven’t thought of. And trust me, if you leave these items behind, you could end up being pretty miserable in a hurry.

I did a lot of research before we left to ensure that we were prepared, and I’m so glad I did. We used every one of these items on our trip to La Arenal and Guanacaste, and several of them saved us a lot of stress.

I’m including Amazon links to everything we bought from there so you can easily find my recommendations.

Update February 2024: I recently opened up an Amazon affiliate shop, so I’ve gone back and updated all the existing Amazon links with my own. I still stand by each of these recommendations because they’re products we use consistently, even 2 years later! Also, please be aware that shopping through these links does not cost you anything extra! You’ll pay the same price, but I’ll receive a small commission that goes right back into supporting the blog to provide you with helpful information.

10 Essential Items to Pack for Costa Rica

1. Packable Rain Jacket

Girl standing in a lush costa rica rainforest with a rain jacket — *Staying dry with my packable raincoat*

Don’t toss this aside because you’re visiting during the “dry” season. If you’re in the rainforest, it could rain at literally any time. (It makes sense, lol)

It rained on and off for 2/3 of our days in La Arenal, and I was so thankful to have my packable rain jacket with me during the sudden storms. Particularly when it started raining while we were exploring the hanging bridges.

You can bring a full-size rain jacket, but I think it would be too heavy for the tropical weather, not to mention bulky. Plus, I love the convenience of a packable version.

I got this one from Amazon. It folds up into a squishable 8×4 waterproof pouch that fits nicely into whatever pack I’m carrying. When the rain stops, just fold it back up into its pouch to keep it from contacting your other items.

And here’s a men’s version that we bought for my husband.

2. Insect Repellent

*We went with this spray that repels 100 different bugs*

According to the locals, the bugs are worse during the rainy season, but the dry season isn’t exempt from them. There are a lot of critters crawling around not only the rainforest but pretty much anywhere you’ll be walking.

Protect yourself from unwanted bites and potential diseases by taking bug spray with you. We got one that deters 100 different kinds of insects, just to be safe. The only time we forgot to use it, we both got bitten up around our ankles. You’ll be so grateful to have it with you on any hikes and outdoor activities!

Just remember to apply it before entering the rainforest because the initial spray can be harmful to the natural environment.

3. Reef Safe Sunscreen & After Sun Lotion

*Budget-friendly suncare picks from Amazon*

Do. Not. Forget. Sunscreen! Costa Rica is only 10 degrees from the equator, which means you can get burnt to a crisp in just a few hours.

Even if you tan really well (unlike my pasty Danish self), it’s wise to bring plenty of sunscreen. We stuck with 50 SPF throughout the week and applied every two hours because we both burn easily. Neither of us got tan, but we avoided sun poisoning, so that’s a win.

If you are doing any swimming, I recommend bringing reef-safe sunscreen. We brought a bottle of Amazon’s brand that worked great. We also snagged a last-minute bottle from Walmart, just in case we ran out. It’s not hard to find, and you’ll be protecting yourself and the fragile reef ecosystems simultaneously.

Also, it definitely doesn’t hurt to apply after-sun lotion each day. Your skin will take a beating even with sunscreen, and the lotion will help it stay moisturized and heal faster.

4. Quick-Dry Clothing

*You’ll appreciate cool clothing when you’re on the coast and exploring in the sun*

You could definitely pack all your favorite t-shirts and shorts for your Costa Rica trip and be okay. But if you have quick-dry clothing, I recommend that you bring it.

Depending on where you’re at, you’ll likely be dealing with hot, sweaty weather or humid, rainy weather. Either way, moisture-wicking clothes are an easy way to stay comfortable during long days of exploration.

Especially if you’re going to stay active, it makes sense to bring athletic wear, whether shorts and t-shirts or tank tops and yoga leggings.

I brought a mix of everything (Daniel stuck with shorts/tank tops/t-shirts) and was glad for the variety between the rainforest and beach. I also got great use out of these new hiking leggings from Baleaf. They have pockets and UPF 50+ protection. (I got a second pair of these for our Ecuador trip in 2023, and I still love them!)

5. Dry Bag

*I got the 20L dry bag so that I could wear it as a backpack.*

I didn’t actually know what this was until I started prepping for Costa Rica, but I’m so glad I bought one!

A dry bag is a waterproof bag or pack that’s made for rainy days and water activities. It not only keeps your items safe from water, but it also floats if it happens to catch a current.

I recommend one of these for any time you’ll be getting wet, but especially if you plan to take electronics with you.

My new dry bag was such a stress-saver while we were hiking because I knew my DSLR camera would stay dry, even in heavy rain. We also used it for an all-day tour which involved tubing, and it kept our wet stuff from leaking all over us.

You can get these as one-shoulder packs, but I chose to get the 20L version, which can be worn as a backpack.

The only downside is that it doesn’t have organizational pockets, so everything just has to pile inside.

6. Waterproof Hiking Shoes

*My Atika shoes worked for everything from hiking to ziplining to tubing*

You won’t be getting any style points with these, but waterproof hiking shoes are a lifesaver for Costa Rica adventures! Yes, you can take tennis shoes and flip-flops, but neither of them is fully up to the task.

Aside from the frequent rains, you’ll find that many of the local activities involve you getting wet. Like if you take a tubing tour, hike to a waterfall, walk on a rocky beach, ride ATVs, etc. Personally, few things make an adventure more miserable than wet, heavy shoes. And you can’t do most of those in flip-flops either. Hence, waterproof hiking shoes.

We wore them for casual exploring, hiking in the rain, and on our all-day tour, which involved tubing, ziplining, and horseback riding. Our guide even pointed them out and said, “Those are perfect for what you’ll be doing today.”

I know a lot of people like Keens, but they are rather pricey. We decided to try Atika shoes because they had great ratings, and many people compared them to Keens in the review.

I would definitely recommend them! They have great treads for hiking, they’re adjustable, and they stayed comfortable for the entire trip. We didn’t even have to break them in.

Here’s the pair I bought. And here’s the pair Daniel got.

*2024 Update: After taking my Atika’s on a second trip to Ecuador, I have to retract my ongoing endorsement for the women’s shoes. My straps refused to stay velcro-ed together during the second half of that trip, and it was such a pain. Daniel hasn’t had a single issue with his men’s pair, but I’m going to find a different brand for future trips. If you only need these shoes for one trip, though, I’d still recommend Atika’s pricing over buying expensive Keens.

7. Anti-Theft Bag

*The anti-theft bag was perfect for carrying my camera equipment*

As a whole, Costa Rica is a safe and friendly country. But petty theft is an issue. We didn’t have a single problem while we were there, but we also took precautions to ensure we didn’t.

In addition to my oh-so-stylish security belt (lol), which I hid under my shirt for a few activities, we also brought an anti-theft backpack.

You can definitely bring a crossbody bag if you prefer, but I needed a lot of space for my camera gear, so we got this backpack from LOVEVOOK. It was the perfect size to hold my drone, DSLR camera, and action camera, and I felt like they were safe with me and back in our room, thanks to the combination lock zippers.

*This is my new favorite travel backpack. It’s perfect for air travel, too.*

This bag also has several hidden pockets, including one that sits flat against your back, so you can protect your money, phone, passport, and such while you’re out.

8. Surge Protector

Remember those rains that I mentioned? Unfortunately, they frequently result in power outages.

Also, not all places are equipped to handle charging as many items simultaneously as you may be used to, which could cause a short.

It’s a smart idea to bring a surge protector along with your basic charging equipment, just in case. It would be awful to lose your phone or camera to a power surge! If you don’t want to bring a whole power strip (and if you plan to travel internationally again), I’d recommend this adaptor/surge protector from Ceptics instead.

9. Reusable Water Bottle

Costa Rica is incredibly eco-conscious, and many tours will specifically ask you to bring a reusable water bottle. Plus, with how hot it is, you’ll want to keep water with you at all times.

Most of Costa Rica’s water is safe to drink straight from the tap, so you’ll get good use out of a reusable water bottle and contribute to their environmental efforts at the same time.

I highly recommend you get one that’s insulated and fits comfortably into the pocket of whatever bag you’re bringing. Also, keep weight in mind. For example, I know Hydroflasks are popular, but you may not want to lug your full 32-oz bottle around for the week.

10. Packable Beach Towel

*This unfolds to an over-sized beach towel but hardly takes any packing space*

This is a good accessory to have, whether or not you’ll be hitting the beach. A packable beach towel is helpful for drying off after rain showers, river activities, and swimming. These towels are typically made of microfiber or some other thin, quick-drying material, making them incredibly convenient.

Pick one small enough to fit in your bag (next to your packable rain jacket) without taking up the whole thing, so you always have it with you.

Pinterest pin for costa rica packing guide

Other Helpful Items to Pack for Costa Rica

In addition to the essentials above, these items are good ideas to bring along.

Copies of your passport
Copy or proof of your return ticket
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees (the easiest way to pay)
Money (you can exchange, but most places will also accept American dollars)
Rechargeable battery pack
Any medications you might need
Camera
Driver’s License and copy if you plan to rent a car
Travel insurance (COVID is still a thing. Better to be safe than sorry)
Physical copies of your itinerary (with phone numbers and addresses)
Snacks and entertainment for the flights and the long immigration lines (2.5 hour wait for us)

Final Thoughts on Packing for Costa Rica

Another thing I’d like to point out is that you should try to bring as few full bags as possible. If you’re lugging around multiple suitcases and bags, you’ll more likely be a target for theft. Plus it can be hard to keep track of everything on public transportation.

I recommend you travel with one suitcase (Daniel and I shared ours for the week with no problem) and one bag for necessary/valuable items. Extra bags like your dry bag will fit into your suitcase with no problem.

Also, choose clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or sweaty. This is not the place to bring your fancy party clothes and stiletto heels (except maybe in the large cities). It’s a place for adventures!

I hope this guide is a help to you as you plan for Costa Rica! Feel free to drop questions below about any of the products I recommended.

And stay tuned over the next few months as I share tips and guides for all of our adventures in this gorgeous country, from white water tubing and ziplining to an incredible animal sanctuary and the hanging bridges of La Arenal.