Packing
What to Pack for Costa Rica
Costa Rica spans rainforest, cloud forest, dry tropics and two coasts. Pack for the regions on your route, not for 'the tropics'.
Always pack
- Lightweight quick-dry clothing — cotton stays wet for days in the humidity.
- A genuine rain jacket, not a poncho, if you are visiting between May and November.
- Closed-toe shoes with grip for volcano trails and hanging bridges.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a wide-brim hat.
- Insect repellent with picaridin or DEET, especially for the Caribbean and Osa.
- A refillable water bottle — tap water is drinkable in most of the country.
Region-specific
- Monteverde and the Central Valley highlands: a fleece or warm layer. Evenings drop into the mid-teens Celsius.
- Guanacaste in dry season: more sun protection than you think, and lip balm.
- Osa and Tortuguero: dry bags, and long sleeves for dawn boat rides.
- Surf towns: rash guard and flip flops.
Wildlife watching
- Binoculars change a wildlife trip more than any other single item — 8x42 is the sweet spot.
- A zoom lens if you are photographing; sloths and birds are far away and high up.
- A red-light headlamp for night walks.
Leave at home
- Heavy jeans, hair dryers (most lodges have them), and drones near national parks, where they are restricted.
- Single-use plastics — many lodges have removed them entirely.