Costa Rica is a country that’s found in Central America, and the tropical climate there makes it a fun destination for vacationers. However, just like any other trip, you’ll need to make proper preparations first before going there.
Getting yourself all prepped up for the vacation trip ensures everything will flow smoothly. Here are the essential things for you to pack for your Costa Rica vacations and travels.
Table of Contents
What are the Essentials to Bring to Costa Rica?
There are a lot of items that you’ll need to prepare first before heading out on a trip to Costa Rica. We hope you have a list ready, because this is going to be quite a long list. All items that will be presented in this section will have a summarized explanation of why they’re needed.
1. Passports and License
- Take note to bring your original passport with you when flying to another country. There will be no Costa Rica vacations taking place if you don’t bring your passport as it is required when you enter. Also, if you’re planning to rent a vehicle while visiting, make sure to have your original driver’s license.
2. Credit Card
- Bring only the credit cards that you will use for the vacation trip. You don’t have to bring all of your credit cards; maybe around one or two is enough. An additional note, notify your credit company first that you’ll be traveling to another country.
3. Return Flight Ticket
- The return flight ticket can come in either printed physically or saved to your phone. Bringing this ticket along with you ensures that you can leave the country without much problem once your vacation is over.
4. Clothes
- Costa Rica is a tropical country with no strict dress code; so comfortable and casual clothes are the best choices. For example, on beaches – you’d want to wear flip-flops, shorts, or maybe a tank top. Meanwhile, shirts, pants and any shoe of your liking when visiting cities.
- Make sure to bring a variety of clothing that suits the places you’ll visit. You’d want to be well-dressed for the tourist spots or Costa Rica beaches you’d stop by.
5. Bug Repellent
- Always bring bug repellent for your Costa Rica vacations and trips. Flying bugs in particular are a recurring nuisance in the country. Mosquitoes in particular since they carry diseases with them. Use bug repellents that are not DEET-based so you can keep the bugs away and not harm the environment at the same time.
6. Sunscreen
- You’d want to bring at least sunscreen with SPF 30 for the most part since Costa Rica is quite close to the equator. It can get very hot there. However, if you are prone to burning easily, bring stronger sunscreen with around SPF 50-70.
7. Medicine and Toiletries
- The good news for this one is that toiletries are easy to come by – shampoos, lotion, toothpaste, and the like can be purchased in stores. Basic medicines such as painkillers and flu medicines are a must bring too. You’d also want to bring tissues, face wipes, and face wash if you have them.
8. Rain Jackets
- If it so happens that your visit to Costa Rica takes place during their rainy season, a rain jacket is a must-bring. Ideally, you’d want a waterproofed rain jacket for the best results. Also, opt for jackets of the best quality; the one-time-use rain jackets just feel too wasteful.
9. Camera
- You should bring a camera when you travel to Costa Rica so you can capture or record your adventures. Alternatively, you can use the camera to capture the scenery and landmarks of the country. You can also use the said camera to capture the wildlife and nature of Costa Rica too if you’re into that.
- However, make sure you have the right accessories for your camera for the best experience.
10. Day Bag
- A day backpack is enough for everyday trips, sightseeing, and tours. There’s no need to lug around huge bags. Make sure to bring items such as snacks, water, a towel, spare clothes, and a camera.
These are your “must-have” items when packing for a trip to Costa Rica. If you’re having doubts about whether you’ve completed your packing, make a checklist of your packed items. Don’t forget to double-check your essentials even if you have completed your checklist.
To summarize…
Preparing for your Costa Rica trip takes a bit of setup. You’ve got to have the essential items ready to ensure a fun vacation experience. You’d want to also minimize any potential drawbacks. If you missed out on bringing any of these essentials, you might get yourself into an awkward situation.
FAQs
1. Is There a Dress Code in Costa Rica?
- No need to worry about the dress code in the country. They don’t follow a specific dress code. Feel free to wear clothes that you find comfortable. Take note to bring different clothes fitting for the various places you’ll head into.
2. Are There Any Items That I Should Not Pack For My Trip?
- There are a fair number of items that you’d want to not bring to your Costa Rican vacation. These are the following items:
- Expensive pieces of jewelry and accessories
- High heels and stilettos
- Luxury purses
- Rain Boots
- More than three credit cards
3. Should I Bring A Spanish Dictionary Or A Guide?
- A language dictionary isn’t the most essential item to have if you’ve already been to the country many times. However, if you’re coming to Costa Rica for the first time, then yes.
- Even though English is widely spoken in Costa Rica because of the country’s booming tourism industry; the locals also speak Spanish. It’s best that you know some Spanish words or phrases to understand them.
4. Are There Any Other Items That I Should Consider Bringing?
- Well, there are a fair few items that you could consider packing for your trip to Costa Rica. You’ll also get an explanation of why they’re necessary.
- First aid kits. Sometimes scrapes or any minor injuries are inevitable on overseas trips, especially if you happen to be doing a bit of nature trekking. Having a first aid kit on hand allows you to provide a bit of remedy to your injuries.
- Ziplock bags. If you’re bringing electronics along with you, then use Ziplock bags. It protects them from elements such as water and dust.
- Dryer sheets and laundry bag. You will need to have a means to properly place your used clothes. Laundry bags allow you to store them. Dryer sheets can be useful to prevent their stink from emitting out of your luggage.
- A bit of emergency lighting won’t hurt. You’d want to use a smaller travel flashlight in this case.
- Master lock. Very handy whenever your belongings are away from you because you’re doing an activity. This lock prevents people from accessing the items in your luggage.
5. When is the Best Month of the Year to go to Costa Rica?
- Vacationers seem to prefer going to Costa Rica during the parts of December and April. The weather during that time is at its brightest and driest. However, May to June or November aren’t bad options if you want to visit during a quieter part of the year.