How to Pack for Your Costa Rica Vacation

Along with the travel accessories I always take on trips, there were a few items I found particularly useful on our recent trip to Costa Rica. Because of the adventurous activities in Costa Rica, these items are great to pack no matter when you visit. But a couple of these items are absolutely essential if you’re traveling during Costa Rica’s rainy season.

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Dry Bag

I can’t say enough good things about the Chaos Ready waterproof dry bag backpack. It was the best purchase I made for our trip. I thought I needed a dry bag to protect my camera equipment in case we got caught in the rain during a hike or an excursion, and this bag fit the bill. It was also the perfect bag to take to the beach, for whitewater rafting, and for galloping across a river on horseback.

I chose this bag because of the backpack straps, which many dry bags don’t have. The straps were comfortable to wear and made the bag convenient to carry during any activity. The 22-liter size was ideal—big enough to fit my camera, several phones, and some towels, but not so big as to be unwieldy. I also liked the outside pocket for quick access to credit cards and hotel keys and the mesh pockets for water bottles. If you’re going to purchase one thing for your Costa Rica vacation, this bag should be it.

Waterproof Phone Pouch

It seems silly to me now that I’d never purchased a waterproof phone pouch before, given all the beach vacations we’ve taken so far. These waterproof pouches allow you to take photos and video with your cellphone through a touch-sensitive plastic cover. At just $4.50 each, they’re a smart investment to protect your phone during water-related activities.

I read a number of reviews and opted for these Hiearcool pouches because they’re easy to open. You simply pop the latch on each side of the case. The one drawback is that it’s easy to get water inside the case when you’re taking your phone in and out, which lets condensation develop and can interfere with your pictures. So, be sure your phone is completely dry before placing it inside. I also liked that this pouch had a lanyard with a sturdy plastic clip. I saw too many horror stories in other product reviews about lanyards breaking and people’s phones sinking to the bottom of the ocean while they were swimming, snorkeling, or paddleboarding.

Water Shoes

If you don’t own a pair of good water shoes, I highly recommend you get some before your Costa Rica vacation. I recently purchased these Teva Verra sandals, and they were both comfortable and attractive. They dried quickly and were great for the beach, whitewater rafting, sightseeing, and short hikes. They were so versatile that I really didn’t need the pair of hiking boots that I lugged all the way from Atlanta. I could have gotten by with my sneakers, these sandals, and a pair of flip flops or two.

Rain Jacket

All of the resorts where we stayed in Costa Rica had umbrellas you could use, but we were glad we’d also brought our rain jackets on the trip. The jackets were key during our nighttime frog tour in Arenal when the rain drizzled through our entire walk. I was also glad I had my jacket one cloudy and windy afternoon in San Jose as I sat on an open-air patio at the Costa Rica Marriott. If you’re visiting during rainy season, and especially if you’re going to a wetter and higher elevation destination like the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, you’ll want a good rain jacket. Preferably, get one with a mesh liner and zippered vents for days when it’s hot and humid.

Clothesline

Before this trip, my mother told me I should add this clothesline to my list of travel accessories for every trip. I pooh-poohed her. I said, does anyone really need that? Don’t most beach resorts have clotheslines in their showers, and how many clothes are you really going to hang anyway? Well, if you’re going to Costa Rica, the answers to these questions are yes, no, and a lot. In Costa Rica, your clothes are going to get wet, either from rain or from your active excursions. For a family of four that potentially means four bathing suits, four t-shirts, four shorts, eight socks, and four rain jackets, hanging on every available space in your hotel bathroom. As I looked at my family’s wet clothes strewn about, I thought, “Yuck.” So, don’t make the same mistake I did, and bring one of these clotheslines with you.

Moisture-Wicking Clothes

Speaking of wet, nasty, smelly clothes, you should also bring plenty of quick-drying polyester-blend, moisture-wicking shirts, shorts, and beach coverups. Enough said. You’ll thank me later.

Sunscreen and Bug Spray

Costa Rica is near the equator, so even if you have some cloud cover during the rainy season, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are still going to get you. And if you’re visiting during the high season, then you’ll likely get sun, sun, and more sun. Sunscreen is expensive in Costa Rica, so stock up before you leave. We took a large bottle with us and had to buy more before we left. Bug spray is also a must and is expensive to buy there. Put plenty of that in your suitcase too.

I hope these suggestions help you as you pack for your Costa Rica vacation. Packing the right gear will save you money in the end and will make your trip even more enjoyable.

Need more advice about Costa Rica? Check out my articles about the Central Pacific coast and Arenal Volcano!