Travel and Beyond

Costa Rican Vacation

What should you pack, now that you’ve decided to take a Costa Rican Vacation? To a great extent what you bring depends on what you plan to do and what your personal preferences are.

To give you an idea of what you might want to have along, I’ll let you take a peek at what I pack in my suitcase for my Costa Rican vacation.

Ideally you want to travel as light as possible, without sacrificing comfort. A carry-on suitcase and a weekend bag or backpack are ideal. This saves waiting at the baggage carousel on arrival and prevents luggage from being misdirected. The suitcase can be stored if necessary and the smaller bag used for short trips. If you are using public transportation, having one bag is very convenient and easier to look after. If you are planning on renting a vehicle an extra piece of luggage won’t matter as much. We’ve always brought one large suitcase as well , to carry back our souvenirs and organic coffee as well as those items that may not be brought on board for security reasons…scissors, pocket knives, cork screws etc.

There are several climatic zones in Costa Rica and we’ve had occasional torrential downpours on each of our vacations, both in the dry and rainy season. A light waterproof or Gore-Tex jacket is useful for the rain, as well as to use with layers if the weather is cool or if you are up in the mountains. You might also want to bring a hat for protection from the sun.

We bring sandals, flip flops for the beach, and one pair of walking shoes to either protect our feet in rough terrain or from animals and insects hiding in the grass.

I like to bring clothes that fit comfortably with large and deep pockets for carrying my wallet, digital camera and personal items. The lighter the fabric, the sooner the clothes are dry if you give them quick wash. A purse that folds flat in the suitcase comes in handy for shopping trips.

I pack a couple of old washcloths in zip lock bags and towels for at the beach or cabina and just leave them behind if I want to, at the end of our vacation. Besides our favorite toiletries, we also bring a universal sink plug, antibacterial soap, vitamins, Acidophilus, sunscreen, aloe vera gel, insect repellent, and Apis gel to deal with insect bites should they occur. A small first-aid kit with Tylenol, homeopathic remedies and extra band-aids comes along too.

If you have prescription medications I’d recommend bringing extra amounts and carrying them separately, should you accidentally lose your your original set. You might not be able to obtain the same product in Costa Rica if you need to, or it might be inconvenient or impossible to locate a pharmacy in your location.

Besides a travel alarm, camera, binoculars, and maps, we each also bring a flashlight and a different Costa Rican travel guide. If you want your blow dryer or electric razor along, they need to be 110V.

To enjoy on the plane or while waiting at the airport, we like to bring muffins, trail mix, and a good book or an MP3 player.

While I don’t imagine I’ve mentioned every last item you should bring, if you remember your swim suit, Passport, tickets, address book, travel visa ( if you need one), credit and debit cards, you should be off to a good start.

Please leave a comment if you have a suggestion, or found this information helpful.

Thank you.

Enjoy your Costa Rican Vacation!