What to pack for Costa Rica (and what to leave at home)

Costa Rica is warm, humid, sunny and occasionally very wet. You need less than you think - but a few specific things make a real difference.

The things people are always glad they brought

• Reef-safe sunscreen, high factor. You're near the equator. Buy it at home - it's expensive here.
• Strong insect repellent. The single most useful item in your bag, especially at dusk.
• A dry bag. For boat trips, waterfalls, kayaks and sudden downpours. Cheap, and endlessly handy.
• Water shoes or sturdy sandals. Rocky entries, river crossings, hot sand.
• A light rain jacket. Even in the dry season. Especially if you're going to a cloud forest.
• A refillable water bottle. Tap water is drinkable in most areas.
• A hat and real sunglasses. Shade is not always available.

Clothing

Light, quick-drying and casual. Costa Rica is an informal country and Guanacaste beach towns are barefoot-casual - you will not need smart clothes, and almost nobody dresses up for dinner.

• Swimwear (bring two - one is always wet).
• Shorts, t-shirts, a couple of light long-sleeved tops for sun and mosquitoes.
• One warm layer - genuinely needed for Monteverde, Arenal at night, or an early-morning volcano trip. The cloud forest is cold and people are always caught out.
• Long trousers for hiking and horse riding.
• Trainers or light hiking shoes if you're doing volcano parks or hanging bridges.

For tours and activities

• ATV, quad and horse tours - closed shoes, clothes you don't mind getting filthy, and a bandana or buff for dust in the dry season.
• Waterfalls and tubing - swimwear under your clothes, a towel, and that dry bag.
• River safaris and birdwatching - binoculars if you have them, and long sleeves for the sun on open water.
• Volcano parks - proper shoes, a warm layer, and rain protection whatever the forecast says.

Electronics and documents

• Plugs - Costa Rica uses the same two-flat-pin sockets as the US (110V). UK and EU travellers need an adapter.
• Phone - coverage is good in the towns, patchy in the backcountry. Download offline maps before you set off.
• Passport - carry a photo or copy day to day and leave the original in the safe.
• Cash - some dollars, some colones. Cards are widely accepted but not everywhere.

What to leave at home

• Smart clothes and heels. Nowhere you're going requires them.
• A hairdryer. Most hotels have one and the humidity will win anyway.
• Too many shoes. Sandals, trainers, and something you can get wet. That's it.
• Expensive jewellery. No upside, small downside.
• A drone - unless you've checked the rules for where you're going. Restrictions apply in national parks.

Green season extras

If you're visiting between May and November, add a decent rain jacket, a second pair of shoes (so one can dry), and a couple of extra dry bags. Mornings are usually bright; afternoons can be spectacular. Pack for both and you'll never think about it again.