This is an example of items you should consider packing when coming to Costa Rica. Even if you are coming during the dry season, you should bring a couple of rain gear items, at least an umbrella or a rain coat. (We say if you bring them, there is less chances it will not rain on you…!)
- Clothing & Shoes:
Weather in the tropics is unpredictable and rain is always a possibility. They don’t call it the “rainforest” for nothing! Temperatures change very little with the time of year in Costa Rica and while it will be warm during the daytime, evenings can be cool. As such, lightweight, fast drying clothes are best, as are clothes you can layer. Bring warm weather gear for the day activities and a mid-weight fleece or sweater for the evening. No suits or ties are needed.
City Clothes:
- 1-2 pair slacks, skirts or leggings
- 3-4 wash and wear (cotton/polyester) shirts, blouses, tank tops, etc.
- 2 pair cotton shorts
- flannel shirt or medium weight sweater
- 3 pair socks
- undergarments
- 1-2 swimsuits for hotel pools, rafting and beach.
- scrunchable hat
Shoes:
- Teva-style sandals or/and tennis shoes that can get wet (for white water rafting and canoeing)
- If you bring only one all purpose shoe for bicycling and walking, then bring a pair of sandals or other shoes to give your feet a rest.
- Biking Gear– Here's what your bike will have: rear rack, pump, patch kit, spare tube, cable lock, toe cages (optional), cyclometer, two water bottle cages and a water bottle.
Here are items you SHOULD bring:
- Helmet – Helmets are required on tour. Please bring yours.
- A second water bottle or hydration system – We'll give you one bottle on the first day of the tour.
- Sunglasses – Bring some good-quality eye protection. We suggest sunglasses with interchangeable lenses or else another pair with amber or yellow lenses; very helpful on cloudy days.
Here are items you MAY want to bring:
- Cycling gloves
- Your own bike seat (only if you are particularly attached to it; don't bring the seat post
- Small tool kit – optional, but useful if you know what to do with it
- Small rag for chain grease (ever wonder why cyclists wear black shorts?)
Cycling Clothes & shoes:
- 2-3 pair lycra or other padded cycling shorts
- 2-3 lycra or CoolMax t-shirts and/or cycling jerseys
- 1 long-sleeved, poly-pro shirt or t-shirt, or lightweight jersey for layering
- cycling socks
- water-resistant wind breaker
- Cycling shoes (bring your clipless shoes and pedals if you like), touring shoes or thick-soled tennis shoes for biking (DO NOT BRING NEW SHOES: break them in now!)
- Hiking Portion:
Clothes & shoes:
- 1 pair lightweight slacks, zip off pant legs offer the best of both worlds!
- 1 pair shorts
- 2 wash and wear shirts
- 1-2 pair socks for walking, not cotton – wool blends are great
- water-resistant wind breaker
- Lightweight hiking shoes (DO NOT BRING NEW SHOES: break them in now!)
Note: You should not hike in the rainforest in sandals.
Other equipment:
- Day pack or large fanny pack, for rain jacket, water, camera, snacks, misc. items.
- Collapsible trekking poles-these must fit inside luggage due to new airport security rules. (Optional)
- Binoculars (optional, but highly recommended for wildlife viewing)
- Small Umbrella – can be more useful than a rain jacket in the tropics. (Optional)
- Rafting and Canoeing Gear:
- 1 swimsuit
- 1 strap to keep sun or prescription glasses in place
- Don’t forget your water shoes, tevas or old tennis shoes
- Cosmetics, toiletries, medications, and sundry items:
- A back-up pair of contact lenses or glasses (you never know!)
- sunblock or sunscreen SPF 30 or higher
- lip balm with SPF 30 or higher
- liquid soap or baggie of Woolite for your clothes (some hotels do piece laundry, but there are not many laundromats in Costa Rica. Also, it can be extremely humid in/near the rainforest. This is not the best place to try and dry out your laundry.
- plastic bag for damp swimsuit or laundry
- deodorant, toothpaste, brush, comb, etc.
- shaving materials (for those who indulge)
- insect repellent (bugs are not a problem but mosquitoes are sneaky)
- allergy medicine for pollen or bee stings
- Kaopectate tablets or equivalent
- aspirin, Tylenol, or the like
- Miscellaneous (optional):
- small calculator (for ease in figuring currency exchanges)
- travel alarm
- camera with film or digital camera storage cards
- small pocket knife and spoon for picnicking
- small reading light/flash light
If you have suggestions for this packing list, that you want to share with others, send us an e-mail. |
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Activities with Children in the Town of La FortunaThe offices of Destino Tropical are open to a group of kids from a lower income neighborhood in our town.  In the afternoons, after school, they use some of our computers to learn basic English and play games to develop their math and logical thinking...
Sea Turtles in OstionalHelp the community of Ostional protect its population of Olive Ridley sea turtles on the Pacific coast. Turtle nesting season starts in July.
Humpback whales in the South Pacific CoastHumpback whales migrate to the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica to give birth and take care of their offsprins during their first few weeks of life. This happens in an area between Caño Island, Drake Bay and Ballena National Park
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