We always bring a rain poncho, but I personally think an umbrella is a pain to carry around, especially in the jungle. Most of the places we've stayed have supplied them. We wear Keen's which are nice because they're quick dry and also bring running shoes. I've never found rubber boots to be comfortable, and they seem too hot to me, but if you're comfortable with them, that could work if they have good traction. I like something with a good tread since it can get slick.

Suggest you spend the extra money and invest in a good quality lightweight rainjacket. My wife and I bought Marmot's a couple of years ago for around $100 each and have been very happy ever since. They fold up into their own pocket to be very packable. They have hoods that could help eliminate the umbrella if necessary. We carry ours on every out-of-the country trip.

The inexpensive rain ponchos work great. I picked up a Marmot Precip for $55 on- line for last trip but for others I have used the poncho. There are great discount sites - I found a Marmot Precip for $55.

Keena are great for every day and we pretty much live in them. H20 and Venice or my current face - Whisper.

Hip, thanks for giving the names of the Keens you wear. I have been looking at them on line but there as so many choices. Volcanogirl what style do you wear?

We got our rain ponchos at Target - 10 bucks each. They kind of look like we're wearing big garbage bags, but they get the job done! It's nice to have the hoods.

M - yes there are a lot of choices and sometimes harder to find sale but check zappos, altrec, travel country, amazon, etc. Whisper came out last year and they are a little less clunky than the others n
but if you find a good sale any are good.

We just got back from CR yesterday, and the 2 days at Arenal it rained all day(did not see volcano at all). As far as footwear, I had hiking shoes and salomon techamphibians to wear and that was fine. A good raincoat is important as it wass very cool also. I would not bring an umbrella, it would be in the way.

Re: Keens, I travel with either a pair of H2Os or Venice Keens. The latter is a bit cooler but allows more little sticks and rocks in if you're hardcore hiking. I've tried the Whispers but they don't have enough support for me due to a history with plantar fasciitis (but my podiatrist loves the others). The only other footwear I take are a pair of good flipflops and sometimes my dive fins.

I agree that an investment in a good goretex jacket is worthwhile because they breathe and don't make you more wet from sweat than you would have been from rain. They can be spendy at 1st but wear well for years. Marmot Precips are nice - they change the model slightly every year and close out last year's models. Here are links to my favorite online sources for close-out gear:
www.rei-outlet.com
www.campmor.com
www.sierratradingpost.com

My rule of thumb for good quality brands (because they're not all created equal!) is that if REI sells it, it's a good quality item. They have incredible sales but sometimes the other resources above still beat them out.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone. Sounds like I should get a second pair of trail runners for back up. I was thinking of taking my spring/fall fleece jacket which I would often wear in wet weather when I worked at landscaping. It keeps you warm when wet, but how cool is cool in the hills? It's so hard to imagine how the weather feels. Maybe the fleece jacket would be way too hot? Coming from northern Ontario, Costa Rica will be summer like, but I hate being cold...much rather be too warm. lol
I might be over thinking this, but I wanted to bring just the right amount without weighing down my suitcase.

Monteverde was quite cold and rainy when we were there; we wore sweatshirts and fleece jackets at night, and our hotel had the fireplace going.

Hope you're planning to pack light. Great resource: www.onebag.com

I just returned and am ready to go back.....Monteverde can get cool, and it rained almost the entire time we were there. Nonstop is right about the jacket~I took my Columbia waterproof windbreaker; it's lightweight, easy to pack, and was warm enough over a longsleeved Tshirt. I wore my Keens which dried pretty quickly. Take clothing that dries quickly. Did the ziplining in Monteverde~what a blast!! Enjoy...

We hiked in our running shoes in Monteverde. When we left for our night hike, it was sunny, but it poured rain on us during the hike, and my shoes never got dry the entire time we were there. I had to pack them wet to come home. P.U.

OK, fleece jacket it is! They are so all purpose, I love mine. I was also considering my gators as another way of keeping my feet/legs protected from rain/muck. I mean they won't keep my feet perfectly dry, but will deflect water coming off a rain poncho. That's for that link hopeful...I love the challenge of packing efficiently.
I hope the weather is a bit less rainy when we get to CR. I see lots of rain in the present forecast. Aw well, I saw a video where they went to EcoTermales in the rain and it seemed wonderful.
Thanks again all!

Can't beat my Keen-Newport H2 shoes for wet weather. They dry like a dream even after being completely submerged. You can always wear hiking socks with the Keens for more warmth and comfort. I also have a pair of Chaco Zongs, but they are a sandal and might not be right for this trip.

I've worn light neoprene socks with my Keens a few times for high altitude hikes.

You have a lot of great advice here, but like you, I was 2 weeks away from CR with no raingear. Went on Cabela's excellent website and bot 2 of their packable nylon rain parkas - about $40 and they ship very fast. It rained a LOT when we were in CR and these wonderful jackets kept us dry and they dried off in the hotel room in no time. Plus they have pockets to hold keys while ziplining, river rafting, etc. My Tevas have seen me through Indonesia, Mexico, CR and allover the southwest U.S. They're 20 years old, but will be going with me again in July!

Why cant any of the rainwear be more fitted? Outdoor companies do this all the time and when they offer a shape other than a perfect rectangle all the reviews say, "i love that this isn't too boxy!" Hey, all you overpriced outdoor gear companies -- our bodies aren't shaped like the front door.

So when you charge us $100 for a piece of waterproof nylon with some zippers in the pits, it's not required that you make us look like amorphous blobs. Just needed to vent. (too bad there's no zipper for that).

My goretex jacket fits - they're out. The disadvantage is that there's no room under it for my day pack.

Take a second pair of amphibian hikers of some sort. That will do the trick.

Take a poncho and don't overthink this.

Pack light. Pack light. Pack light.

Other than wet feet, getting wet is just not that big a deal.

Also - our B&B in Monteverde washed all of our dirty clothes (for us and the kids) for $6. I'm sure we could have thrown in our tennis shoes if it had been necessary.

Great advice mom23...as well as everyone elses. I finally came to the conclusion that I was thinking too warm. Hey, I'm in northern Ontario. The things I thought I might bring for "cooler" temps are what I wore walking to church today at around 0 C/ 32F. Ok, that can't be right...lol. I finally decided to slim it down to a very thin jacket and one sweater, long sleeved shirt, my dollar store rain poncho, and two pairs of breathable trail hikers. That will just have to do! And yes, I'm trying to think light since we'll be spending two weeks in Tamarindo where I assume it's much warmer. The bulk of my packing will be computer/camera/snorkling gear :0

Great packlight site: www.onebag.com

This is great advice. Any changes you would make to this advice if travelling with 3 kids? I don't think they all need Keens but would water shoes or sandels be better for them? Ponchos for all. mom23rugrats, did you stay in B & B 's with your children or do some of the bigger hotels do laundry reasonalbly prices too?

I would stay away from the ponchos because they don't breathe, and sometimes it's hot and raining. We got good quality rain jackets for us (and our kids) and we all just wear them here too when it rains so it's not a waste.

I'm not a CR pro but love to hike and explore every summer when I visit CA. I wouldn't advise open toed sandals for traveling kids except maybe for beachy times and water shoes are often very thin soled and have limited support in terms of foot stability. Comfy tennies would work if you don't want to invest in Keens. Just my 2 cents' worth...