What to pack for Costa Rica?

I'm not sure where you're going, but I would definitely suggest that each of you have a flashlight. They really do come in handy pretty much everywhere. It's dark there!

We take the small, LED flashlights that weigh almost nothing -- but they're bright.

Where we're going probably would have been helpful info... sorry!

We're doing Arenal, Monteverde and Manual Antonio.

Do you have a pair of those quick drying hiking pants (the ones that zip off to make shorts)? Those are perfect for trips to CR.

I would bring some kind of water shoes like Keen's that will dry quickly in addition to the running shoes. When we were in Monteverde, our shoes got soaked and never dried. I also bring a couple of plastic bags to carry wet things in just in case. Also works for muddy shoes. We bring headlamps which are nice because they can be hands free or you can carry them like a flashlight. We like the weekender convertible bags from www.ebags.com. I don't know what an anorak is, but we usually bring a rain poncho and a sweatshirt, so perhaps that takes the place of those two things. Monteverde was very cold and rainy when we were there; MA was extremely hot. Arenal was temperate. Sounds like a great trip!

Don't have any quick-dry hiking pants yet, but they're now on the list!

For people who wear Keen's, which ones do you like for hiking in?

A poncho is a smart idea! An anorak is basically a waterproof jacket with a warm, sweatshirt-like interior.

Ditch the jeans and "going out" shirts. Too heavy, not comfortable, and completely unnecessary.

I'd substitute in lightweight nylon or nylon/cotton blend outdoors pants, preferably the zip-off kind.

Your rafting guides should have wetbags. I'm not sure what you'd bring with on the raft that you'd need to keep in the bag to begin with.

I'd recommend something with better traction and ankle support for hiking than old running shoes. Waterproof hiking boots would be better.

I'd go for a lightweight windbreaker instead of a heavier Anorak.

shutter, we got some nice ponchos online at Target for about 10 bucks; they fold up into a small pouch so easy to pack. Personally, I wouldn't bother bringing jeans - impossible to get dry in a wet climate.

If your goal is to pack super light, I'd also recommend just bringing a pair of Salomon Tech Amphibian shoes (or something like that -- as someone said above, these have a bit more support) and a pair of flip flops for around your hotel room, etc. And that's it.

Wear the Salomons on the plane, pack the flip flops. Wear the Salomons when you go out, etc -- if you get black or dark ones, they'll go with everything -- and they dry really fast. They're sort of like athletic shoes but they're made of mesh -- so they dry really fast, but they provide more ankle support.

Most people would say go sockless with these, but if you plan on doing a lot of hiking and you haven't broken them in, maybe pick up a pair or two of ankle length athletic socks -- the kind that wick away moisture. Made mostly of synthetics so they dry quickly and are also super light.

For Keens I replaced my Venice style with Whisper last trip and LOVED them. Lightweight and gripping. Salomon Tech's are good too for more of a tennis shoe style. Admittedly, I run kind of hot, but in 2 months I think you will need cooler clothes more than long sleeves and jackets, so just make sure you take enough shorts and tanks. Agree, no jeans. For bug spray I used at least 30% DEET, otherwise I'm a bug magnet. I found a lotion form last year I really liked as it stayed on well and didn't smell so bad, but the spray is easier.

Good sites for sales - travelcountry, campmoor, sierratradingpost, zappos, reioutlet, altrec

I wouldn't recommend shoes for rainforest hiking if they have holes big enough for army ants to crawl through. Or big enough for bullet ants to bite you through.

I got my Keen's at REI; I wish I could remember the descriptor, but I don't. My husband has the Solomon Techs. I'd pack shorts and tank tops for MA. Most everywhere else I just wear capri pants. If you're going to zipline at all, wear something long so your shorts don't give you a Britney moment. I think you'd be fine to bring one long-sleeved top and one long pair of pants. Agree that you don't need anything fancy for going out - CR is very casual so if you want to pack light, it's okay to drop those. We bought our mosquito repellent at REI too; they had little travel size spray bottles that were very handy. Agree with hip, DEET works best for us.

Er, make that "big enough for bullet ants to sting you through." Some places won't let you hike on their property without closed top shoes.

RAC - True, but even more important don't stop in their path! They can quickly crawl to your ankles and start biting, ouch! I've hiked all over in Keen's and the only time I was bitten was when stopping to take a picture was more important than looking where I was standing. Doh! tully knows.

Hip:

It doesn't hurt to be doubly cautious. It's rarely the ones you see that get you.

There's also the whole issue of snakes. The guidebooks tell people that they won't see a venomous snake in the wild.

Which is kind of true. I didn't see this little guy:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31267353@N03/3312367178/

until I almost stepped on him.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31267353@N03/3308909777/in/set-72157614425822344/

Yep, that's a fer-de-lance. So, my advice is going to bend strongly towards the cautious side.

This issue of venomous snakes seems to be coming up a lot lately. I think I'm going to start opting for the knee-high rubber boots!

We wear our running shoes for hiking and Keen's for the beach and or wet environments.

Scary, RAC - even after I knew there was a snake in the first pictures, it still took me a while to spot it!

It seems different things work for different people as far as footwear goes: Running shoes, Keen-type shoes, or hiking boots are the popular options. I'd rather not get bit by any snakes (yikes, RAC!), so I guess we'll have to figure that one out.

Alright, so no jeans. No point if they're just going to be wet the whole time! What did you guys wear out to dinner at night?

shutterbug - No need to bring converters for battery chargers as CR uses the same voltage as the US.

For mozzie repellent, I prefer picaridin over DEET especially against no-see-ums.

When I was in San Jose, I tended to wear pants to dinner, nothing fancy, but I did bring along a pair that look like khakis only half the weight, less prone to wrinkling and amazingly quick dry. They were "dressier" in that they didn't have the zippered thigh pockets most quick dry pants come with (and for good reason).

But when I was at Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio, I wore shorts or capris to dinner.

As for shoes, I've brought all three: hiking shoes, water shoes and flip flops. Mine are light hiking shoes in the sense that they weighed considerably less than many pairs I tried on and they don't cover the ankles completely. The ankle protection may be the deciding factor for you. I went hiking a lot, so for me the hiking shoes were a necessary item. But I did hike through a river once (there was no way to go around it nor was there a shallower area available to cross) and I had to toss my shoes into a dryer back in SJ so that I could wear them home. Two days later.

Water shoes were important as I went rafting every chance I could. And they do dry much, much faster. But the only time they doubled as hiking shoes was the time I visited MA national park where the trail was level and I didn't need the traction or protection of my hiking boots.

And yes, it takes ants a wee second longer to bite through or run up and bite through hiking boots than water shoes. I was bitten while wearing flip flops peering into the bushes at a gray tree frog. Consequently, I brought along a sturdy hiking stick on my next few hikes and pole-vaulted over ant trails - I'll never know what I missed by way of photo ops.

You can wear anything to dinner, seriously. I brought a pair of heels on our first trip, and wow, was that impractical! I usually wear capri pants to dinner. My girly slide slips away somewhat in CR. Back home, I do my hair, wear makeup, etc. By the end of my CR trips, I've usually just slipped into nature girl mode. When we went to the Osa, makeup just slid off, so I gave it up. Also couldn't use a blow dryer there. I think I was almost unrecognizable by the end of the trip, but it was kind of fun!

Binoculars are a "must have" item for me. Most guides will have a scope, but I still want my own.

I take a combo of Dunham light hikers (thanks to Pat Hewitt for that tip on Joe's New Balance Store), Keens and water sandals. Only places I've been that required closed shoes/boots were La Selva and Tirimbina. RAC - glad I missed your snake at Tirimbina - or maybe I walked right past it!

I'm trying to decide on a daypack right now. I bought both the Rick Steves Civita and the Magellan Daytripper - can't make up my mind and am packing this weekend! (Yes shillmac, Enrique's socks are in the bag for Rancho N.!)

Binoculars are indeed a must. For dinner, really almost anything goes unless you're going somewhere fancy. Clean hiking pants and either a short sleeve or a long sleeve top is just fine. If you're near the beach shorts and a t-shirt are probably okay.

Yes, binoculars are a must - good catch!

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/weekender_convertible/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15026 is the link to the bag I mentioned. I got the recommendation on this board, and several of us have them.

vgirl - thanks for the link. I want one now, dang it.

My husband loves his Salomon Tech Amphibians but my podiatrist strongly suggested I throw mine out as they offer much less support for my feet than my Keens. The Keens have a really comfortable footbed (at least for me) but it's much stiffer. The Salomons are really soft and bendy which makes them a bad choice for anyone worried about foot injuries, especially if they already suffer from plantar fasciitis or other foot strain. I slip less in Keens than Salomons, too, but that might just be me.

I live in Keens and take either H2Os or Venice ones. I've tried on the Whispers but they don't have as much arch support so weren't as comfortable for me. With sandals (unlike amphibious shoes) you'll pick up the occasional rock or stick which can be irritating to some; hasn't really bothered me.

My CA packing list is #14 on the FAQ thread of the Thorntree Forum. Have a great trip!
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=828622&tstart=0

hopefulist, thanks for the insider info on the Salomons vs Keens debate. I guess I should reconsider my Salomons. I just wished Keens covered more of your feet, darn it! I do feel a bit more protected in my Salomons, but I'll look at the Keens options again. I have a pair that I got on eBay which I took on our first trip, but then really didn't end up wearing them. Maybe I need to give them another try.

It's just a matter of personal choice - no pressure. The Merrell Aquasports are another choice if you want to go out and buy something new - they're an amphibious shoe similar to the Salomons but even bendier.

Spending more money is the one thing I do not need to be doing right now! I'll play around with the Keens I have and see if I can rekindle a relationship

hopefulist - I agree with you on the support with the Keen styles. I actually put my Venice on the other day and I still love them. The Whisper's just really mold to my feet (bendier) and I felt really confident whilst climbing among rocks and rough terrain, sort of like bare feet only better! For anyone I guess it's best to go to the store rather than buy on-line if you don't know what works.

E, I think you'd really like it. It converted me from a 50-pound packer to a 22-pound packer. My husband was pretty stoked!

Hopefulist and hip - you are so right on the Salomon Techamphibians. I had plantars fasciitis for two years, absolutely miserable. Even with custom orthotics my Salomon's didn't offer the support I needed. I tried out Keen's (Newport H2O's) and love them, have three pair that I live in year round, have ditched the orthotics, the cortisone, the splint - and the Salomon's!!

Hey! Good to know I'm not alone!

hopefulist - Thanks for the info on Keens v. Salomans... I'm suffering from plantar fasciitis right now, actually. My feet are prone to strains. And thanks for the packing list! Very helpful!

volcanogirl - Thanks for the link! That pack looks great!

Thanks everyone for all the input... I feel like I've got a better handle on it now! (I might come back with more questions, though!) : )

All we ask is for in return is a travelogue.

It is, shutter - you'll be amazed at how much you can cram in there!

Hmmm...I'm really not as stupid as my posts sound. At least I hope I'm not...

A few more notes. Shutterbug - has anyone talked to you about the importance of stretching out your thighs and calves if you have plantar fasciitis? I struggled with it for a long time (can be so painful!) until I realized that if I systematically stretched the instant I got out of bed in the morning (3-5 minutes worth, not 30 seconds), my problem disappeared. Hope that helps you, too.

My brother and sister-in-law traveled with us to Belize last summer and had the week-ender bags volcanogirl uses. I was really impressed with them - nicely thought out and organized, nice to have color options to spot them easily on buses and in airports. Only downside (and it probably wouldn't be a downside for most people) is the suspension system isn't like a backpacking backpack - the waist belt and the form of the back of the bag in particular. They had to be careful how they packed (what was on the bottom as they packed and against their back when they wore it) or they were uncomfortable to wear for very long. I'm spoiled that way with my Columbia Pakmandu conversion pack (it's old - I don't think they don't make them anymore) but it doesn't have the organization features the week-ender offers.

Man - I DO think they don't make them or I don't think they DO make them.....

LOL! hopefulist, you never sound stupid!

I have the weekender too and love it. My daughter uses it when we go and she uses it for all sorts of other trips too.

hopefulist - I'd been told stretching more would help, and also to massage the bottom of my foot. So far it seems to be helping! Thanks for the input - I was stretching before bed, but I need to make more time to stretch in the morning.

Thanks to all about the pack recs... I'll be looking into it this week and hopefully getting it ordered! : )

I will definitely post a trip review when we get back!

I think most travelers don't actually wear their pack much but if you think you might, be sure to stuff and weight the pack and wear it around before deciding to keep it. If anyone is in the market for a really great travel conversion pack with a backpacker suspension system, check this out:

http://www.rei.com/product/786932

I have more than a dozen relatives and friends with these and they're pretty amazing - durable, well thought out, and a great value.

Enjoyed reading everyones suggestions and having returned from 2 weeks in CR I agree with all. Important to remember you WILL be wet and its hard to dry out so make sure to bring change of everything. Also recommend bringing ziplock baggies for keeping passport/underwear dry. It is NOT comfortable wearing damp stuff! Enjoy the trip.

Great suggestion on the ziplocks for underwear!

I ordered the Weekender bag from eBags and it should be here on Monday or Tuesday! The plan is to put weight in it and try it out. I think I'll like it though!

Also ordered the packing cubes and will experiment with those as well.

Thanks to everyone again! So excited!

As a long ago convert to the weekender convertible bag, just want to add that I packed that sucker full for a 10 day trip to Central Europe a few weeks ago - and it still only weighed 19 lbs total. And there were things I could have left out!! You should be much lighter for the tropics.

Husband and felt so smug with our little ebag carryons. ..
Friends each had bigger rollaboards - feared one might have a hernia when he had to hoist the larger rollaboard onto high luggage shelf on train ..

Same with us. On our last trip, our driver asked where our luggage was, and we pointed at our two weekender bags. He said, "Wow you guys are easy!"

Packing light has often meant I could keep my bag with me on chicken buses instead of having it on top with the bags of onions or in the back where it's equally hard to watch. Last summer in Belize our extended family group could easily fit 9 of us in a 12 seat van because no one had more than a carry-on - our drivers went on and on about that. As Rick Steves says, 'You'll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags: "Every year I pack heavier." The measure of a good traveler is how light she travels. You can't travel heavy, happy, and cheap. Pick two.'
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlight.htm
http://www.onebag.com

I also wanted to add that I usually travel for 4 or 5 weeks at a time and pack basically the same things for a month as I would for a week or 6 months on the road.

Crocs! I remember trying to walk on the sidewalk in a torrential downpour and I couldn't keep my flip flops on my feet. Crocs with the little strap in back would have been perfect. They will be good all purpose shoes for beach, pool etc and they are extemely light.

You must take binoculars! Beautiful birds and monkeys in the trees! Jeans may be too hot. Take casual pants that are light weight. Take one of those very paper thin plastic rain poncho's. When it rains, it rains really hard.

Just wanted to give a quick update...

I bought a pair of Keen's! Whisper in black. I put them on when I got home from work the night they came in and didn't want to take them off, they are so comfortable.

I also got a Weekender bag. I'm really happy with it too!

This weekend we're going to get quick-dry clothes. Should be fun!

Thanks again for all the help!