Can anyone reccommend a very good mosquitoe repellant? We will be in Costa Rica in August and I want to purchase the best that's available.

I live in Miami so I am much accustomed to using mosquito repellant (oh to live in quasi paradise). In any case, the nicest and most inexpensive one I've found are the ones from Avon. All of them are quite effective and do not leave a sticky feeling on you. Also, they have one that lasts about 8 hours and that is accurate. From what I've heard on this board though, I think that mosquitos are a greater plague here than in Costa. Good luck!

My son and I are magnets for those pesky insects. We went prepared with Deep Woods Off and Sawyer Maxi Deet. Plus we had some anti-itch lotions and sticks. In 7 days, we used the Off twice and nothing else. We went on hikes, etc. but it just wasn't as bad as we expected.

I'll add another. There is a product called Cactus Juice, actually found it first in CR, but it can be found in stores in the US. And online http://www.cactusjuicetm.com/. It is a natural product.

And since I am alergic to Deet, I always recommend trying your repellent before your trip.

From many many trips to remote Canada I can tell you nothing is better than Muskol in the pump bottle, it's 100% deet! If your serious about keeping the bugs away this is the only way to go.

A little side note .... Anything stronger than 10% Deet is not recomended for kids under 10 . Cactus Juice is great stuff , you can even order it on-line . I do live in the Great White North , and use absolutely no Deet products . Faith .

I only got bit by one mosquito and that was at the ARenal Observatory Lodge in Arenal. Now this pesky mosquito managed to fly UNDER my clothes, and bit me on the thigh, where I wouldn't have been wearing any DEET anyway, as the label says don't apply it under your clothes! ( I was wearing loose-fitting capri pants.)
I didn't end up using any mosquito repellant in Arenal, Manual Antonio and Monteverde because that was the only bite I received. I did wear long sleeves in the evening when we went outdoors.

I too am from Canada, Saskatchewan specifically, Land of the Living Skies and the Prehistoric Pterodactyl-Skeeters! I am also allergic to deet and have just checked out the catcus juice website and will be ordering some to give it a try. I am going to Mexico this winter and am wondering what the skeeter situation is like down there....

We always use Muskol [we're Canadians as well.....] and find it very effective.

Honestly on 6 or 7 visits to CR we have never had a major mosquito problem. Our most recent trip last January we spent considerable time in the Caribbean lowlands and used a touch of Muskol once or twice.

Jerry

Cutter Advanced is now available in the U.S. Deet free,new active ingredient is Picaridan. website is www.cutteradvanced.com

Muskol is safer than DEET but I would not want to experiment on a trip of less than 7-10 days.
Therefore, I use Ben's DEET. Yes, it is 90% DEET but over a limited period I have never read in threads where mosquitos are a problem that it has side affects other than a minor rash that disappears when you stop using it. I shower each morning taking off the prior night's application and re-apply so it does not build up.
I agree that for children under age 10-12, Deep Woods OFF is better but the child may get a few bites and an itch stick, which is amonia, can be applied, carefully. Hope this helps.

We've had good luck with both the Avon products (Skin So Soft) as well as a product available at discount stores such as Wal-Mart called Ultrathon. I first heard of it on Fodor's and it is very effective--about 28% DEET.

Based on a now >2 year old article in Consumer Reports, we used Ultrathon in Panama's Darien and avoided the swarming bees which attacked others. Had no mosquito bites there nor in Costa Rica.
Used it in the spring/summer of '03, but still got West Nile virus (the bugger was in the house and bit my butt while I slept).
M

I was under the impression that over 50% deet is unadvisable & unnecessary - at least I remember reading that somewhere.

Well , They make reminders on the news never to use stronger than 10% on kids under 10yrs. Must be for a reason ? I would be far too afraid to use anything stronger , especially on my kids . We use the off Naturals which works great here in skeeter land !!!

Mikemo, I was thinking it was you who first recommended Ultrathon on Fodors. Thanks--it sure worked for us!

Faithie, we put something on Isabelle (she was 6 months) that I had purchased at BabiesRUs. It had citronella, which, I've heard, isn't very effective. I just know she was almost bite free. Really, we just have never had much of a problem with mosquitoes anywhere in CR. We used the Avon products on her as well.

Like you, we have more problems here in Oklahoma and Texas than we've ever seen there.

Any further discussion on this topic? Am considering a trip to Nicaragua next year and would need a top notch repellant .... reading about Nica in Footprint guide and they strongly suggest mosquito bite avoidance.

In Australia in the deep north they use Bushmans, it is very effective for mosquitoes and (the more annoying) sandflies. It has the added advantage of not stinking !!!