What are people's experiences with luggage allowance on internal flights? We went to Costa Rica last year but all our travel was on interbus so didn't need to worry about luggage allowance. This time we plan to meet MA and Osa so will be taking local flights and it seems they can be strict about luggage weight.

What are people's experiences? Is it worth risking being a bit overweight luggage wise - and what happens if they say our luggage is too heavy: is there somewhere we can leave the luggage until we return? (Not that convenient as we are intending to travel by interbus to Tamarindo from MA). I can travel fairly light but not sure I'll be able to stick to 25 lbs.

Help please!

The internal flights have a checked luggage weight limit of 25 lbs. If you are slightly over, they usually will still allow it. Any luggage that is really overweight will not be allowed. All our luggage met the criteria so don't know what to do with excess baggage. Maybe you can leave the luggage with the hotel you will be staying with in Tamarindo.

thanks for the reply - didn't actually use that much stuff when in CR last time but still seemed to have quite heavy bags! Maybe it's just the thought of having a restricted allowance. Will have to be disciplined when packing I guess....

I am the worst overpacker & yet was able to come in under the 25 lb cut-off. You can do it too! First thing, use a duffle bag instead of the rolling type, that saves you a lot of weight right there. It is so casual everywhere that shorts, t-shirts, pr of pants will get you by fine. Also remember that many hotels have an unexpensive laundry service which can cut down on the amount of clothes you need to bring.

My experience from SJO to Quepos & back (on Sansa) was that they did weigh everyone & their bags. One couple who had 2 very large bags each were made to wait aside til the last minute to see if they got on or not. They might be able to send your bag over on a later flight but then again, maybe not. Anyway, I thought there was no way I could pack that light & I did, but still had everything I needed/wanted. Good luck!!

that would be inexpensive, lol

Truthfully, I feel you will be surprised at how light you can travel.

If you have to stay in SJ for the first and last nights, then think about staying at the same place, so that you can store luggage. Yes there are storage lockers across the highway near the Hampton Inn, however I have not used them. But no, there is not someplace there at the terminal to store any excess luggage.

First consider what you are packing in, a roll around bag weighs much more than a duffle bag. Actually I was very surprised at how much those wheeling bags do weigh.

On Sansa they asked for our weight, which we added the weight of our backpack to our actual weight. Remember to be honest about weight, because it is for your safety. Sansa only weighed our checked bag.

Nature Air, weighs your checked bag. But also weighs you, with your carry ons.

Every flight can differ, you could be on full flights or near empty flights. Therefore they could be strict or lenient according to the fullness of your particular flight.

Many people report they were able to pay the extra.

We always stay under the 25, this year we were in the Osa for 7 days, each of us had around 18 lbs in our checked duffle + a backpack each. Do a dry run on your packing, you should see you really can get by under 25 lbs.

THanks everyone - think I'm convinced I can do it - just tend to add things (toiletries and stuff) 'just in case'. Will try the dry run suggestion.

Dfarmer - notice you'd spent 7 nights in the Osa - we were planning 5 (and 5 in MA). Do you think this is enough? We are lucky and have plenty of time to play with so can stay longer.

Our provisional choice for accommodation is Delfin Amor in Osa and Mono Azul in MA - any comments?

Is 5 nights enough? I am not sure that a month would be enough!! We flew into Puerto Jeminez and stayed 4 nights at Bosque del Cabo and 2 nights at the Iguana Lodge. I notice that you are headed to the Drake Bay area.

But yes, I think 5 nights each, will be nice.

As for toiletries and stuff - well I probably go a little overboard in thinking out the packing - But every ounce counts. My first attempt at packing under 25 lbs, I used a postage scale and literally weighed everything! I simply had no concept of weight. For example, I rolled up my husbands shirts and put them on the scale, only the lightest ones made the cut. And my favorite pair of denim shorts, well they weigh far more than a couple of pair of lightweight khaki shorts.

I do not carry any full containers, bottles of anything, only carrying amounts that I will use while traveling. I use all those little travel bottles, containers and even those 35mm film containers. This will sound really dumb to some of you, but I go as far as - for ex. if we will travel for 10 nights then I will probably shampoo my hair 20 times, so I squeeze out 20 shots of shampoo into a bottle and it does weigh much less than that full bottle of shampoo! I really don't want to lug around unneeded weight.

Honestly until you start experiencing the restrictive weight limits, you really never consider what you are carrying. Not carrying all the extra stuff sure has made it so much easier to travel!

WELL that got long! And probably has some laughing!

Oh, Mono Azul - not sure if Faithie is following this post, but she has neices that just returned from a stay there. You might post a separate question and maybe she will pick it up. We met the owners and had lunch there once and enjoyed the place.

Have a great trip!

thanks dfarmer - I have done the shampoo thing before too so we would get along fine! Need to think about heavy weight/ light weight shorts and pants I guess!

Now confused about Osa - checked out Iguana lodge and looks great. Could we include a few days there as well - not sure logistics of travelling there from Drake Bay. Would you recommend it?

Will write separate post about MA in the hope Faithie sees it.

You've been very helpful - thanks

You are very welcome!

Saw the post where you decided on sticking with your orginal idea.

Have a great trip!