I am going to Costa Rica from November 18th - December 3rd and I was wondering what do I need to bring? I am driving the country from top to bottom so I will be in lots of differt areas of the country. Should I just bring what I wear in the states or should I go out and buy special clothes for this trip? I have read before that some people bring quick drying shirts and the pants that will zip in to shorts.I have no idea on what kid of shoes to bring or how many.What is the best bug repelent and what kind of sunscreen should I buy. I want to pack as lite as I can. Any advice as always is greatly appreciated. I am taking a journal with me so I can right down what I did and where I stayed so I can right you people a long report on all that I did. Thanks to this forum and all the people who wrote in.From all that I have read here the trip is going to be great Thanks Again for everything Matt

Hi Matt,
Don't go out shopping for special clothes for the trip unless you really want to, have extra cash, and think you'll have a need for them at another time.

When my husband and I went (for 2 weeks) we both brought two pairs of lightweight pants, two or three pairs of shorts, lots of t-shirts and tank tops, two long sleeve t-shirts, one sweatshirt, one lightweight rain jacket, one pair of flip flops, and either tennis shoes or lightweight hiking boots. Of course lots of socks and underwear, bathing suit, etc. As far as bug repellant, you can get "Off" which worked well for us at any Target store, and really any waterproof/sweatproof sunscreen should work. I would definitely recommend getting at least SPF 15. I also recommend bringing a bunch of large ziplock bags which are great for all sorts of things - wet bathing suits, leaky shampoo bottles, dirty clothes, etc. Bring some bandaids (liquid bandaids are great because they stay on when you swim), and maybe some neosporin or other antibacterial ointment just in case. I also brought some antibacterial hand wipes, and if you have a small pair of binoculars they come in pretty handy. Don't forget to bring a small backpack to carry stuff around with you during the day.

I put all of that stuff in a travel backpack and it wasn't too heavy.

We're leaving tomorrow to go back for another two weeks. Now I just have to figure out what to pack for my 17 month old!!!

Good luck and have a great time!!!

You will get a lot of rain. Bring a few portable ponchos and other rain gear.

The first time I went to Costa Rica I was bitten (twice), by a scorpion. I began to have an allegic reaction, and luckily the people we were staying with had some Benadryl. It's not available everywhere in Costa Rica and now I bring it with me when I go there. Luckily I haven't had to use it since.

Bring a small flashlight. The mini mag lites work well. It gets really dark after the sun goes down

Agree on the mini flashlight--it came in very handy several times on our short trip to CR.

Also, if you do plan to tromp around in the rain or cloud forests, lightweight, water resistent hiking boots with aggressive soles good for mud, wet leaves, etc. are very nice.

I agree with all the advice but you also might need a warmer jacket (like fleece) if you're going to the mountains. (We did last December. The Ticas also use umbrellas instead of rain gear alot.

My answer to the question: WHAT SHOULD I PACK???

I can pack everything I need for an extended trip into a carry-on sized bag by choosing clothes that layer. I have a carry-on sized conversion pack (straps tuck away as needed) that has an attached day pack. I pack valuables and some personal items in the day pack and most of the clothes (that I'm not wearing) in the main compartment. Here's what I took to Honduras to accommodate 2-3 weeks inland with high altitude mountain hikes included and 2-3 weeks of beach time:

3-4 wicking-type shirts
1 light weight long sleeved shirt
2 pairs of light weight convertible (zip off to become shorts) long pants
1 sarong (skirt, swim wrap, doubles as towel or sleeping sheet)
1 bandana and one silicon-neck-cooler bandana
1 sunhat with strap
1 light weight sleeveless nightgown
2 swimsuits
1 light weight fleece jacket (liner type that can be worn alone)
1 light weight goretex rain coat
uns and socks (incl. 1 neoprene pair I wear under Keens for hiking and under fins for diving/snorkel’g)
flip flops for beach and showers
Keen water shoes for everything else, including lots of light hiking (they have great support and a rubber toe protector); if you're planning hardcore hiking, take boots

Cash, ATM and VISA cards, passport, etc.
Flight and lodging reservations, emails, receipts, etc.
Small medical kit and sewing kit
Cheap watch with alarm
Toiletries and prescription meds
Sunglasses, spare glasses, disposable contacts for diving/rainforests
Sunblock and bug stuff (Cactus Juice and Sawyer's Time Release Deet Formula, baby oil for sand flies)
Water purification pump (I'm a budget traveller)
Collapsible drinking cup
LCD headlamp
Compass
Earplugs
Camera, etc. (and underwater bag or 1-2 underwater disposables)
Smallish waterproof binoculars
Guidebook and copied map pages
Laminated plant and animal i.d. cards
Journal/writing materials
Reading material and Spanish/English dictionary
Small gifts for kids and hosts
Small dice and yahtzee papers
A small, flexible disc (like a frisbee)
Various ziplocks, cable ties, small bungie cords
3-4’ of duct tape wrapped around a waterproof marker
String and a few clothespins or 3-4 feet of braided surgical tubing - great clothesline
Half a roll of t.p. removed from core and flattened

I buy water and reuse the bottle and usually pick up an inexpensive pocket knife when I get there. I like having my own snorkel and mask, but my husband joined me two weeks into the trip and brought them with him; he has to check luggage anyway because of his fishing poles.


-------------------------
¡Senderos felices! (Happy trails!)
hopefulist

Bring two pairs of closed-toed shoes. If you get one wet, you have a back-up. If you hike, one pair should be hiking shoes, the other can be tennis shoes. Do not wear open-toed shoes in the rainforest. If you do canyoning or boating, kayaking, shoes that can get wet are important. I love my Keen newports.

Bring a bug repellent w/ deet in a lotion form -- no spray cans allowed on planes. Lightweight long sleeves and pants give you protection from bugs and you might not even need your deet.

Plastic bags come in handy, and quick-drying clothes do too. A duffle bag is lighter than a suitcase. Oh, and bring something for cool nights.

Sandy

Sandy- I did not realize that spray bug repellants were not allowed on planes. Is this a relatively new rule? Or is it one that just applies to the CR carriers like Sansa and Nature Air? It's good to know, as I already bought the spray kind....