Life is a Journey of Escapes is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Traveling to Costa Rica is one of the best experiences for a woman over 50 because it’s a land of natural beauty, with endless opportunities for adventure.
This island nation also offers numerous fun and memorable activities, including white-water rafting, zip-lining, hiking, biking, sailing, scuba diving, shopping, and unique cultural events.
Check out our Costa Rica packing list below if you’re unsure what to bring to this tropical paradise.
From waterproof phone cases to long-sleeved rash guards, surely, you’ll have everything you need for the trip. We’ll also provide you with a list of things you should consider leaving behind.
Essential Things to Pack
The outdoors in Costa Rica is a wonderful thing. Whether you’re exploring the mountains and jungles, taking a hike, or just hanging out with family and friends, there is always something to do. Your Costa Rica trip will certainly be stress-free when you have brought all the essential things you need for your adventure.
Check out our guide of essential things to bring to help you get on with your packing!
1. Universal Waterproof Phone Case
With the adventures and outdoor activities you plan to do in Costa Rica, it’s no surprise that your phone will need protection. Protect your phone with this universal-fit case that keeps your device safe from changing temperatures, water, and scratches.
This waterproof phone case ensures that your phone’s safe from any harm or accident that could happen when you’re out there enjoying your adventure in Costa Rica.
2. Face Masks
With the pandemic, Costa Rica requires everyone to wear face masks. This is regardless of whether you are fully vaccinated or not. Wearing face masks is required in enclosed spaces such as the following:
- Airports
- Supermarkets
- Convenience stores
- Churches
- Movie theaters
- Banks and offices
- Common areas in hotels
Public transportations such as buses, taxis, trains, and shuttles also require passengers to wear a face mask. For adventure parks, you need to wear your face masks when you’re in the common area or when speaking with the staff or other guests.
3. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are your lifesavers with packing. They ensure that you can maximize all the spaces in your luggage and allow you to organize all your belongings properly. With this product, you can separate clean clothes from dirty ones and easily decide what to bring for your trip.
When your things are in packing cubes, and you need to get a particular item, simply grab the cube where your item is placed. With this, you won’t create a mess out of all your belongings.
4. Mosquito Repellent
With the beauty of nature in Costa Rica, it’s no surprise that there are thousands of insect species in the country. To protect you from mosquito bites, you need to have a strong mosquito repellent.
What makes a mosquito repellent strong enough? When looking for one, choose one that contains DEET because this produces a specific odor that mosquitoes hate. If you cannot find a repellent with DEET, an alternative ingredient can be picaridin.
5. Activated Charcoal
With unfamiliar and exotic food and beverages in Costa Rica, first-time travelers and tourists can get their stomachs upset, affecting the mood of their trip to Costa Rica. With this, it’s nice to bring activated charcoal with you to help absorb toxins and other harmful substances that can affect your digestive tract.
Bringing activated charcoal with you guarantees that an upset stomach will not hinder your planned adventures and itineraries!
6. Hiking Boots or Shoes
It’s always nice to bring a pair of sturdy hiking shoes just in case you plan to go hiking with your family. These shoes can help you traverse the landscape easier, especially when the area is wet.
In choosing the right footwear, don’t bring thick leather hiking boots because they are not quick-drying. Instead, bring lightweight hiking shoes or boots lined with Gore-Tex, which is also waterproof.
7. Sunscreen
Costa Rica is pretty much near the equator, so the sun will be very hot. If you plan to spend most of your time outdoors, don’t forget to bring sunscreen with at least 30 SPF. It’s also better to bring one that’s reef-safe just in case you want to go snorkeling.
You can always buy one in groceries and markets in Costa Rica if you forget to bring your sunscreen. However, remember that it is way more expensive when you buy it in this country than when you buy it before leaving for your trip.
8. Portable Charger or Powerbank
When you explore Costa Rica the entire day, your gadgets will certainly run out of battery. We recommend you bring a portable charger or power bank just in case you need the extra charge for your phones. These are lightweight and easy to stuff in your bags, so bringing them would not be a hassle.
9. Slip-on Mesh Water Shoes
Slip-on mesh water shoes are the best footwear you can bring to protect your feet on land and in water. These are quick-drying and will not trap sand when you’re at the beach. They are also lightweight, so you can easily fit them in your luggage.
Slip-on mesh water shoes are versatile and practical shoes you can wear during our outdoor Costa Rican adventure. They can offer full protection for your feet against water, sand, and other harmful things that can cause injuries.
10. Rain Jacket
Bringing a rain jacket to Costa Rica allows you to be prepared when it suddenly rains. Bring a lightweight and compact rain jacket so that it can easily fit in your bags. You can also wear it when you’re at higher elevations where the wind is cooler.
11. Waterproof Backpack
When you have the entire day out for your adventure, you will need a comfortable backpack on your back and big enough to carry all your belongings. It also helps when it is waterproof, especially if you have to bring it to your watersports activities.
A good waterproof backpack should have several pockets and compartments for you to fit all you need to bring. In this way, you don’t need any additional carry-on bags.
13. First-Aid Kit
When traveling abroad, it’s always nice to have a first-aid kit with you just in case accidents and injuries happen. Having a first-aid kit when you encounter accidents minimizes the risk of getting an infection.
It also saves you the hassle of having to cut short your outdoor adventure when you get minor cuts and bruises. They are lightweight and handy, so they can easily fit in your day bags.
14. Travel Towel
You can’t always rely on your accommodations when you need towels for water activities. We recommend you bring your travel towel; it will certainly come in handy when you get wet while you’re out having fun.
When choosing a travel towel, pick one that’s quick-drying and lightweight so that it won’t take up so much of your luggage space. It’s also better to bring a storage bag to put the towel in when it’s not in use.
15. Mini Flashlight
Bringing a mini flashlight will come in handy when electricity or the lights suddenly go out. It can also help you look for your things when you are in the dark.
In Costa Rica, there are several small towns with no street lights, so it’s nice to be prepared just in case you stumble upon a very dark town at night. The sun usually sets between 5 pm to 6 pm, and during this time, it gets pretty dark. You’ll be thanking us that you have a mini flashlight with you.
16. Insulated Water Bottle
Bringing an insulated water bottle is recommended, so you can avoid consuming dirty water that could upset your stomach. You can also put cold water in this bottle; it’s nice to have a sip of cold water when the weather in Costa Rica is hot.
Bringing your own water also saves you more money than buying mineral water in convenience stores when you get thirsty.
17. UV-Protected Sunglasses
When you’re under the sun the whole day, your eyes need protection from the ultraviolet rays too. Ensure that you have UV-protected sunglasses with you to protect your eyes from the harmful rays and brightness of the sun.
18. Swimwear
When you visit Costa Rica, you should certainly not miss out on its beautiful beaches. Heading to the beach means you have to bring appropriate swimwear for your water activities. Bring as much swimming apparel as you desire if you plan to stay on the beaches for a long time!
19. Underwater Camera
Costa Rica has so many picturesque views you would want to remember forever. Capture as many photos as you want, both on land and underwater, with an underwater camera. If you love taking photos of nature, choose cameras with a wide-angle lens so that you can take panoramic shots of the places you wish to go to.
When you have an underwater camera with you, you can take lovely photos of the amazing ecosystem with the coral reefs underwater.
20. Small Neck Wallet
Bringing a small neck wallet to Costa Rica is handy. You can put all the essential documents you need inside it, such as your passport, money, credit cards, and other travel documents. Since you can hang it around your neck, you don’t have to worry about carrying it with your hands.
When choosing a neck wallet, it’s nice to choose one with RFID blocking to protect the privacy and safety of your documents.
21. Carry-On Luggage
This product is the most convenient piece of luggage to bring when you need to ride buses and go up flights of stairs. When choosing the best luggage, look for the most lightweight but spacious one to fit all your belongings.
It’s also nice to have one with comfortable handles so that your hands will not feel any strain when you push and pull it.
22. Travel Pants
Having a pair of travel pants will come in handy when you plan to hike and go up the mountains. These pants will protect your legs from mosquito bites and possible scratches you might encounter in an accident.
23. Waterproof Socks
While hiking in Costa Rica, you might encounter mud or rain. You will need a pair of waterproof socks to prevent your feet from getting soggy. These socks will also help prevent your feet from smelling bad because of the wetness.
24. Beach Bag
A beach bag is perfect for carrying your essentials when going to the beach. Choose one with several compartments so that you can fit all your things and snacks in it. If your beach bag has the right number of compartments, you no longer need to bring an extra bag.
It’s also better if it is lightweight and comfortable to bring so that you won’t have any problems carrying the bag.
25. Long Sleeved Rash Guard
Aside from swimwear, you might also need a long-sleeved rash guard to protect your skin. You don’t want to get sunburned while you’re out swimming. Moreover, you should wear this if you plan to island-hop for the entire day.
Other Things You Can Include When You Pack
Aside from the essential things you certainly should bring, we also included a list of other things you can include in your luggage to help make your trip to Costa Rica easier and better.
- Travel Umbrella – protection from the sun or rain
- Facial Cleansing Wipes – easy cleaning of the face when you’re on the go
- Disinfectant Wipes – easy disinfecting of your things
- Toiletry Bag – where you can place all your toiletries and skincare essentials
- Travel Pillow – provide you with comfort during long drives and plane rides
What Not To Pack
If you plan to stay in Costa Rica for a couple of days, you’ll want to make sure that you are only bringing what you need. Having too many things can only make your luggage heavier and harder to carry. Let’s check out the items you should consider leaving behind.
Don’t bring your expensive pieces of jewelry and accessories
When you go to Costa Rica, you will be outdoors for most of your time because you will be exploring its wonderful nature. If you bring your jewelry and accessories with you, you might lose them. With this, we recommend you leave your expensive accessories behind. You might just regret bringing them.
When you lose your accessories, it will just darken your mood for the entire trip. Therefore, it’s safer to leave them in your house. Besides, you can’t wear them when you go hiking and do all kinds of water activities anyway.
Leave your high heels and stilettos
High heels and stilettos are not suitable for Costa Rica. Even when you plan to have a date night with your loved one, sidewalks and roads in this country have many potholes where your heels can shoot into. It’s better to wear cute sandals when you are having a date night.
If you are not planning for anything formal, high heels and stilettos are only additional baggage and will occupy luggage space. Just leave them behind and bring your cute sandals and hiking shoes instead.
Don’t bring your expensive purses
Your expensive purses might be scratched or damaged when you bring them to Costa Rica. We encourage you to bring practical and lightweight travel purses where you can fit all your essentials.
Leave your bulky rain boots behind
Rain Boots are bulky and will take up space in your luggage; you don’t need them. It’s better to bring lightweight hiking shoes instead.
If you suddenly need rainboots while exploring Costa Rica, you can always buy a cheap pair at any hardware store you come across in the country.
Don’t bring all your credit cards
If you bring all your credit cards to Costa Rica, you might just end up losing one of them, which is an extra hassle. Bring only the cards you will use when you travel to this country.
Don’t bring too many Costa Rica guidebooks
One guidebook will do. Bringing more than one can just make your luggage heavier and bulkier. It’s also nice to bring an eBook version, so it’s more handy and lightweight. When you need to check your location, you can just grab your phone and check the eBook.
Leave your winter clothes behind
Costa Rica is a tropical country, so that it wouldn’t get very cold even at night. Winter clothes are too thick and bulky to bring; you can bring a lightweight rain jacket instead. This can protect you from both sunny and rainy weather.
If you are the type of person who gets cold easily, you can bring a thin sweater just in case. It is the perfect thing to wear when you feel cold during long drives and at night time.
Don’t bring too much cash with you
You might just end up losing your cash if you bring too much with you. There are many ATMs in Costa Rica where you can withdraw money, so it’s better to bring the right amount of money when you go to this country.
Don’t bring your big laptops to Costa Rica
Enjoy your time unwinding and relaxing in Costa Rica. Consider leaving your bulky laptops behind because they will add to the extra weight of your luggage. It’s recommended to bring your tablets and phones instead of your computers and laptops because they are more convenient to bring while traveling.
Pack the Right Things
Costa Rica is a beautiful country on the Central American coast. Its natural beauty and diverse ecosystem make it a popular tourist destination. This tropical paradise also offers some of the best scuba diving experiences in the world.
Furthermore, the country is known for its clean air and pristine beaches and is considered one of the safest countries to visit in the world.
By visiting Costa Rica, you’ll be enjoying its lovely environments and breathtaking beaches. You can only truly appreciate and enjoy your vacation when you have packed all you need to bring.
We hope our guide has helped you with your Costa Rica packing list if you plan to go to this country. Book a flight now!
Support the Team!
If we helped you plan your travels in any way and you want to support us, here are several companies we’re affiliated with. We receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when you click on the links below so feel free to click away! 🙂
No Comments