First time to Costa Rica? Here’s everything you NEED to know

Costa Rica is a gorgeous country with lush countryside. It is green everywhere because of the rain and rain forests. The climates are also very different depending on where you go. We went during the rainy season in July, as the costs were slightly lower than during their dry season. In Monteverde (literally meaning green mountain), it could be cool and dry with sunny skies. Or, it could be humid, hot and rainy. drenching you from head to toe as we experienced in La Fortuna.

During our trip, we visited 4 cities, each of which had different climates and tourism.

1. Flew in/out of San Jose

2. Monteverde (our favorite) – cold and dry

3. La Fortuna - hot and wet

4. Manual Antonio - beach town
   

To make sure we were prepared, we had to think through all of the different climates and prepare accordingly. Here is our list of must have items!

Electricity / Power

The power in Costa Rica are the same as the US, so you don’t need to bring any power adapters!

For other countries…here is a travel adapter that works with curling or flat irons!

https://amzn.to/3WR4HQr - Ceptics Travel Voltage Converter -200W Convert 220V to 110V for Curling Iron, Straightener, Charger Step Down World Power Plug - 4 USB PD 18W Fast Charging - SWadApt - Type A, B, C, E/F, G, I Include

What to Pack

Compression Packing Cube

These are the BEST packing cubes for organzing your family’s clothes, and allowing you to fit more in your luggage. They are lightweight, have a mesh cover and a 2nd zipper for compression. Each family member can be assigned a color, and it’s perfect for packing a set of emergency clothes in your backpack or carry-on in case your luggage gets lost.

https://amzn.to/3Ag6tS4

Waterproof Backpack Covers

I researched this extensively before our trip, since it was highly likely for us to be caught in the rain at some point during the trip. It turns out that waterproof backpacks are expensive and most are not truly waterproof...they are just water resistant. Meaning that the water can still soak through the material or zippers. So we opted for these backpack covers instead.

Waterproof Ponchos

You can get these at the $1 store, but those are disposable, not environmentally friendly and have a tendency to rip.

I really liked these from FrogTogg. They kept us dry and are reusable. You can get easily fold and store them in the carrying porch.

https://amzn.to/3LPRqRZ - FROGG TOGGS Ultra-lite2 Waterproof, Breathable Rain Poncho, Adult and Youth Sizes

Travel Hair Dryer

This was a great way to dry out clothes or shoes in case you got caught in a downpour or at a hotel without a hair dryer. This Conair travel hair dryer folds compactly and comes with a travel bag. It was $15 at the time of purchase.

https://amzn.to/4clbaru - Conair Travel Hair Dryer with Dual Voltage, 1600W Compact Hair Dryer with Folding Handle, Travel Blow Dryer

Carbon Monoxide Monitor

Ever since I heard a story about travelers dying due to carbon monoxide poisoning as they slept at an AirBnB, I never travel without a carbon monoxide monitor.

This one is battery powered so you can take it anywhere without worrying about how to power it. For $17 at the time of purchase – it’s worth every penny to have that peace of mind. This was also great to have during our extended power outages, requiring the use of generators running on propane or gasoline.

https://amzn.to/3LQ7F1e - Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector, Battery Powered CO Alarm with LEDs, Test-Reset Button, Low Battery Indicator, Portable

Water Purification Tablets

Most of the tap water in Costa Rica is safe to drink, however, bottled water is recommended in some rural areas. The cost of bottled water can add up quickly, so we opted to purify tap water by filling these plastic water storage cubes with water and using 1 Aquatab. In 30 minutes, you have water that is purified from viruses, bacteria and odors.

https://amzn.to/4d5JQyv - WaterStorageCube Premium Collapsible BPA Free No-Leak Foldable Plastic 1.3/2.6 Gallon Water Container Bag for Camping Hiking Backpack Emergency Storage Jug

https://amzn.to/4d5JQyv - Aquatabs 49mg Water Purification Tablets (100 Pack). Water Filtration System for Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Emergencies, Survival, and Home-Use. Easy to Use Water Treatment and Disinfection.