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¡Bienvenidos mis amigos! I’ve officially been in Costa Rica for two weeks now! I’ve been having an amazing beautiful time, and have already gone hiking, been to a beach, and seen a volcano! Honestly, the best part has been the perfect weather every day. The sun is strong, but it’s only really been hot during midday. There are usually calm winds that feel like a cool embrace, it’s truly the most ideal weather anyone could ask for. I’ve held off on my first blog post until I got settled and used to my new routine here. Now that I’ve familiarized myself a little more with my new home and city, I thought I’d write my first post about helping you pack for your Costa Rica trip!
When I found out I was going to Costa Rica, my biggest uncertainty was not knowing what to pack. Thankfully, I knew some friends who went on the same program and they were able to give recommendations. If anyone knows me, they’d know I’m a terrible overpacker. Especially for a 3 month trip, my question was what don’t I bring? I researched a lot about the environment and the things Costa Rica has, and despite this, I was definitely still surprised and there are few things I wish I packed.
- Sunscreen
Guys, let me be so honest…I’ve never gotten a sunburn in my life. Once I went to Turkey for 12 days and was outside in the grueling sun for 12 hours each day, and I still didn’t get any type of sunburn. Well, I absolutely do not have that type of immunity here in Costa Rica. I brought a small sunscreen spray here and used it and still got my first sunburn. Okay to be completely honest I did not reapply at all because I didn’t think I’d get burnt. But my story is your warning that the sun is strong here. Costa Rica is right near the equator which makes everyone very susceptible to burns. Nearly everyone has run out of sunscreen, and its very expensive in this country, so bring lots!
- Hiking Shoes
I don’t own hiking shoes. I’ll start right there. I thought my sneakers would suffice here, but guys. Invest in a pair of hiking shoes. A sandal, a boot, it doesn’t matter, just have a designated hiking shoe. I’ve been hiking quite a few times now, and the hikes are not at all like the states. The terrain is extremely rocky and it can get extremely muddy. Many times, the roads incline so greatly that I’m in shock my little sneakers can hold on. I absolutely love the trek and vigor of these hikes, but your feet will thank you if you bring proper shoes. Additionally, a good hiking shoe can double as a shoe to wear for if you go to waterfalls because it can be very rocky!
- Warm Weather Clothes
One of my biggest questions was about the Costa Rican climate. I heard many things about how it can get cold even though January through March is Summer, so I didn’t know what to expect. I heard it’s important to bring layers, so I packed a bunch of my crewnecks and sweaters. Let me tell you now, it was NOT worth it at all to pack them. I have worn a long sleeve shirt maybe twice, and both times I was sweltering. In my experience, the weather has been extremely consistent. Truly, Costa Rica has the most ideal weather I can imagine. It’s hot but there’s usually a perfect breeze. I will admit, it gets a little chilly at night and maybe on top of a volcano or mountain, but not cold enough to warrant half your wardrobe being winter clothes. If I could go back in time, I’d have stuck to one trusty jacket and a crewneck.
- Motion Sickness Medicine
The roads in Costa Rica are extremely rocky and bumpy. I live in San Jose, the capital. Almost any place you want to go to is going to be at least an hour away. The farthest drive we’ve made so far has been about 7 hours, and the shortest was about an hour. It’s not that there’s nothing to do in San Jose, it’s just that it’s very highly improbable you’ll stay here for the majority of your trip. Thankfully, I’m very used to long car rides and so I’ve been completely fine, but many of my friends have felt a little bit nauseous and have needed motion sickness medicine like Dramamine.
- Portable Charger
I am someone who always keeps my phone charged (yes I know it’s bad for it shhh). If my phone is not at 100%, I’ll probably charge it. But this is still an item I believe everyone should pack as its saved me many times. The portable charger I bought was off Amazon and was able to charge three things at once, so I also use it to charge my speaker. Your trips and your days are going to be long, even if you don’t use your phone often, you’ll likely be taking lots of pictures so it will drain quickly. I definitely think this is a must have item.
I hope this list helps you! Of course, it’s not at all comprehensive and you should do research into what you want to bring, as well as remembering to save space for souvenirs! Costa Rica is a very expensive country, I’ve honestly found prices to be higher here than in the US for most goods. I would also suggest you pack large bottles rather than travel size for things like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, contact solution, bug spray, sunscreen, deodorant, perfume, etc. You can purchase them here, but it’ll be a lot more expensive. Good luck and happy packing!
Some pictures from my first week!
This was a view from the volcano we went to on the first day! It was absolutely gorgeous and it felt surreal to be above the clouds.
Here is a farmers market we went to on Saturday! From what I remember, it’s open on weekends but people start packing up around 1. It’s more of an artisan craft farmers market and it’s called Feria Verde.
My first restaurant meal in Costa Rica! I eat rice and beans a lot here, and they’ve grown on me. The fried plantains have become my favorite.
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