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Baggage
Clothes, Bugs and Drugs
Packing Clothes
Costa Rica is hot and humid. Like many tropical countries, Costa Rica has two seasons – wet and dry. We’ll be visiting during the summer’s dry season, so rain should be the exception, not the rule. But, it IS a rainforest so bringing a lightweight rain jacket would be a good idea. We did bring a towel that we kept in the car to mop up any moisture that didn't evaporate right away.
Overall, plan to pack light weight clothing – no jeans, no jackets and absolutely no suits, ties, or uncomfortable shoes! Cottons, linens and natural fibers are best for this tropical location. Loin cloths, however, are not recommended. T-shirts, shorts and swimsuits are musts!
If you plan to travel throughout Costa Rica and will be taking a small puddle jumper plane -- such as Nature Air or SANSA-- please plan and pack accordingly. The luggage limit for most small planes is 25 - 30 pounds per person and they prefer soft-sided luggage like duffel bags or backpacks. So, no over-packing allowed or you’ll pay for it, literally!
You may want to bring some laundry detergent (bio-degradable and environmentally-friendly preferred). There are washing machines at Lost Iguana Resort should you want to freshen up your wardrobe. Also, washing a few items at night in the sink, like a tank top you want to wear again, is perfect in the Costa Rican heat because it will drip-dry by morning. Voila!
For help on what to take and what to leave at home:
Detailed Packing List for Costa Rica
Creative Extras for Packing
Insects Buggin' Ya? - Pack Repellant & Bug Spray
Please pack both bug repellent AND itching cream for the bug that kamikazees itself into your fleshy goodness for one last juicy bite! Remember, you'll be staying in a jungle-rich environment and bugs outnumber people by a succulent amount. With 500,000 species of animals in Costa Rica, realize that most of those species are insects. So you'll be fascinated by some of the incredibly diverse looking insects, right up until you smack 'em off your body!
Be sure to buy bug spray that contains DEET, it's like bug kryptonite. Sharon was diligent in applying insect repellant twice daily. Alex waited until his legs resembled a bloody "connect-the-dots" mess before applying repellent. Both bug spray and itching cream are for sale at the 7-11 type "Super Christian" stores in La Fortuna should you run out.
Take Your Meds - Vaccinations & Medications
Although there are no inoculations or mediations required for visiting Costa Rica, we advise visiting your medical professional to determine which medications, if any, may be best for you depending upon your health history. For their 2006 trip, Sharon took some anti-malaria medication as a cautionary measure while Alex took zero precautions. Both came home alive
Health Info for Traveler's (don't read if you're a hypochondriac!):
Central America info from the CDC
Vaccinations for Costa Rica
We welcome you to post any websites or tips on the Blog section. Cheers!
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