While I was romantically planning our Costa Rica honeymoon, imagining all the cute swimwear I would buy and wear a different one every single day, reality quickly arrived.
The internet happened.
Suddenly every website, blog and Facebook group seemed to have a completely different opinion about what I needed to pack.
Some people claimed I only needed a swimsuit and a dress. Others had me convinced I was preparing for a full tropical expedition somewhere deep inside the Amazon rainforest.
By the end of my research, I was so confused that I packed a huge suitcase and ended up using less than half of what was inside.
Looking back, the truth was somewhere in the middle.
Costa Rica is a tropical country.
It is hot.
It is humid.
It rains.
Sometimes all within the same hour. So here’s what I packed, what I actually used, and what I would leave at home next time.
What I Packed
- 7 different bikinis (don’t judge me)
- 3 hiking trousers, including one convertible pair that turned into shorts
- 3 pairs of sandals
- 2 pairs of hiking shoes
- 1 proper waterproof rain jacket
- 2 jackets that claimed to be waterproof but turned out to be optimistic water-resistant jackets
- Several dresses
- Multiple T-shirts and shorts
- Beach towels
- Various bags for the beach and evening walks
- A small pharmacy worth of medication
- Mosquito repellents
- Sunscreen and personal care products
What I Actually End up using
- About 4 of my bikinis
- Both pairs of hiking shoes
- One pair of sandals or flipflops
- A hat I actually bought in Costa Rica
- One hiking trouser
- A few T-shirts
- A couple of comfortable dresses
- My small backpack
- My rain jacket
- My mosquito repellent
What I Barely Used
Most of my dresses stayed in the suitcase.
Most of my “just in case” outfits stayed in the suitcase.
Most of my extra shorts stayed in the suitcase.
Most of my extra hiking trousers stayed in the suitcase.
The reality is that Costa Rica is a country where practicality wins.
One moment you’re walking through a rainforest.The next you’re standing under a waterfall. An hour later you’re watching the sunset on the beach.
I live in Norway, which created an additional challenge.
In February, Norway was basically freezing while Costa Rica was doing its tropical paradise thing.That meant my suitcase had to somehow accommodate both a winter coat and several bikinis at the same time.
At the time, all of this felt completely reasonable.
Looking back?
Not so much.
The second pair of hiking shoes turned out to be particularly useful.
After rafting and several heavy rainstorms, one pair would often stay wet for much longer than expected thanks to the humidity. Having a backup pair saved me more than once.
I packed enough clothing for what looked like a six-month expedition.
Costa Rica disagreed.
You need clothes that can survive everything.
Not necessarily clothes that look cute in your suitcase.
The Most Useful Things I Packed
Mosquito Repellent
Without question, this was the MVP of the trip.
I brought two different repellents:
50% DEET for jungle activities
20% DEET for everyday use
I used both constantly.
And I would strongly recommend buying them before arriving because they were noticeably more expensive in Costa Rica than back home.
Sunscreen
Before travelling, I kept reading that you should only use reef-safe sunscreen in Costa Rica.
To be completely honest, during my trip nobody ever checked what type of sunscreen I was using and I was never asked about it anywhere.
I still support using reef-safe sunscreen whenever possible.
Costa Rica is famous for its incredible nature and marine life, so choosing a more environmentally friendly sunscreen feels like a small effort that can make a difference.
The tropical sun is stronger than it looks, and between beaches, boat tours, hiking trails and outdoor activities, I found myself using it every day.
A Proper Rain Jacket
Tropical rain doesn’t mess around.
Even during the dry season, heavy rain can appear completely out of nowhere.
The good news is that it usually doesn’t last very long.
The bad news is that you’ll be soaked in about thirty seconds.
As a couple, we only brought one truly waterproof jacket.
The other two jackets we confidently believed were waterproof turned out to be… optimistic.
If you don’t want to spend your holiday arguing over who gets the real rain jacket, bring one for each person.Your relationship will thank you later.
What I Wish I Had Packed
Water Shoes
I underestimated how useful these would be.
Costa Rica has countless waterfalls, rivers and rocky swimming spots.
Those rocks are slippery. Very slippery.
I eventually bought water shoes in a tourist area and paid around $25 for them.
Later I found similar ones in a supermarket for about $3.
Learn from my mistake.
A Dry Bag
Another thing I didn’t realise I needed until I needed it.
If you’re visiting waterfalls, going rafting or planning any water-based activities, a dry bag is incredibly useful.Otherwise you’ll end up doing what I did:
Buying one at tourist-shop prices.
Looking back, I spent far too much time worrying about packing the perfect suitcase.
Costa Rica turned out to be much more relaxed than I expected.
If I packed for the same trip again, I would bring fewer clothes, leave more room for souvenirs and spend far less time stressing about what to wear.
After all, nobody notices your fifth outfit change when there’s a monkey sitting in the tree next to you.
(And you can always use a Laundry shop
The best in La Fortuna is the Lavanderia Ei Almendro)
Pura Vida.
