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Empowering Your Vacations & Real Estate Purchases in Costa Rica.
What to Bring
What to Bring |
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| Trip Planning - Travelers Info | |
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Follow our packing tips and you'll be prepared for a smooth, trouble-free trip to this Central American paradise.
General Packing Tips:-Umbrella: If you'll be traveling in Costa Rica during the rainy season (May-November), you'll want to bring some rain gear with you. Parkas and umbrellas are cheap and easy to find here, but if you have a favorite from home, bring it along. -First Aid Kit: Though the basics are all available in Costa Rica, you'll want to bring certain items along for emergencies. A good basic kit contains Dramamine (also helps with nausea from a stomach bug), Tylenol, Advil or Aleve, Pepto-Bismol, Tums, Maalox or Mylanta, Claritin (for allergic reactions), Neosporin, band-aids, a roll of medical tape, non-stick Telfa pads, hydrocortisone cream (a good anti-itch remedy), small tweezers and an anti-bacterial hand wash. -Watch and Jewelry: It's best to keep your valuables at home, but bring along an inexpensive watch. Consider leaving your sparkly engagement ring at home – wear a plain band or costume ring in its place. -Towel: If you'll be staying in any budget lodging, towels are not always provided, so bring your own. -Shoes: Costa Rica's terrain is varied, so pack a good pair of walking shoes and some favorite flip flops. In a pinch, plenty of grocery stores and department stores sell inexpensive sandals and flip flops. -Condoms: Condoms are widely available in Costa Rica but more expensive than back home, so if you think you might need them, bring some with you. -Electrical Adapter: Your North American appliances are compatible with Costa Rican electricity (110 volts), but you'll want to bring a three-to-two prong adapter: almost all Costa Rican outlets lack the grounding prong. -Warm Clothing: Costa Rica is a tropical country, but nights can be cool. Likewise, if you head up to the top of the country's mountains and volcanoes, even during the day, you'll want a jacket or sweater to keep you warm.
Always Bring With You:-Clothing: Clothing stores can be found all over the country, though with Costa Rica's high sales tax, high quality clothes are more expensive than in the United States, Canada and Europe. In addition, sizes and styles are different than what you may be used to, so bring as much of your own clothing as possible. If you need to buy some inexpensive t-shirts or jeans, try to find one of Costa Rica's many Pequeno Mundo or Ekono discount stores. -Electronics: Once again, Costa Rica's sales tax takes a large bite out of your buying power. Electronics (like digital cameras and computers) can cost almost twice as much as back home. Likewise, rechargeable batteries or chargers can be hard to find and expensive, so bring all of your electronic accessories with you. If you can't avoid an electronics purchase, make sure to ask for a cash discount. (Cuanto cuesta en efectivo? – Kwan-toh kwes-tah en eff-ek-tee-voh?) -Certain Medicines: Costa Rica has pharmacies on almost every corner with trained pharmacists that can diagnose and medicate minor medical problems. You won't need a prescription for birth control or migraine pills, but if you use hard-to-find or habit-forming medications, you must bring them from home. Viagra, though once sold without a prescription, now requires a doctor-ordered prescription for purchase.
Purchase Here:-Personal Toiletry Items: If packing space is tight, buy inexpensive personal goods here. There are several grocery stores in every Costa Rican town, and they're stocked with imported soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, razors and much more. -Batteries: Inexpensive, disposable batteries are available almost everywhere in Costa Rica. -Sunscreen, Insect Repellent, Etc.: These items can be found in any pharmacy, and buying here will help save space in your luggage.
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