What To Wear In Costa Rica – Clothes For Costa Rica & Packing List (2023)
Ready for a Costa Rica vacation and looking for tips and ideas on what to wear in Costa Rica and what to pack for Costa Rica, especially if you are going on outdoor adventures?
We created an extensive Costa Rica packing guide with cute Costa Rica outfit ideas for the beach as well as useful things and clothes for Costa Rica to wear on excursions and day trips. All things that you can find here are inexpensive and easy to order online.
In addition, we put together a Costa Rica packing list, which includes things like essentials to pack for the beach, summer dresses, hiking shoes for Costa Rica, gear for water activities, essentials for excursions, Costa Rica outfits for men, and more.
We hope you will find our Costa Rica essentials and our packing list for Costa Rica helpful and will get a good overview for your upcoming trip to Central America.
Packing For Costa Rica
Table Of Contents
FAQs
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Costa Rica Weather
What Is The Weather Like In Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a Caribbean destination with a tropical climate year-round. The country faces the Pacific Ocean with popular beach towns like Tamarindo and Santa Teresa on the West and the Caribbean Sea with the popular tourist destinations Limón und Puerto Viejo on the East.
Weather In Costa Rica
The weather in Costa Rica is hot and humid most of the time. Therefore, summer outfits will generally be your best choice to pack for Costa Rica. However, there’s also a lot of rain in Costa Rica. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so beautifully lush and green.
If you travel to Costa Rica during the wet season, you need to be prepared for the rain and even if you don’t, you should pack certain things. More on what to pack for the wet season in Costa Rica is below.
Costa Rica also has some elevation. In places like Monteverde, which lies about 4,600 feet / 1,440 meters above sea level, it tends to be a bit cooler there. When we visited in the month of November we were glad to have some slightly warmer clothes with us as it wasn’t as hot as in lower altitudes.
Seasons In Costa Rica
Costa Rica Wet Season
The wet season in Costa Rica, or the Green Season, is from around May until mid-November. During the rainy season, you should expect sudden and heavy rain showers. They can last for only a little bit, like a few minutes or hours, but can also extend over several days if you are visiting at the peak of the Green Season.
The closer you get to the bordering months of October/ November the more the frequent rain showers will die down. The same goes for the month of May where the rain only gradually starts to build up yet.
Visiting Costa Rica In The Rainy Season
We visited Costa Rica in October and November and had a few rain showers here and there, but they didn’t last long, and soon after, the sunshine and blue sky came back again.
Traveling during the rainy months in Costa Rica is actually great, as this is the off-season time and prices are lower and visiting tourists are fewer.
Costa Rica Dry Season
The dry season in Costa Rica lasts from mid-November until April. This time is the driest season in Costa Rica with the least amount of rain. Sudden rain showers can still happen though, but they are usually not a big deal and don’t last long.
Essentials & Outfits For Costa Rica Vacation
In this Costa Rica Clothing Guide, you will find beach outfits for Costa Rica, dresses, gear, and other essentials for day trips that are useful for your vacation in Costa Rica.
We are starting with beach clothes for Costa Rica like cover-ups, beach dresses, and beach essentials, followed by gear for water activities, outfits for the rainy season, hiking shoes, and clothes for men.
To make the packing for Costa Rica easier, at the end you will find an organized Costa Rica packing list separated by activity and season.
Beach Outfits For Costa Rica
What To Wear In Costa Rica?
Swimwear
There is no Costa Rica beach vacation without a stylish bikini or one-piece swimsuit.
Beach Cover-Ups
Pack a light cover-up in addition to your beachwear.
Versatile Sarong & Beach Blanket
Sarongs can be used as a cover-up or, skirt or even as a blanket for the beach. These sarongs don’t take up much space in your suitcase and are really versatile.
Beach Straw Hats
A straw hat is a must-have beach accessory and most importantly a must for sun protection.
Beach Blanket
If you aren’t staying at a resort hotel a beach towel is something that you will want to pack.
Sunscreen For Costa Rica
Packing sunscreen for Costa Rica is absolutely necessary to protect your skin from sun damage as the sun can get very strong in Central America.
Don’t forget to buy this Costa Rica travel essential in advance at home, as it is a lot more expensive over there.
Other Costa Rica Essentials
In the following, you will find essentials for Costa Rica that you may need for various activities like rafting, excursions, zip-lining, hiking, waterfalls or surfing, and more.
Essentials To Pack For Water Activities In Costa Rica
What to bring to Costa Rica For Water Activities?
If you are exploring waterfalls in Costa Rica or visiting the country’s incredible hot springs or going on a snorkeling adventure, there are useful things to pack for Costa Rica.
We recommend buying things like a dry bag, water shoes, and snorkeling gear at home to save money.
There are lots of activities in Costa Rica where these essentials are great to have.
Check out our blog posts about the best waterfalls in Costa Rica and the most amazing hot springs if you are looking for incredible places and adventures on your Costa Rica trip.
Surfing Wear
What to wear surfing in Costa Rica?
For the ones planning on going surfing in Costa Rica, especially if it is your first time, there are a few surf clothes you need to remember to pack so you don’t have to buy them at an overpriced surf shop there.
For surfing, you will need a rash guard as well as well-fitting shorts and surfing swimwear that stays in place.
Things To Pack For Costa Rica Excursions
Day Pack For Tours & Hikes
If you go on day trips or tours, you will need at least a small backpack to carry your belongings and essentials, like food and water, bug, spray, sunscreen, etc.
Mosquito & Bug Spray For Costa Rica
Another important Costa Rica essential to pack is an insect repellent for Costa Rica. In fact, next to sunscreen this is number two on our list of important Costa Rica travel essentials. There are mosquitos everywhere! Especially on excursions in the jungle and around dawn, there can be a lot of annoying mosquitoes and other bugs. Be safe and bring insect repellent.
We always use insect repellent with 20% picaridin instead of DEET. It doesn’t damage our clothes and plastics and is said to be less toxic.
We found mosquito repellent with at least 20% picaridin to be the best bug spray for Costa Rica for us.
What To Wear Ziplining In Costa Rica?
As for clothes for ziplining in Costa Rica we recommend not to wear a dress or overly loose clothes for obvious reasons.
What shoes to wear ziplining in Costa Rica?
Also make sure to wear shoes, that you can’t lose. So flip-lops may not be the best choice of shoes for ziplining. Rather wear some TOMS or sneakers or other closed toed shoes.
Find the best shoes for Costa Rica further down below.
Costa Rica Packing List Rainy Season
What to pack for Costa Rica rainy season?
There are two essential things to pack for the rainy season in Costa Rica: An umbrella and a rain jacket! A waterproof backpack or cover is recommended too to keep your things dry.
Packing these things is especially a good idea if you visit Costa Rica’s cloud forests. Even during the dry season.
We got into a brief, but strong rain shower and were glad we brought an umbrella, our rain jackets, and had waterproof backpacks to protect our camera gear.
Costa Rica Rainy Season Packing List
Shoes For Costa Rica
What shoes to wear in Costa Rica?
Flip Flops & Canvas Slip-Ons
In general, comfortable flip-flops and light slip-ons are the best shoes for Costa Rica that you can wear on a daily basis, at the beach, and on easy excursions.
We love TOMS shoes as they are good quality and super lightweight and therefore don’t take up much space and weight in your suitcase.
For flip-flops, we really like Reef’s cushioned flip-flops. They are very durable, soft, and even good for longer walks.
Hiking Shoes For Costa Rica
What are the best shoes for hiking in Costa Rica?
When on nature hikes or volcano hikes, you will go through some rough terrain. For this type of hiking activity, you will want to pack some proper hiking shoes for Costa Rica.
A popular hike is the Rio Celeste hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park. Good shoes are absolutely necessary as almost all of the actual hikes are through the forest and not on a well-maintained path.
Affordable Hiking Boots For Costa Rica
Purchasing hiking boots for Costa Rica and in general, can be pretty expensive. If you don’t want to or can’t pay a lot of money, don’t worry, there are still some good ones to find on Amazon. It doesn’t need to be the most expensive hiking boots. The best hiking shoes for Costa Rica are the ones you can afford!
What Are The Best Shoes For Hiking Waterfalls?
If you are planning to hike to a waterfall, proper hiking shoes are also recommended, as those paths usually go through unpaved forest trails. Once at the waterfall, you can switch to watershoes if swimming is allowed.
Best Shoes For Costa Rica Wet Season
If you are wondering what the best shoes for Costa Rica’s wet season are, we would recommend not to bring rain boots or the like. They can be pretty heavy and bulky in your luggage. On top, they aren’t great for hikes.
What to wear hiking in Costa Rica’s rainforest?
Regarding shoes for Costa Rica’s rainy season and also for hikes in the rainforest, rather, bring some multifunctional shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty. Because they totally will!
We brought running shoes, that wouldn’t soak up so much water and were easy to clean and dry.
If you have old running shoes or hiking boots, maybe consider bringing them to Costa Rica for their last ride before you say goodbye to them.
Water Shoes For Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a lot of waterfalls and hot springs to explore. You should definitely visit at least one waterfall and one of the many amazing hot springs in Costa Rica. They are incredible, we promise!
Do you need water shoes in Costa Rica?
For water activities like that, it’s great to have water shoes. They make getting around on uneven, wet and slippery and maybe even sharp ground a lot easier and a lot more comfortable.
Read More
Costa Rica’s Most Amazing Hot Springs
More Costa Rica Outfit Ideas
Costa Rica Vacation Outfits
Summer Dresses For Costa Rica
Don’t forget to pack light summer dresses for Costa Rica. It can get pretty hot and humid. Therefore, flattery and loose outfits will generally be the best clothing for Costa Rica.
Read More
Best Things To Do In Costa Rica – Costa Rica Travel Guide
Long Dresses For The Evenings
Pack some maxi dresses for Costa Rica for the evenings. Longer dresses also protect you better from mosquito bites.
Canvas Jute Tote & Straw Beach Bags
A little handbag and beach bag can’t be missing on the list of Costa Rica essentials to bring.
Shorts
Shorts are a must on your list of clothes to pack for Costa Rica. There are tons of activities to do and adventures to go on, and for these, you will definitely need a pair of shorts.
Costa Rica Outfits For Men
Essential Men’s clothes for Costa Rica to pack: Swimming trunks, linen shirt, and linen pants. Light shirt and sun hat. Flip-flops and canvas shoes.
Summary
Packing List For Costa Rica
What To Pack For Costa Rica?
To give you a summary of what to bring to Costa Rica, here are our Costa Rica packing lists by activity with the essentials you may need.
Packing checklists for Costa Rica activities like boat tours, snorkeling, and other water-related things like hot springs, waterfalls, and beaches:
Costa Rica Packing List
Beach Clothes For Costa Rica
- One piece swimsuit / bikini
- Beach cover-ups / sarong
- Beach dresses / rompers
- Beach shirts
- Sunglasses
- Flip Flop sandals
- Straw hat
- Beach tote
- Beach blanket / quick dry beach towel
- Snorkeling gear
- Sunscreen / reef-safe sunscreen
- After-sun lotion
Water Activities Packing List
- One piece swimsuit / bikini
- Water shoes
- Drybag
- Quick-dry towel
- Snorkeling gear
- Rash guard for surfing
- Underwater phone case / GoPro
- Sunscreen / reef-safe sunscreen
Costa Rica Excursions Packing List
- Hiking shoes
- Close-toed shoes
- Shorts
- Tank tops
- Small day pack / backpack
- Rain Jacket
- Umbrella
- Mosquito spray
Packing List Costa Rica Rainy Season
Additional Things To Bring To Costa Rica
- Light sweater / jeans jacket
- Underwear
- Sleepwear
- Personal items & toiletries
- Personal medicine / stomach meds
- Earplugs
- Camera / GoPro
FAQ
Answering some frequently asked Costa Rica packing questions and giving packing tips for Costa Rica.
What Not To Bring To Costa Rica?
There are things not to take to Costa Rica. For instance, don’t bring jewelry or other expensive accessories to Costa Rica. You don’t need them!
Don’t bring fancy clothes for Costa Rica. You will be adventuring the outdoors or chilling at the beach or maybe even doing a yoga retreat for which you really don’t need fancy clothes.
Leave valuables and irreplaceable things that you don’t really need at home.
Don’t bring tons of cash. There are enough ATMs around where you can withdraw cash.
Costa Rica Outlets & Voltage
Do you need an adapter in Costa Rica?
Good news! Other things not to bring to Costa Rica are adapters or converters. The outlets and voltage in Costa Rica are the same as in the US. So you don’t need to bring an adapter for Costa Rica.
What To Wear On The Plane To Costa Rica?
For what to wear on the plane to Costa Rica I always opt for comfortable clothing like leggings and a sweatshirt. We also wear compression socks whenever we fly.
We recommend wearing long pants and sleeves as it can get pretty cold on the plane. However, once you arrive in Costa Rica it will most likely be really hot and humid. Therefore, it is smart to wear a tank top underneath so you can take your sweater off immediately.
How To Pack For Costa Rica?
To make packing for Costa Rica easier, we recommend getting some packing cubes to keep your things in order within your suitcase.
The separate compartments keep clothes and shoes, etc. organized and make everything easily accessible without creating a mess. Speaking out of experience here! 😉
Check out our post for more travel packing hacks.
Travel Insurance For Costa Rica
Something to think about as well for your Costa Rica vacation, besides what to pack, is travel insurance for your trip.
What To Wear In Costa Rica
Costa Rica Outfits & Packing List
I hope you found this Costa Rica packing list with outfits and other essentials to bring to Costa Rica helpful and got some good inspiration for your upcoming vacation.
Check out our post Travel Like A Pro: Useful Travel Essentials That Make The Journey More Comfortable for travel hacks and gear that makes life easier when traveling.
Julia & Felipe
Follow our adventures on Instagram! @piscoandbier
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HOT SPRINGS
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UNIQUE HOTELS
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