What to Wear in Costa Rica for Any Type of Weather

Heading to Costa Rica and not sure what to pack? No matter whether you’re planning on hitting up the shorelines of Manuel Antonio, hiking by way of the cloud forest in Monteverde, canoeing via the canals in Tortuguero, or all of the above, packing for these a numerous journey can be a problem.

Other than your picked out places in-nation, you should also think about the weather conditions when choosing what to pack. There are two primary seasons in Costa Rica: soaked and dry. The moist year goes from Might to November, when there are frequent large rainstorms, monsoons, and hurricanes. The dry season from December to April also sees some rain, specifically at higher altitudes, but is all round much more sunny and substantially hotter.

With these variables in brain, here’s an epic packing list to aid you prepare for your future adventure in Costa Rica:

What to Put on in Costa Rica: Wet Time (May–November)

I frequented Costa Rica all through the rainy time, when there are storms almost each individual working day all over most of the country. It may well seem unappealing to visit this kind of an outdoorsy spot through this time, but possessing been organized for the rain was a recreation changer and created it all worth it. Over-all, I would undoubtedly pay a visit to Costa Rica throughout the rainy time all over again, as extensive as I was equally ready.

To pack for this time of 12 months, here’s what I advocate:

Outfits: convey layers

Other than planning myself for the rain, I also experienced to think about that I would be browsing a wide range of climates. From packing seaside apparel for my times in Uvita and Manuel Antonio to currently being prepared for chilly mountain weather conditions in Monteverde, I experienced my get the job done reduce out for me.

Bringing levels is key. Deliver light-weight outfits that can be layered, so you’re ready for instantaneous changes in climate and a variety of climates alike.

Here’s the garments I packed for one particular thirty day period in Costa Rica in the course of the wet year:

With these, I had a multitude of diverse outfits to choose from without the need of experience like I had far too a lot clothes with me. All the things I introduced matched, so I felt put jointly whilst also staying snug. My absolute favorite point I brought was my white linen button-down shirt, because it’s these a fantastic layering piece and seems stylish in excess of a very simple outfit like the a single in the image above.

Footwear: fewer is a lot more

Bringing much more than two pairs of footwear is a squander of room if you’re heading someplace like Costa Rica. I packed my Blundstones and a pair of Tevas and that is it. My Blundstone chelsea boots are heavier, so I wore them on the aircraft and when traveling, to maintain my bag lighter. My Tevas are water-resistant and good for mountaineering, primarily if there’s a great deal of mud and drinking water to walk by means of.

If I ended up to convey one additional pair, I may possibly take into consideration some jogging sneakers, just since my Tevas took a extensive time to dry and I finished up carrying wet sneakers everywhere. Due to the fact the humidity is so significant in the course of wet season in Costa Rica, points acquire a great deal extended to dry. This wasn’t a massive offer to me, but could possibly be to somebody who just can’t stand possessing soaked feet.

Add-ons: preserve it informal

I opted for the easiest add-ons doable. Just a pair of gold hoop earrings and simple black sun shades have been enough to elevate my outfits just a tiny bit with out becoming flashy.

Because it is not extremely sunny in Costa Rica during the moist period, I did not see a need to have for a sunlight hat that would just take up a whole lot of area in my bag. I did provide a baseball cap, just for a little bit of solar defense on the times when I went out for hikes.

Below are the add-ons I brought:

Toiletries: opt for solids any time achievable

I’m one particular of those people vacationers that endlessly concerns about liquids spilling in my bag, so I choose stable products and solutions largely for that explanation. Having said that, strong solutions are also a terrific plastic-free possibility and at times even final extended than liquid products and solutions. For issues like moisturizers, sunscreen, and bug spray, it’s tougher to find them in good form, sadly.

These are the toiletries that I introduced for a person thirty day period in Costa Rica:

What to Dress in in Costa Rica: Dry Year (December–April)

The weather during the dry time is much warmer in several parts of Costa Rica, as there’s additional sunshine and a lot less rain to crack the warmth. I often heard Costa Ricans connect with this period “summer,” even while it begins in December (when it is winter north of the equator).

As far as what to put on through dry year, the packing record I suggest is equivalent to the damp time, but with a several versions that will support prepare you for the heat and sunshine.

Outfits: quick, breezy, and relaxed

Throughout the dry season, maintaining great is the title of the activity, as temperatures soar. Carry clothes that are airy, dry promptly, and are at ease over all else. Go for materials like cotton or linen, which are more breathable. To make it simpler to build outfits that you truly want to put on, make sure every thing follows the very same shade plan, extra or less. That way you can mix and match and not experience like you are carrying the same outfit every single working day.

Here’s what I counsel for what to dress in in Costa Rica throughout the dry time:

Footwear, equipment, and toiletries

I really do not see considerably will need for variation in footwear, accessories, and toiletries from wet time to dry period. If I had been heading to Costa Rica all through dry period, I would carry the same sneakers I introduced for damp time. For components, I could add a floppy sunshine hat to protect my encounter from the severe rays on the beach front. My toiletries would keep the exact, but I would deliver an anti-chafing adhere (my thick-thighed sisters know the drill) and better SPF sunscreen for my facial area.

Backpack vs. Rolling Luggage

Normally speaking, for any vacation spot the most essential element when determining no matter whether to bring a backpack or rolling baggage is your picked out method of transportation. If you’re leasing a automobile or only checking out one particular spot for the entirety of your journey, a rolling suitcase might make feeling for you. Even so, if you’re planning on working with community transportation and will be transferring around a great deal that way, a backpack is undoubtedly the way to go.

Backpacks & working day packs

For me, it was a recreation changer to discover backpacks that could unzip like a suitcase. I used to dread having to fish out outfits merchandise from my prime-loading backpack, which designed keeping structured a lot much more of a problem. I propose this Osprey 70L pack for for a longer period visits, which zips open the way a suitcase would and arrives with a watertight deal with to shield it from the rain.

Acquiring a day pack is critical in Costa Rica, as there is so considerably to do outside. I put in really very little time in my lodging during my thirty day period there, leaving early in the early morning and returning in the evening. So I introduced almost everything I wanted for the day with me in my day pack. I have this a person from Everlane, which I enjoy this one particular from REI is just as cute and a bit lesser.

(If you want to find the best a single for you, do not miss out on this full guidebook to deciding on a vacation backpack.)

Rolling luggage

If you rent a auto and are not apprehensive about lugging your baggage all over, employing a suitcase might be worthy of it. Especially if you go for a hard shell suitcase, it is easier to hold your points arranged and harmless from having smashed in transit.

If you’re examining a bag, I suggest this challenging-shell rolling suitcase from REI. It is durable and has anti-microbial engineering that inhibits the development of micro organism, which is a big moreover looking at how humid the climate is in Costa Rica.

If you only want to carry a carry-on, this tricky-shell suitcase is just a scaled-down edition.

Holding your factors arranged

Regardless of whether you deliver a backpack or a suitcase, packing cubes are a ought to if you want to keep your items arranged. I primarily like clean up/soiled packing cubes and sets like this one, which have multiple compartments.

Prior to I applied packing cubes, it was usually a struggle to maintain my bag structured, which can be aggravating when you’re touring from location to area swiftly. Now that I use them, I can not visualize touring without them. Just after all, how are you likely to decide what to don if you just cannot see any of the goods in your bag?

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From what to wear in Costa Rica to what bag to set almost everything in, I hope this guidebook can help you put together for an remarkable vacation.

What other objects would you increase to your list?

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