Preparing for your trip to Costa Rica is not to be taken lightly. There are many things to consider before jumping on the plane and heading south.

Beyond the obvious items like bikini and sunscreen, there are a few more items you won’t want to leave behind.

Costa Rica is hot! Not only that but it’s humid also. Therefore when packing clothing, you’ll want to pack according to your Costa Rica vacation itinerary. For example, if you are heading to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, you will certainly want to bring a change of moderately warm clothing – at the very least a long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans/kakis. On the other hand, if your trip is exclusively at the beach then you will simply need light cotton/linen clothing suitable for the most extreme humid/hot conditions. A suggestion would be the lightest t-shirts or blouses you can find. Personally I find fine linen very comfortable in the hot climates around the country’s many beaches. That is of course when you’re not enjoying the warm waters of the Pacific or Caribbean in your flashy new bathing suit.

Shoes are another thing to consider. Sandals are a fan favorite here whereas, unless you’re planning on hiking, closed shoes(even running shoes) can prove to be quite hot and uncomfortable. But if you’re thinking on going horseback riding on the beach then you will be needing closed shoes and long pants to protect from heat rash and insects.

Speaking of insects…

If you have any allergies to insects like bees etc. then by all means it would be a good idea to bring Benadryl and/or any medicines necessary for your insect allergies. (IE: bee kit)

As for electronics…YOUR HEADING TO COSTA RICA! Why bring complicated and useless items like a cell phone or iPad to a country chalk full of raw natural beauty? My advise would be to stick with a good camera. That’s it! Capture the moments that take your breath away without the distractions of modern, big city lifestyles of interferences and stress.

Relax. Unwind. Enjoy.