Costa Rica Rainy Season: Full Packing Essential Guide
Costa Rica experiences two seasons: the rainy season (also known as the green season) and the dry season. On the Pacific side, the rainy season typically lasts from early March to early December. However, the Caribbean side of the country has a different rainy season pattern. Despite its name, the rainy season in Costa Rica isn't all gloomy. While it can bring quick 20-minute showers or heavy downpours, it's still manageable as long as you're prepared. So don't hesitate to enjoy some fun in the rain!
Visiting Costa Rica during the rainy season wasn't too bad!
I recently went on a five-day trip to Costa Rica during its wet season. Despite initial reservations, traveling during this time was not as unpleasant as expected. As expected, the wet season is less busy in Costa Rica, which I prefer as I don't enjoy crowds. For this trip, we decided to visit La Fortuna, a unique destination in Costa Rica.
La Fortuna is situated northwest of San José and offers opportunities for rainforest hikes, volcano exploration, and hot springs relaxation. With many activities available, it's essential to be practical when packing for your trip to Costa Rica. I'll include everything I've packed for this trip in this complete packing guide.
Why should you bring a backpack instead of a suitcase?
We chose to backpack to Costa Rica instead of bringing a suitcase because it would be easier to get around in the rain, and we bought JetBlue Blue Basic tickets, which don't allow us to bring a carry-on.
It is not as big of a deal if you rent a car and bring a suitcase, but it is a little risky if you're taking public transportation, where you'll have to leave your bags at the bus storage area.
These are the items in my backpack that are SUPER IMPORTANT because, without these essential items, I wouldn't have survived. Please remember to pack all of it, or you will regret it.
Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Waterproof Bag, Hiking Hat, Water Shoes, Waterproof Shoes, Lightweight Rain Jacket, Bathing Suit, GoPro.
Rainy Season in La Fortuna
May to November
During these hikes, it is highly likely that you will get wet from both rain and sweat. Predicting rainfall in the rainforest is challenging, so it is best to be prepared. Check out my tips on what I wore and what I brought in my waterproof bag for the rainforest hike to the Arenal Volcano. Remember that you don't have to bring the same items as me, but this will give you a better understanding of what to expect.
If you have any lightweight, moisture-wicking, and breathable short-sleeve tops, then pack them in your bag! It gets hot during the hike, especially the ones in the rainforests. I loved the activewear short-sleeved shirt I got from Eddie Bauer!
The obvious reason why you'll want to opt for waterproof shorts is that you don't want to have wet undies. Sitting on wet chairs and getting your shorts and undies soaked is uncomfortable. Nope, I refuse to experience wet undies again. I found these affordable waterproof shorts on Amazon and am in love! Two zipper pockets and two big velcro pockets hold my phone (kept dry) and my big water bottle.
Our tour guide wore hiking sandals while hiking, which I don't recommend if you're not a pro. Stick with a closed-toe waterproof hiking shoe to protect those toes.
My hiking shoes from Asics stayed dry the whole time with slip prevention, which is super important because some people slipped and sprained their ankles on the way down from the volcano.
Another waterproof shoe I've discovered recently is Vessi, which has been such a game-changer. I highly recommend the Weekend Sneakers or Stormburst for your Costa Rica trip. I explained more about Vessi in my recent post if you want to check it out!
It doesn't necessarily have to be a hiking bag, but it should be lightweight, waterproof, and can carry all your essentials. This is the bag I carried around even when I wasn't hiking because you'll never know when it will rain.
Also, if your backpack is not too bulky and you have a waterproof rain jacket, then I suggest that you put your jacket over the backpack.
Repel 100 protected me from almost all bugs & insects during my trip to La Fortuna. To give you an idea of how great this product is. I am a mosquito magnet & I got absolutely NO mosquito bites from my trip to Costa Rica. This product does contain a high percentage of deets, so if you prefer products without deets, then check out these options.
It is best to reapply sunscreen every few hours, so if you can, please bring hand-free sunscreens such as a sunscreen stick for the face. For the body, we used CeraVe, and it worked very well for us, even in the water!
It started pouring halfway through our hike down in the rainforest, and I used this waterproof jacket to protect my head, shorts, and bag! There's an option to unzip around the armpit area to bring in some breeze without getting your body wet.
Even if the weather channel says it won't rain for the next few hours, it doesn't matter. PUT THAT RAIN JACKET IN YOUR BAG. 🫡
I didn't use my baseball cap at all because it was slightly cloudy that day during the hike, but it is best to bring one for sun protection. Opt for a baseball cap or a bucket sun hat. It can also help protect you from the rain hitting your eyes if your rain jacket has no long hood.
This is the one thing I forgot to bring with me on this trip, and instead, I was using my shirt as a towel to wipe my sweat. Any microfiber quickly absorbs, and a lightweight towel will do. I guess you can borrow one from your hotel bathroom, too 🙂.
Another way to check what you used to bring to Costa Rica is if you're joining some activity tour, then reach out to the tour guides or check their websites for suggestions.
I left space in my backpack for souvenirs as I planned to buy coffee beans during my trip to Costa Rica.
[FTC Disclosure: Hey, trying to provide free guides & recommendations, but a girl gotta eat too. Well, some of the links you click on are what are known as "affiliate links." So if you do buy something, I'll probably earn a few bucks. Thanks in advance ✍︎]
I saw that some people had dry bags in the waterfalls, but I couldn't find any good quality dry bags yet so that I wouldn't recommend them. Buying a waterproof phone pouch is better if you want to take your phone into the water.
You can buy half of these in Costa Rica if you forget to bring them. There are many souvenir shops, grocery stores, and probably a little shop at your hotel. One thing I'll note about bug repellent is that there aren't many great ones in Costa Rica. I have only seen the essential bug sprays you would see at CVS or Target in the US, which doesn't work well for me. If you were to remember one thing from this blog post.. it would be to BUY YOUR BUG SPRAY BEFORE GOING TO COSTA RICA.
Travel Bags as a Personal Item
Every airline has rules for personal items and carry-on, but most airlines have around the exact size requirement. We used these two bags as our personal items on the plane. It can fit more clothes than expected and still has room for souvenirs. The bag on the left is by Bange (spacious & affordable), and the bag to the right is by Calpak (backpack to duffle bag & more pricey).
These are all the things that I packed in my travel bag for my five-day trip to La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Upon doing intense research and from personal experience, I have added some tips and tricks along with it. If you have any questions regarding how to pack your bags for Costa Rica, then feel free to reach out. I am happy to answer any of your questions!
Safe travels, Pura Vida~🇨🇷
