The Ultimate Costa Rica Packing Guide: Essential Gear & What to Pack

---

Living Like Locals in the Puerto Viejo Jungle

To gain some context for the type of packing guide this is…

We weren’t staying in luxury, air-conditioned Airbnbs steps away from the beach.
We spent 3 weeks on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica in Puerto Viejo De Talamanca, living in a little casita in the actual jungle.

We were biking everywhere we went & attempting to embrace life like we actually lived there.

---

The Realities of Jungle Packing: What We Actually Wore

Because of the simplistic and easy going energy of Puerto Viejo…

We found ourselves wearing the same few things the whole time without thinking twice.
What was comfortable and breezy was what was being worn. Anything too thick or fancy didn’t get worn at all.

The items that actually mattered were daily essentials like dry bags, bug spray, and our beach blanket. We definitely packed a few things out of fear that we completely could have left behind (like our umbrella), and we also had some things that made us say thank godddddd we packed these! And there was only one single thing we wish we had but didn’t pack (loop earplugs).

---

Our Golden Rules for any Packing Guide

Whether we are packing for the constant temperature of the Caribbean or for a road trip across the country, the packing method stays the same:

• Pack the things you know you LOVE.
• Think about daily life, and what you’ll actually need and use.
• Avoid anxiety overpacking (worst case you literally just… buy what you need!)
• Pack things that go together and are multi-use (ex: dry bag being used as a beach bag).

---

Exactly How We Pack for Carry-On Only

There are many perks to traveling with only a carry-on, especially for international travel. And there are even more perks to traveling with the Peak Design Duffel-Pack.

You can visit their website to get the full breakdown of their products.
The brand is so stellar and truly creates a product out of experience and intentionality (and it shows!)

Inside the Bag: Compression Packing Cubes

We use and swear by compression packing cubes. We have used these a lot and see no signs of wear so far.
I actually pack three packing cubes into one big one and then compress it down. The space it saves is insane.

Peak Design Tech Bag

All of the Peak Design bags we have are made with their 100% recycled, durable, weatherproof fabric that makes all the difference. This tech bag is super slim yet big enough to pack the necessities for two people.

Peak Design Camera Bag

Same goes for this one on the fabric. The zipper is designed to be weatherproof, so it really helps to keep the moisture out of the bag.
We also had these silica packets in our bags to help keep moisture down, which we 100% suggest for every bag!

---

Packing Guide for Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Here is exactly what we packed! You’ll also see our notes for what we used most, and what we could have left behind. Scroll to the bottom to save a printable packing list.

---

Clothing & Apparel

Undergarments & Sleepwear

• 5 pairs Quick-dry underwear
• 1 Regular bra (Packed but never wore!)
• 1 Sport bra
• 3 pairs Socks (Only wore one pair of socks the whole time)
• 2 pairs Sleep shorts
• 1 Sleep tank top (I swear by this Uniqlo tank for sleeping in hot environments)
• Nodpod eye mask

Daytime Tops & Bottoms

• 4 Daytime tank tops (Only wore two the whole time because the other two were too thick)
• 2 T-shirts
• 3 pairs Shorts (The quicker they dry, the better. NOTHING THICK!)
• 1 Long-sleeve button down (Great for cooler evenings and bug protection, travel days)
• 1 pair Pants (Bug protection at night, travel days)

Swim & Beachwear

• 2 Bikinis (I only wore one this one the whole time because it was the comfier of the two)
• 1 Swim cover-up dress
• 1 Sarong
• 1 Bandana

Shoes, Bags, Etc.

• 1 pair Tennis shoes / Sneakers (Only wore once the whole trip, but good for travel days)
• 1 pair Flip-flops (Literally lived in our Archies 24/7)
• 1 Hat
• 1 Purse (love this baggu bag for travel)
• 1 Tote bag
• 1 Fanny pack
• 1 RFID-blocking organizers (passports, etc)

---

Toiletries & Personal Care

Solids & Eco-Friendly Essentials

• Shampoo bar
• Conditioner bar
• Body soap bar

Daily Grooming & Skincare

• Skincare routine items: We kept it simple with just wash, toner, moisturizer, and oil. Leave the actives at home!
• Minimal makeup: We never used any of our makeup. The eyelash curler was the only thing we used.
• Pimple patches
• Curl cream
• Comb
• Razor
• Tweezers
• Nail clippers
• Deodorant: This brand is the absolute best for extreme sweat and long, hot travel days.

Oral Care & Vision

• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Tongue scraper & Floss
• Contacts & solution

First Aid & “Mini Pharmacy”

• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Homeopathic Medicine for Insect Bites: These came in SO CLUTCH when Megan got attacked by sand fleas (over 50 bites on one foot!).
• Benadryl cream: Also a must-have.
• Neosporin
• Dramamine
• Band-Aids
• Alcohol swabs
• Menstrual cup/Period Care
• Mini Pharmacy: Contains all the basic over-the-counter things.
• Activated charcoal: We used all that we brought! Great for little stomach bugs.
  

---

Tech & Outdoor Gear

• Camera gear (Packed in our Peak Design camera bag)
• Tech gear and chargers (Packed in our Peak Design tech bag)
• Computer
• Camera Tripod

Bags, Accessories & Security

• 1 Personal safety alarm (Didn’t need, but always travel with)
• 3 Dry bags (An absolute lifesaver for the beach and sudden downpours!)
• 1 Set of Locks (Never needed, but always travel with)
• Portable speaker
• Headlamp: Crucial for night walks or power outages.
• Umbrella (Never used)
• Rain poncho (Pack this over an umbrella!)
• Beach blanket: Our most-used item!!!
• Journal
• Tarot Cards

---