You can find a standardized Costa Rica packing list in many places, and we will also give you that list further along on this chapter, but with airlines now charging for extra baggage and new restrictions, we wanted to pass along some good packing tips we have discovered. The following are a few tips on how to save space, stress, and frustration:

1. Pull out the clothing you think you want to pack.  Lay it out on an extra bed in “outfits”.  Take a critical look at the clothing the next day.  You will no doubt be able to eliminate several pieces of clothing that you won’t need.  Don’t try to pack for every possibility.  If something out of the ordinary arises, they have stores in Costa Rica.
2. Take a couple less tee shirts than you think you will need.  Who doesn’t see a tee shirt on vacation that we want to purchase?  You can wear them there and have room to take them home in your bag.
3. Same with a sundress—it is much more fun to purchase one there and wear it out that night than to bring one from home.  This applies to jewelry also!
4. Try to never check baggage on your way to your vacation.  This is especially true if you have connecting flights.  Nothing starts a vacation off as badly as lost luggage!  If you absolutely have to check baggage, then assume the checked luggage will not arrive in Costa Rica the same day you do.  Make sure everything you need for the first couple days is in your carry on.  I can’t stress how important this is.  If your luggage is lost, it usually will take at least 2-3 days before you receive it.  This will not ruin your first couple days if you have a few outfits and toiletries to get you thru.
5. Pack a duffle bag inside your luggage – the kind that folds up to about 6”x6”x2”.   You may find this to be your favorite tip yet!  You will no doubt buy souvenirs for your friends, family, and yourself on your trip.  When it comes time to pack to go home, pack all your old dirty clothes in the bag you check (it’s ok to check on the way home, because if they lose it and it takes 2-3 days to get to your house, you won’t mind).  Pack all your new clothes, souvenirs, etc. in the duffle bag and use that as your carry on.
6. Use a back pack as your piece of “personal luggage” that you are allowed in addition to your carry on.  You can pack much more in a back pack than in a purse and the back pack fits easily under the seat in the plane.
7. QUICK-DRY- we can’t stress how important it is to try to pack as many quick dry garments as you can.  Clothing will not dry overnight in Costa Rica, and you will have a hard time finding a laundromat.  Even if it is the “dry season”, rain forest and cloud forest are always humid and the saturating humidity will leave all your clothes wet or at least damp.  Nothing is worse than a suitcase full of damp clothing!