The Ultimate Costa Rica Packing List
SANDELS
MEN
WOMEN
BUDGET
HEADLAMPS
Remember to bring your light for night hikes, sunset adventures and walking from the main building to your room at night. We recommend these flashlights for wildlife spotting. They are bright enough to see wildlife from far away and rechargeable.
WE USE
BACKPACKS
Don't be a kook, use drybags in Costa Rica. Suitcases with wheels are very difficult to maneuver on dirt roads and boats are all wet landings. Dry bags will protect electronics, and your belongings to combat the humidity, rain, and ocean water. Don't be that guest frantically asking for a bag of rice because their electronics got wet in the rainforest.
So dry you can swim with it
BUDGET
Our daily basis backpack
LUGGAGE
SUN PROTECTION
INSECT REPELLENT
Make your own natural insect repellent with Citronella, Lemongrass, and Tea Tree. Repellents containing DEET are harmful to your health and the health of our environment. Not to mention THEY DON'T WORK on the famous "no see 'ems," or sand flies.
For the best natural protection, our guides recommend mixing fractionated coconut oil with tea tree and lemongrass essential oils and putting them into these sun blocking glass spray bottles for travel. This combination provides the best protection against sand fleas and mosquitos while also protecting you from infections with its antibacterial properties.
If you would like to take snorkeling to the next level and try freediving (breath hold diving) you will need a set of longer fins, a weight belt, and dive weights. This is a good combo for beginners. We generally wear 4lbs of weight when we are not wearing wet suits. We do not have freedive gear to rent out.
These are the flip flops we use at Jungla. They never break and they are thick enough to comfortably walk on any terrain. If everyone wore these shoes we would have less broken flip flips washing up on our beaches because these last forever!
PLEASE NOTE:
We REQUIRE that our guests use reef safe sunblock to protect our ocean oasis. Sunscreen pollution is a real phenomenon and it poses a threat to coral reefs and aquatic life. It’s also a major factor in decreased water quality. Below are approved reef safe brands to pack. Shampoo and conditioner residue can also harm the ocean.
Please be responsible and help protect the wonders you came to see!
SNORKEL MASK DEFOG
Rain Protection
Ponchos or rain jackets are highly recommended if you are planning to travel in Costa Rica July-December. They must be lightweight and breathable like Marmot jackets.
Beach Towels
Hiking Socks
Good socks for hiking Corcovado and other national parks
First Aid Kit
Pharmaceutical items can be very expensive and difficult to find in the area. You should consider bringing bandaids, antiseptic cream, alcohol swabs, tweezers, after sun cream, diarrhea and constipation remedies and seasickness tablets. You should also bring plenty of your prescription medications.
If you only have one thing in your med kit, it should be neosporin. Its not available in Costa Rica.
Sea Sickness can ruin your Cano Island trip. Be prepared!
Recommended Reading
Reading Tropical Nature at Jungla del Jaguar is like being in an episode of Planet Earth! This book describes some of the incredible animals and natural phenomena that happen right in our forest, and being there to see it while you read it is a wonderful experience. We cannot recommend this book enough, especially if you plan on exploring Corcovado or our private forest.