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Family Packing List for Costa Rica

Costa Rica with kids is the rare trip that genuinely combines beach, rainforest, and adventure activities — but each environment needs different gear, and the dry vs green season changes the packing list more than the destination does.

Updated April 2026

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Quick answer

For a 7-day Costa Rica family trip, expect 22–32°C with two distinct seasons: dry (December–April, less rain, busier, pricier) and green (May–November, daily afternoon showers, lush, cheaper). Pack quick-dry clothes, a real waterproof shell (not an umbrella), water-friendly closed-toe shoes for waterfalls and ziplines, DEET or picaridin repellent, reef-safe sunscreen, and binoculars for wildlife viewing. North American devices need no adapter — Costa Rica uses A/B plugs at 120V like the US.

At a glance

Plug type:: A / B (120V, 60Hz) — same as US/Canada
Currency:: Costa Rican colón (CRC); USD widely accepted
Tipping:: 10% service often added; round up taxis, $1–2 USD per service
Tap water:: Generally safe in tourist areas; bottled is the safer default for kids
Two seasons:: Dry Dec–Apr (busier, drier); Green May–Nov (rainier, cheaper)
Two coasts:: Pacific drier; Caribbean wetter year-round

Sample checklist preview

7 days · 2 adults · 2 children

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Casual Sandals×1
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What actually matters in Costa Rica

•Two seasons drive the packing list. Dry season (Dec–Apr) needs sun protection, lighter rain gear, and busier-park accommodations. Green season (May–Nov) needs serious waterproofs, quick-dry everything, and acceptance that an afternoon shower will hit most days.
•Two coasts behave differently. Pacific (Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Nicoya) is drier and sunnier year-round. Caribbean (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita) is wetter and more consistent. Plan accordingly.
•Costa Rica uses Type A/B plugs at 120V — same as US and Canada. UK Type G and Australian Type I plugs need an adapter.
•Closed-toe water shoes earn their space. Waterfall hikes (La Fortuna, Diamante, Nauyaca), zipline tours, and river floats reward proper footwear over flip-flops or sneakers.
•A real waterproof shell with a hood handles rainforest mornings better than a ponchos or umbrellas — drips fall sideways under canopy.
•Insects are most active at dawn and dusk. DEET 25–30% or picaridin 20% repellent matters in the rainforest; permethrin-treated clothing is overkill for most family itineraries.
•Binoculars genuinely help with wildlife: sloths, monkeys, toucans, and macaws are usually 10–30 meters up in the canopy. A cheap set per kid often makes the trip.
•Internal flights save real time on multi-region trips. Driving from San José to Manuel Antonio is 3 hours; to Monteverde 3.5 hours; to Tortuguero 2 hours plus boat. SANSA flights cut these to 30–45 minutes but cost $80–150 per leg.
•Tap water is generally safe in major tourist areas (San José, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, most coastal towns) but bottled is the safer default for kids unfamiliar with the local water.

Typical weather by month

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Rainy days
Jan	27°C / 81°F	17°C / 63°F	4
Feb	28°C / 82°F	17°C / 63°F	3
Mar	29°C / 84°F	18°C / 64°F	3
Apr	29°C / 84°F	19°C / 66°F	7
May	28°C / 82°F	19°C / 66°F	17
Jun	27°C / 81°F	19°C / 66°F	21
Jul	27°C / 81°F	19°C / 66°F	19
Aug	27°C / 81°F	19°C / 66°F	21
Sep	27°C / 81°F	19°C / 66°F	22
Oct	26°C / 79°F	18°C / 64°F	23
Nov	26°C / 79°F	18°C / 64°F	13
Dec	27°C / 81°F	18°C / 64°F	6

Typical monthly averages for planning. Check a forecast closer to your trip.

Seasonal things to plan around

May–NovGreen season. Daily afternoon thunderstorms. Some rural roads become muddy or impassable in 4WD-only areas.
Sep–OctWettest months. Some hotels and tours close briefly. Best price-to-quality ratio if you don't mind the rain.
Year-roundRip currents on Pacific beaches. Always check local lifeguard flags or ask before letting kids in the water.
Jul–AugEuropean school holidays bring bigger crowds despite the rain; pricing not as low as Sep–Oct.

Common Costa Rica packing mistakes

•Packing only flip-flops. Waterfalls, ziplines, hanging-bridge walks, and river crossings all want closed-toe water-friendly shoes.
•Bringing a chunky voltage converter. North American chargers plug straight in; UK and Australian travelers just need a plug-shape adapter for dual-voltage devices.
•Underestimating rainforest rain. Even dry season has surprise showers; green season has guaranteed daily downpours. A real waterproof shell is the single most important garment.
•No insect repellent. Dawn and dusk in the rainforest are mosquito-heavy; chigger and tick risk on grassy ground is real.
•Overpacking for "the country" — Costa Rica is a small country with very different microclimates. Plan around the actual itinerary, not "Central America in general."
•Forgetting to pack reef-safe sunscreen for the snorkel-and-beach days. Same rules increasingly apply on Pacific coast tours.

Notes by where you're traveling from

From the US

•Flight: 3–6 hours direct from most US hubs to San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR).
•No tourist visa for stays under 90 days; passport must be valid for 6 months from entry.
•Adapter: not needed — same A/B plugs and 120V as the US.
•Currency: USD widely accepted at tour operators and larger restaurants. Colones for small purchases. Cards work most places.

From the UK

•Flight: 12+ hours typically with one stop, often via the US, Madrid, or Panama. Note: US connections require a US ESTA.
•No tourist visa for stays under 90 days; passport valid 6 months from entry.
•Adapter: Type G → A/B. 120V — most modern chargers are dual-voltage; appliances may need a converter.
•Currency: Pound to USD or colón via ATM in-country. Most tour pricing is published in USD.

From Canada

•Flight: 5–6 hours direct from Toronto/Montreal to SJO or LIR. Air Canada and WestJet both serve the route.
•No tourist visa for stays under 90 days; passport valid 6 months from entry.
•Adapter: not needed — same A/B plugs and 120V as Canada.
•Currency: USD widely accepted; CAD less so. Colones via ATM is the best rate.

From Australia

•Flight: 25+ hours with connections, usually via LA. Note: US connections require a US ESTA.
•No Costa Rican tourist visa for stays under 90 days; passport valid 6 months from entry.
•Adapter: Type I → A/B. 120V — verify dual-voltage on chargers.
•Plan a recovery day on arrival before any adventure activity — kids hit a jet-lag wall around day 3.

Venue and attraction rules

Manuel Antonio National Park: Pacific coast. Limited daily entry — book in advance. No outside food or plastic bottles allowed (refillable bottles fine). Stroller-friendly main paths but trails are stairs and roots elsewhere.
Arenal Volcano area / La Fortuna: Hot springs, waterfalls, ziplines, hanging bridges. Closed-toe water shoes for the waterfall hike. Stroller-unfriendly on most trails — use a carrier.
Monteverde Cloud Forest: Cool, wet, often misty. Long-sleeve layer + waterproof shell. Hanging bridges and ziplines available; minimum heights apply (typically 5 years and 50 lbs for ziplines).
Tortuguero (Caribbean coast): Boat or small-plane access only. Wet year-round. Pack a dry bag, biodegradable insect repellent, and headlamps for nighttime turtle tours (Jul–Oct nesting).
Tamarindo / Guanacaste beaches: Pacific coast surf town. Reef-safe sunscreen increasingly required for boat tours. Watch for rip currents — ask lifeguards.
San José: Capital and most flights' arrival point. Spend 1 day max — most family trips use it as a transit hub. Mercado Central and Pre-Columbian Gold Museum are family-doable highlights.

FAQ

Dry season or green season for a family trip?

Dry season (Dec–Apr) is the easier, sunnier choice — but it's also the most crowded and expensive, with prices roughly 30–50% higher and wildlife slightly harder to spot in dryer forest. Green season (May–Nov) means real rain (daily afternoon showers), lower prices, fewer crowds, and lusher landscapes. Sep–Oct are wettest and offer the best value. Most first-time families pick dry season; repeat visitors often switch to green season.

Pacific coast or Caribbean coast — or both?

For a 7-day trip: stick to one coast plus one inland region (Arenal or Monteverde) and you'll spend less time driving. Both coasts in one week is logistically tight. Pacific is drier, more developed, and has Manuel Antonio (the best wildlife park for families). Caribbean is wetter, more local-feeling, with Afro-Caribbean culture (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita).

What ages are best for a Costa Rica family trip?

Costa Rica works for all ages but the activity sweet spot is 6+ — kids can do ziplines (typically 5+ with weight minimums), hanging bridges, and longer wildlife walks. Younger kids enjoy the beaches and pool resorts but miss most of the adventure draw. Toddlers and babies do better at all-inclusive resorts (Guanacaste) than touring multiple regions.

How much driving will we do?

More than first-timers expect. San José to Manuel Antonio is 3 hours; to La Fortuna 3 hours; to Monteverde 3.5 hours (rough roads); to Tortuguero 2 hours plus boat. Internal flights via SANSA cut these to 30–45 minutes but cost $80–150 per person per leg — often worth it for families with younger kids.

Do we need to worry about insects, malaria, or yellow fever?

Mosquitoes and chiggers are real; malaria risk is low in tourist areas but consult a travel doctor for Caribbean lowlands and remote forest stays. Yellow fever vaccine is generally not required unless arriving from a yellow-fever country. Dengue is more common — repellent matters. CDC and equivalent UK/CA/AU agencies have current travel-health pages worth checking 4–6 weeks before travel.

Do we need an adapter?

US and Canadian families: no — same A/B plugs and 120V as home. UK and Australian families: yes — pack a Type A/B adapter. Most modern chargers are dual-voltage; hair tools and small appliances may need a converter, not just an adapter.

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