Costa Rica Checklist and Tips

Intro

When I pack,
I'm starting to make lists
of every single thing
I want to pack.
This sounds obsessive.
It kind of is.
But as a procrastinator,
it ensures I pack what I need to.
My Costa Rica packing list

What to Pack

For clothes,
I packed hiking clothes.
A versatile skirt for hiking or dressing up.
Pants that zip off to be shorts.
Fishing shirts.
Tank tops and shorts.
Socks.

I made deodorant which I brought with me.
It turned out to be a good thing,
because I put tea tree oil in it
which helps with other issues,
like ingrown hairs.
Mine is coconut oil, tea tree oil,
baking soda, and cornstarch.

Sun protection.
I tried out two sunscreen lotions
that were safe for the reef,
because I knew we were going to
the beach,
and they were 50 spf
with reviews that seemed like
I could fairly easily blend it in
Thinksport is cheaper
and smells nice.
I recommend it completely.
KoKua is perfectly fine,
and gloats about its
amazing and beneficial ingredients.
However.
Though the smell isn't bad to me,
I still like Thinksport's scent more.
Both were somewhat easy to blend in,
just needed a little TLC,
as to be expected.
Whichever you go with,
I do recommend doing your research.
Here's the EWG site to check out
and get you started.
And SPF chapstick!
I had SPF 15
but I wished I'd have brought
I also brought a parasol
which doubles as an umbrella.

For shoes,
sandals/flip flops
I got the inov-8 315
trail running shoes.
Love them!
They're light,
they're great for walking or hikes,
great traction, protection, and support.
So when you're shoe-shopping,
keep all these in mind.
Amanda got hiking sandals
and loved them.

It might rain.
I packed everything in my
(legit, I used the girl's backpack
and packed everything in that
and my tiny owl bag).
I also had a rain jacket
from one of the many
community colleges I've attended.
I also sprayed my outwear,
including my shoes,
with water resistant spray
which I got at the local shoe store.

I rarely wore make-up
and even when I did,
it was minimal.

I used a shampoo bar
for shampoo and soap.
It has conditioning elements,
which I was skeptical about at first,
but now that I've used it,
I love it!
Not sure if I should be using it for soap, though.
I'm still using the chamomile
and haven't tried the other three yet.
Lush bars have been
highly recommended, as well.
But I'll probably stick with these.
They make my hair feel so good!
Which is crazy,
I usually have bad experiences
with shampoo bars.

This stuff as so many uses,
but I recommend seeing if it's in
your local stores first.
I found mine at Walmart for a $1.
Here's a youtube link to the uses for it.
We handwashed our clothes with it.
But be careful if you do that in Costa Rica
and make sure your things don't get...
mildew. Eek! Some of our things did.

I also brought with me
Great for showers,
for if you swim at waterfalls
or hot springs
or go to the beach.
Quick drying,
takes up little space,
and so useful!
Sara got this one for Coachella
and loved hers.
Microfiber towel.
If you travel a lot,
you'll really like having one.

I didn't end up needing
the power bank.



to find my color
based on what I already use)
(I finished up
CeraVe
and on my Coachella trip,
I started trying
Both are working great for me
and make feel super soft.
But before these,
and broke out.
But I like using 1 lotion
for both face and body.)



Tips


First, I always suggest
a travel journal.
A teacher suggested that to me
when I went with my high school
to Europe.
I've done so ever since,
especially for out-of-country trips.

Moneys.
If you have a place near you,
I'd say go get some colones.
Amanda got some at the airport
and said fees were ridiculous.
But I can't remember the details.
There will be ATMs all around
if you need more.
I took out $300 worth of colones
and paid a few activities and rooms
with my credit card.
My bank charged foreign transaction fees.
I wished I'd remembered to use my travel card.
But I forgot.
Oh, well.
$300 in colones for food and souvenir and transportation
was perfect for me for a week.
I came out almost even.

Passport and directions.
They don't have addresses there.
The airport to our hostel in Alajuela
was a short taxi ride. 4,000 colones.
Our host sent us directions
in Spanish.
Amanda didn't catch that part,
and I regretted not pointing it out.
Her taxi driver got lost.
Mine read the Spanish instructions
and got me right there.
The maps I had printed out
didn't help.
We booked it all through booking.com
and you can contact your hosts
and just ask them, if need be,
what to tell the taxi driver.
Be sure they don't keep the meter running
when they're not supposed to,
and make sure they start it when you leave
so that you don't get swindled.
Uber drivers are less welcomed in Costa Rica,
but they are cheaper.
They may request you sit in the front.

Some buses/shuttles require reservations,
some don't.
Most of ours didn't.

Cell service.
Since I currently have Cricket,
I use an unlocked phone.
So I didn't have issues
getting a prepaid chip.
They are at the airport
at the baggage claim.
When I got mine,
31 March 2019,
it cost me $10.
He made sure it all worked
and I had 2GB.
There are refill places
but I didn't go over mine.
I often used airplane mode WIFI
or just airplane mode
unless I knew I needed it.
And I probably didn't need to be so cautious.

I live in USA
and didn't need to worry
about grabbing my
travel adaptor.
Fortunately,
Amanda thought to look this up
ahead of time.

Outro


Costa Rica is a beautiful country.
The people are nice.
Sometimes, their driving is terrifying.
There are plenty of activities
and hikes and beaches to check out.
BTW, I was advised by a local
(whom I found on CouchSurfing):
al Caribe de Costa Rica.
But we'd already planned on Manuel Antonio.
So, yes,
I loved it!
Prepare for the sun
and for the rain
and for the activities you want to do.
And most important,
prepare for a fun adventure!
<3

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