Trip readiness checklist for Costa Rica
Costa Rica's 'pura vida' isn't a slogan — it's the operating system. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Costa Rica: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
Visa-free up to 90 days
Up to 180 days for US passport holders, at the officer's discretion.
- US passport valid for your whole stay (six months' validity is the safe habit; some airlines enforce it at check-in even where the country doesn't)
- Proof of onward travel out of Costa Rica within your allowed stay — airlines check this at check-in and refuse boarding without it
- Enough money for the stay if asked (about $100 per month of stay is the rule of thumb officers use)
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
Costa Rica is rainforest, volcanoes, and two coasts. Pack quick-dry everything, rain protection, and good footwear — 'pura vida' still involves a lot of mud and humidity.
Quick-dry clothing
Humid and often wet; quick-dry fabrics beat cotton that never dries.
A rain jacket or poncho
Even the dry season sees showers; the green season means daily rain.
Sturdy shoes and sandals
Muddy trails and rocky beaches call for grippy shoes plus sandals.
Insect repellent and sun protection
Mosquitoes and tropical sun are both serious; pack accordingly.
When to go
The dry season (Dec–Apr) is peak — sunniest, busiest, and priciest, especially around Christmas and Easter. The green season (May–Nov) is lush, cheaper, and quieter, with rain usually in the afternoons.
Money & getting around
Costa Rica uses the colón (CRC), but US dollars are widely accepted (you'll often get change in colones). Cards work in towns and resorts; carry cash for rural areas and small 'sodas' (local eateries). Tipping is modest — a 10% service charge is usually included.
Local quirks worth knowing
Costa Rica's 'pura vida' isn't a slogan — it's the operating system. It answers greetings, apologies, and schedule changes alike.
Pura vida means everything
Hello, goodbye, thanks, no worries, life is good. Use it freely; it's always correct.
Addresses don't exist
Directions run on landmarks: '200 meters south of the church, past the big mango tree.' Trust the system, ask locals, and give your driver landmarks, not street names.
Don't feed the monkeys
Or touch the sloths, or bait the raccoons — it harms them and it's fined. The wildlife is the whole show; watch from a respectful distance.
Tico time is real
Things start when they start. Tours run punctually; social plans breathe. The rain, however, is punctual — plan mornings active, afternoons flexible in the green season.
A week in Costa Rica, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Costa Rica, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, a week in the green season. Here's what's missing.
- 1.
Proof of onward travel
Costa Rica's entry guide is blunt about this: airlines check for a ticket out within your allowed stay and refuse boarding without it. If your return flight is booked, have the confirmation ready on your phone at check-in.
- 2.
Rain gear and quick-dry clothes
Late October is still green season, when rain usually arrives in the afternoons, and none of your twelve packing items covers it. Add a rain layer, quick-dry clothes and footwear you don't mind getting muddy.
- 3.
Colones for the small places
Dollars work in towns and resorts, but rural sodas and small vendors want cash and you'll get change in colones. Plan how you're getting local cash before you leave San Jose.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Costa Rica with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Costa Rica — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Costa Rica — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Costa Rica checklist
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