Do not forget your bikini, there are plenty of opportunities for swimming!

 

Hello again everyone!

I have noticed that this blog is currently without a packing list, and I remember that I
wondered what to bring when I started to prepare my luggage. It would be good to
remember to bring less stuff than you think you want, because there is always more luggage
to bring home than to the destination.

I have personally never missed anything, and there might be safe to say that most stuff is to
be found in San Isidro. However, you cannot expect to find the brands you have easily access
to in your home country. San Isidro is a small city and you might not say that shopping is one
of the strengths when you are used to the malls in Europe.

The keywords affecting what you need in Costa Rica includes: hot weather, humid air, nature
hikes and beachy days. The weather is depending on if you travel in the autumn or in the
spring semester. The autumn semester might include rain on the afternoons, meaning you
might want to have shoes and clothing that can be wet on your way home. The spring
semester is dryer.

Of course, the packing will depend on personal preferences, but this is what I experienced as
the most essential things to bring:

Necessities:

• Your passport
• If you have one: your vaccine passport
• Your bank cards (might be smart to bring an extra)
• You do not need to withdraw Colones/Dollars in advance
• Your ticket out of the country to renew your Visa
• A “lakenpose” is good to have if you sleep at hostels

Bring good clothes which are suitable for hikes!

 

Technical stuff:

• Adapter from American to European to charge you phone/iPad/computer etc.
  (remember to check if the adapter fit with every charged, mine could not fit my
  computer charger)
• Your computer and its charger
• Your phone and its charger (if you have an extra phone you might want to bring it in
  case something happens to your original, but my extra have not been necessary yet)
• A power bank might be convenient

If you like doing exercise, bring your sports clothes!

Shoes:

• Hiking shoes (the jungle might be muddy and wet)
• Flipflops/sandals to wear at the beach
• Shoes to work out
• Sandals/sneakers to wear at school

Clothing:

• Clothes to do hikes/to work out
• Clothes to wear at school (will usually be summer clothing)
• Swimming suit (they might dry slowly so bring more than one)
• Underwear
• A waterproof jacket

Remember your are going to participate in many activities with the study program while your are in Costa Rica!

Health related stuff:

• Mosquito repellent
• Personal medication (make sure to bring enough for the whole period)
• Sun lotion

Accessories:

• A sunhat/caps
• Sunglasses
• A beach towel
• A backpack to use for school and hikes/daytrips
• A bag/backpack to use for weekend trips
• A purse/fanny pack

Bring clothes you are not too afraid of – one can easily get dirty! 

Toiletries:

• Bring what you prefer, most brands could be found here if you forget anything

 

– Ingvild