Costa Rica Packing List for Families With Kids
What to Actually Bring
We’ve done this trip more than once. Here’s what we bring, what we leave behind, and the gear that genuinely made a difference when it rained at the waterfall.
At a Glance
KEY PRINCIPLE
Pack for Rain + Sun
Depending on your travel time, both might happen. Every day.
CLOTHING RULE
No Denim
Quick-dry synthetics are better, cotton or linen an acceptable compromise.
FOOTWEAR
3 Pair Per Person
Water shoes, trail shoes, flip flops.
WITH A BABY / TODDLER
Bring a Carrier
A carrier is must for most hikes, your stroller will only work on a few adventures.
The Golden Rules of Packing for Costa Rica With Kids
Before the list: three rules that changed how we pack for every Costa Rica trip. The country has a way of making standard travel logic obsolete. You’ll get wet every single day — whether from rain, hot springs, waterfall mist, or sweating through a morning trail. Your clothing needs to handle that. Your kids’ gear needs to handle that. Everything needs to handle that.
Rule 1: Go for quick-dry fabrics (for day-time activities). Cotton absorbs water and stays wet. A wet cotton shirt on a 3-year-old means 45 minutes of complaining. Synthetic quick-dry fabrics dry in under an hour. Pack nothing made of cotton except pajamas and underwear.
Rule 2: Go heavy on day-time activities, think casual for night-time. Costa Rica is a casual place. Most people come for the outdoors, and while they enjoy a nice dinner, dinners are casual. Safe space in your luggage and go easy on the evening outfits.
Rule 3: Invest in the carrier, the shoes, and the dry bag. Three items that will get used multiple times every day. Don’t cheap out on any of them.
Clothing: What to Pack for Each Family Member
FOR TRIPS TO LA FORTUNA & GUANACASTE
ADULT CLOTHING
Quick-dry shirts × 1/daySynthetic or merino wool. Merino is ideal — odor-resistant and dries fast. Brands like Patagonia, Columbia, or REI Co-op. Skip regular cotton tees.
Quick-dry shorts or pants × 3Convertible zip-off pants double as shorts — genuinely useful on cool rainforest mornings that become hot afternoons. No denim.
Swimsuit × 2 You need 2 so one can dry while you wear the other. Hot springs, waterfall, beach, hotel pool — you’ll swim every single day. Rash guards add sun protection and dry quickly
Waterproof rain jacket (lightweight)Not an umbrella — those are useless in jungle rain. A packable rain jacket (Columbia Watertight or Patagonia Torrentshell) takes up negligible space and saves every afternoon activity.
Long-sleeve shirt × 2For sun protection on boat tours and beach days, and as a light layer in cool rainforest mornings. A light UPF50 long-sleeve is more practical than sunscreen reapplication.
SAME RULES - QUICK DRY EVERYTHING
KIDS CLOTHING
Quick-dry tees × 4–5Target, Old Navy, or Columbia all have affordable quick-dry options for kids. Stock up before the trip — brands in Costa Rica are limited and prices are higher for imported goods.
Swimsuits × 2–3Kids will want to swim everywhere, all day. Two-piece sets dry faster. Rash guards protect from sun at the beach and also from rubbing in a carrier or harness.
Kids’ rain jacket
Lightweight packable jacket — kids get cold faster than adults once wet. The Marmot PreCip and Columbia Watertight are reliable picks. Check sizing carefully; kids grow fast.
Wide-brim sun hat
Mandatory for beach days and any open trail section. The La Fortuna Waterfall steps have no shade for 20 minutes — a hat prevents overheating in young children
THE MOST IMPORTANT CATEGORY
FOOTWEAR
Water shoes / closed-toe sandals (Keen, Teva)
For hot springs, river crossings, beach days with rocky entries, and the La Fortuna Waterfall base. Keen Newports are the gold standard — drainage holes, grippy soles, protect toes. Available for all ages including toddlers.
Trail shoe or light hikerFor the waterfall steps, hanging bridges, and national park trails. Needs real rubber grip — the wooden trail steps get extremely slippery when wet. Merrell Moabs or similar. Break these in at home first.
Flip flops Hotel pool only. Not for trails, waterfall, or any activity.
GEAR & OTHER ESSENTIALS
BAGS, CARRIER & OUTDOOR GEAR
GEAR & EQUIPMENT
Structured baby carrier (for under-3s)Ergobaby 360, Osprey Poco, or Deuter Kid Comfort. If you’re doing any trails with a child under 3, this is the single most important item on this list. Umbrella strollers are useless for 90% of Costa Rica nature activities.
Dry bag (10L roll-top)For the waterfall base, boat tours, hot springs, and any afternoon rain caught mid-activity. Keeps phone, wallet, and camera dry. A single Sea to Summit or SealLine 10L bag covers the whole family’s valuables
Day bag (20-25L)For carrying water, snacks, rain jackets, sunscreen, and the dry bag on activity days. One pack for the family is enough. Look for a hip belt to take weight off your shoulders on longer hikes.
Microfiber towels × 1–2For hot springs, waterfall, and beach. Hotels provide towels for the room but often restrict pool towels. A compact microfiber towel (PackTowl or similar) dries in 30 minutes and weighs nothing.
FIGHTING BUGS & OZON
HEALTH, SUN & INSECTS
Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (kids formula)SPF 50+. Costa Rica requires reef-safe sunscreen at some natural sites — check before you go. Bring your preferred children’s brand from home; quality mineral sunscreen is hard to find locally and expensive when you do
Insect repellent (DEET or picaridin)For evening and forest activities. Picaridin (Sawyer Picaridin) is as effective as DEET and gentler on skin and fabric. For young children, use picaridin. Apply before night hikes and rainforest trails..
Basic First Aid Kit Blister pads (the waterfall steps are merciless on feet), antihistamine cream for insect bites, children’s Ibuprofen, hydrocortisone, bandages. Most items available locally but reassuring to have on hand.
On Electronics: Bring your phone in a waterproof case rather than a DSLR. You’ll swim, you’ll get rained on, you’ll be covered in waterfall mist. A quality phone camera (iPhone 15 Pro or Google Pixel 8) will take better photos than a DSLR you can’t risk getting wet. Bring a portable charger — activity days run long and phones die.
THE PACKING GUIDE FOR NATURE LOVERS
SPOTTING WILDLIFE
Binoculars (compact)For wildlife spotting in the hanging bridges, national park, and night hikes. A 8×25 or 10×25 compact pair is enough for sloths, toucans, and monkeys. Kids who can use them will be dramatically more engaged on trails
Animals Of Costa Rica (laminated)On every Costa Rica trip, we bring a laminated, foldable copy of ‘Animals Of Costa Rica’. The kids check off what they see and race to get their card fuller through all the hikes. Worth gold.
Our Top Three MUST HAVE's on our Costa Rica Packing List
SINGLE MOST USEFUL ITEM
THE DRY BAG
At $15–30, a roll-top dry bag is the highest value item on this entire list. Used at every waterfall, every hot springs, every boat trip, and every unexpected afternoon downpour. Pack it first.
MUST FOR FAMILIES WITH TODDLERS
A SOLID BABY CARRIER
An Ergobaby 360 or Osprey Poco unlocks every trail activity that would otherwise be inaccessible with a toddler. This single item expands what your family can do by 50%. Don’t leave without it.
BEST CLOTHING INVESTMENT
GOOD TRAIL SHOES
Likely the most expensive item on your list if you don’t have solid trail shoes already. But an absolutely must have if you want to discover the highlights Costa Rica has to offer without aching feet.
Gear That Saved Us
KEEN WATER SHOES FOR KIDS
We used them at Baldi hot springs, at the waterfall base, at Playa Conchal’s rocky entry, and at the Las Pumas river edge. They gripped, they drained, and they lasted three trips. Worth every penny.
THE DRY BAG AT LA FORTUNA WATERFALL
The spray zone at the base of the waterfall soaks everything within 20 meters. Our phones, wallets, and car keys stayed bone dry. The family next to us lost a phone to the mist. Pack the dry bag.
QUICK-DRY SHIRT THAT DIDN'T SMELL
We switched to merino base layers for this trip and were stunned. Two shirts, worn on rotation, washed in the sink every third night — no smell, no complaints. Costa Rica trips have permanently changed how we pack for all travel.
Planning a trip to Costa Rica?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Skip cotton and denim — they stay wet for hours after rain or a waterfall visit. Leave the umbrella stroller at home; it's useless on jungle trails and even a liability at the La Fortuna Waterfall or national park. Don't bring too many "nice" clothes — you'll spend most of your time in activewear. And leave the big camera unless you have a quality waterproof case — your phone in a dry bag will serve you better.
If you are traveling during rain season, the name of this season gives it away: waterproof jackets and shoes are a must. The good news: it won't cool down, so stick to light cloth that fold easily into your backpack. Even if it's not rain season, you will want to pack some waterproof gear for the occasional rain shower. For details on weather and when to go, check out Costa Rica's official travel webpage.
Yes — if you're traveling with a child under 3 and plan to do any trails, a structured baby carrier is essential. An umbrella stroller is completely unsuitable for most Costa Rica nature activities including La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano National Park, and most zipline transfer paths. A quality ergonomic carrier (Ergobaby 360, Osprey Poco, or similar) will be one of the most-used items on your trip.
Yes, sunscreen is widely available in pharmacies and supermarkets in La Fortuna, Liberia, and larger towns. However, reef-safe brands specifically formulated for sensitive children's skin are harder to find and more expensive locally. We recommend bringing your preferred brand from home, especially if you need mineral/reef-safe formulas. DEET insect repellent is also available locally but quality varies.
Two pairs are ideal: water shoes (Keen Newports or similar closed-toe sandals with drainage holes) for hot springs, rivers, and beach days; and a proper walking shoe or light hiker with grip for trails like the La Fortuna Waterfall steps or hanging bridges. Flip flops are fine around the hotel pool but dangerous on wet trail steps. Avoid brand new shoes — break them in before the trip.
Absolutely. A dry bag is one of the most valuable items you'll pack for Costa Rica with kids. You'll use it at the La Fortuna Waterfall base (spray zone), on any boat tour on Lake Arenal, at the hot springs, on the beach, and during any afternoon rain caught mid-activity. A 10-liter roll-top dry bag fits a phone, wallet, sunscreen, and snacks, and takes up almost no space in your luggage.
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