Info Post #2 - The Packing List

Some heavy rains and increased wave activity has curtailed snorkelling again.  May not be back at it again until later in the week, so here's something I researched heavily before coming here, but still made plenty of mistakes with.

The Packing List
If you're visiting Costa Rica for a week, the list is easy.  Pack for the microclimate you'll be staying in.  Nothing more.  If you need something extra while here, decide whether or not you need it or merely want it.  You'll be back home in a week, you won't need much, and renting is almost always a better short-term option.

When travelling for three months (especially if visiting different locations), the decisions are a little trickier.  My original plans were to stay in one location for the majority of my visit, and take a couple of side trips to other areas.  Two places on my must-see list have opposing climates, so the packing list is not so simple.  I'm also staying in a sparsely populated location with limited retail opportunities.  Simply hitting the local version of Canadian Tire/Wal-Mart/MEC is not an option.  That means packing a few extras, and possibly going without a few things I would like.  Three months is too long to rent or go without.

I've broken down my packing list into three sections.  Good Choices, Bad Choices, and Wish I'd Brought.  Neutral choices are included with Good, and noted as such.  Things like wallet, laptop, mobile phone, glasses/sunglasses are all essentials.  No sense on touting their pros/cons.  Each traveler will define their own essentials.  This isn't an exhaustive list, just some of the main items.

Good Choices

Sunscreen - it's very expensive here, glad I bought at least some.
Insect repellent - brought lotion instead of spray (double good choice).  Very minimal selection of products here.  I don't use it that often though, so the bottle should easily last the trip.
Letherman - would't need this for a short stay, but it's justified its purchase on this trip.
Snorkelling gear - decent gear is again expensive, and renting is not a good choice for long term.  I'll sell the fins before I go (probably near to the purchase price), so I won't have to haul them back home.
Underwater camera - snorkelling isn't the same without it.  Also brought a second camera.  Haven't used it much, but glad to have a backup just in case.  No chance on buying a decent replacement camera locally.
Rash guard - or t-shirt for water activities.  Forgot to wear it snorkelling one day and got a terrible burn.
Good quality sandals - nobody wears shoes on the coast, way too hot for them.  A good pair of sandals at least provide some support and allow you to walk/hike for hours.
Extra US currency - it's accepted just about everywhere here.  Plus, some places prefer it.  Bank exchange rate isn't as good as back home as here they convert CAD to Costa Rican Colones, then to USD so you get hit on the exchange rate twice.
Zero Costa Rican currency - the bank ATM machines here don't have a service charge and the exchange rate isn't too bad.  Most places charged extra when paying by credit card.  Many only take cash.
Small backpack - I use it almost every day.
Water bottle - used every day since I left Vancouver.

Bad Choices

Too much cotton!!!! - most notably underwear and t-shirts, but shorts as well.  Cotton is just not a good choice for humid climates.  Even my lightest t-shirts feel like a heavy wool sweater.
Dry bag - it was on sale, and I bought it last minute in a panic thinking 'better safe than sorry'.  Haven't used it once, and don't think I will use it.
Not buying a pair of cheap sandals here immediately - partially wrecked my good sandals, so not using them much now.  A crappy pair of thongs are about $15 and worth it.  That's all I wear now, though mostly by necessity.
Water bladder - thought I'd use it on bike rides.  I didn't buy a bike capable of long rides, so I haven't used the water bladder once.  Doesn't take up much space, but still unnecessary.
Allen key set - same as above.  Cheap bikes don't have allen head bolts.  Luckily my leatherman has the right tools.
Too many pairs of socks - 3 pairs would have been plenty.
Too many pairs of pants - brought 1 pair of light hiking pants and two pairs of convert-able hiking pants.  The latter are a bit heavy, so I've only used them for travel from Canada.

Wish I'd Brought

More technical outerwear - Light biking/hiking/running t-shirts are the way to go.  I brought 4, wish I'd brought 6 or 7.  Bonus with technical fabrics is that they air-dry within hours.  Nobody has clothes dryers here, so cotton takes a couple of days to dry on a line.
More bathing suits - I originally thought 3 would be fine, but it's everyday wear here.  Wish I'd brought 6.  Laundry is free, but I don't want to be doing it every day or two.
Spare USB cable for my phone - the one I brought is on the fritz, and I can't get a replacement here.  A local mobile shop even tried getting two different ones from San Jose.  Neither charged my phone.



That's about all I can think of for now.  May add a few later.