Packing List for Traveling with a Baby to Costa Rica

Last Updated: September 28, 2020

Packing for your vacation can be stressful in itself but adding a baby to the picture takes it to a whole new level. Luckily, Costa Rica is a very baby-friendly country and with the help of a few essentials, you can rest easy and enjoy it with your family.

We have been traveling around Costa Rica with our little ones for several years and have learned some important lessons about what to bring. We wrote a separate post that covers general issues about traveling with a baby to Costa Rica, but in this one, we’ll share our specific tips on what to pack.

Clothing

Costa Rica is in the tropics so much of the country is hot and humid. We live at the beach where temperatures are in the 80s almost every day. We dressed both of our sons in onesies almost all the time as babies. When we went out for dinner, we might have thrown on a pair of shorts to dress them up, but anything more than that would have been too heavy.

If you’re visiting the cloud forests of Monteverde or San Gerardo de Dota where it is damp and cooler, also pack a few long-sleeve shirts, pants, socks, and long-sleeve pajamas. And remember to keep extra sets of clothes in your diaper bag because your baby is likely to get sweaty and need a change.

Most hotels have laundry service that is affordable. On our road trips, we usually keep our dirty clothes in a reusable diaper bag, and it has worked out great. We also bring along a small container of laundry detergent. In Costa Rica, hotels tend to use really fragrant detergents so bring your own if you prefer something unscented.

Flying

International travel with a baby can be an adventure. We visited the US with each of our boys when they were only around three-months old. The trip to Boston takes basically the entire day because there are no direct flights, but we found that a few things make for a much easier day.

Baby Carrier

Jenn used a baby carrier to get around the airport, which was great when we had to do a lot of walking between terminals. They did make her take it off to go through security in Boston once, but otherwise, she wore it the rest of the time. We like the Ergo Mesh Performance carrier because it is more breathable than other types.

Toys

A friend gave us some Chewbeads as a gift when our oldest, Sam, was born. These turned out to be one of the best “toys” we had. Jenn wore them with Sam in the carrier, letting him have something to play with while we were waiting in line.

On the plane, we have a lot of different toys to keep them entertained. A few favorites that aren’t too loud for other passengers are Sophie the Giraffe and some books.

Indestructibles (books) are awesome for travel because they’re super lightweight, and babies love to chew them up and hear them crinkle. If your baby is on solids, food is a great way to keep kids happy so load up on the snacks too.

Packing List for Traveling with a Baby to Costa Rica — One of Sam’s and Evan’s favorite Indestructibles books

Portable Changing Station

For changing time, keep in mind that not all airlines have changing tables in the bathroom. If they don’t, you can close the toilet cover and use that with a changing pad on top. Either way, we all know how cramped plane lavatories are so be well prepared with a portable changing kit. Large zip lock bags or a roll of odor-eliminating bags are good to have on hand as well.

Disinfecting Wipes and Hand Sanitizer

We like to wipe down all surfaces around our seats with disinfecting wipes to help with germs. Also keep some hand sanitizer with you.

Diapering

Disposables

You can find disposable diapers in Costa Rica at grocery stores and big box stores like Maxi-Pali (Walmart owned). They have local brands and some of the kinds sold in North America like Pampers and Huggies.

Keep in mind that diapers here more expensive, especially the name brands. If you’re spending a while in Costa Rica, it may be worth it to stock up at one of the Wal-Marts around San Jose where prices are much better.

We recommend bringing at least a couple of days’ worth supply from home to get you started and then buying more when you get here.

Feeding

Formula

If your baby is on formula, you can find a few different kinds in Costa Rica, including Similac and Enfamil. Costa Rica does not, however, have as much variety as many places. If you’re not sure if stores will carry the type you use, it is best to bring your own.

Baby Food

If your baby is on solids, jarred food and pouches are available. Most stores have only regular Gerber and Heinz, though, so if you prefer organic, bring it. Cereals are also readily available.

Beach/Pool

Many of Costa Rica’s beaches are backed by thick palms trees, but many are not, so you will want to be prepared for the sun. Since Costa Rica is near the equator, the sun is extremely strong and your baby will burn in minutes. We are always trying so hard to protect the boys from the sun and think we have a pretty good routine. Here is our list of must-haves for babies and toddlers.

Swim Shirts, Hats, and Sunglasses

A swim shirt or one of these cute full-body swimsuits provide great sun protection. Sunglasses are good too if you can get your baby to keep them on. Babiators are really durable and so adorable.

For sun hats, we have a couple that we love. This one is a good, all-around hat with UV protection and a lot of coverage. For the pool or beach, we prefer one that’s waterproof like this.

Swim Diapers

Swim diapers are awesome because they snap on and off easily. This makes clean up much easier in case of an accident.

Sunscreen

Even with all the sun-protective clothing, you’ll want to use sunscreen on areas that are still exposed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics considers sunscreen safe for babies six months and up. They recommend a broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Thinkbaby is a great option. Everyone, even the adults, uses it in our house. It’s mineral-based with less chemicals so goes on thick, but blends in well. It also works instantly so you don’t need to wait the standard 15 minutes before going out in the sun.

Beach Towels/Blanket and Umbrella

Microfiber towels work well for the beach because they’re lightweight, dry quickly, and roll-up small.

Beach umbrellas can be found in most popular tourist destinations in grocery stores or souvenir shops.

Hiking

We love hiking and haven’t slowed down much since having the boys. We bring them almost everywhere in the baby carrier and have done hikes as long as four hours with them.

Whatever carrier you have is probably fine, but if you’re in the market for one, we love our Ergo Performance because it is lightweight and breathable.

Sun Protection/Umbrella

To keep baby protected from the sun, we have found that a hat coupled with us carrying an umbrella works the best out on the trail.

For extra protection, get an umbrella with UV protection.

For especially hot days, we carry along wet face cloths to help them keep cool. You can just use a zip-lock bag filled with ice, but we’ve found a dry bag to work best. Dry bags can be used as wet bags and are insulated so stay cold longer. Just throw a couple of cloths in with the ice and rotate when necessary.

Insect Repellent

Costa Rica has its fair share of mosquitoes, and no one wants their baby to be bothered by annoying bites. Also keep in mind that Costa Rica does have some mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue and Zika. Mosquito net covers for strollers and Pack n Plays are a great way to protect your baby without using chemicals. For other times, you can use some repellent.

Current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics say repellents with 10-30% DEET are safe and effective for babies two months and up. Products containing Picaridin or essential oils are also considered safe, but long-term studies have not yet been done. If you’re looking for more information on choosing an insect repellent for your child, check out HealthyChildren.org.

Personally, we have been using Babyganics’ repellent since Sam, our oldest, was a baby and have found it works pretty well. You do need to reapply it regularly.

Stroller

Many sidewalks in Costa Rica are uneven and difficult to navigate with a stroller. Although some parks and nature reserves have nice smooth walkways, others are rugged, with tree roots, rocks, mud, steps, and other hazards. If you are really attached to your stroller, it’s fine to bring it. You will find places where it is useful. But if you’re not sure you want to lug it around, definitely bring a baby carrier. We have found it so much easier to just throw our boys in the carrier and go.

Car Seat

See our post Car Seats in Costa Rica for information on if you should bring your own car seat.

Miscellaneous

Medical Kit

You can find a lot of baby medicines at pharmacies in Costa Rica, but the brands will be different and the people working may only speak Spanish. For peace of mind, bring along the essentials like a thermometer, Children’s Tylenol, a nasal aspirator, bandaids, and antiseptic wipes.

For more tips on what to carry around, read our post Daypack Essentials.

Travel Chair

This is a great little chair for sticking your kid in at the hotel when you need to take a shower or get dressed. We used to use ours all the time. It is good for travel too because it folds up flat and can fit in luggage.

Night Light

Lights in hotel rooms are usually a little too bright to leave on all night so be sure to pack a night light if your family uses one at home.

Waterproof Camera

You will probably want to bring your regular camera with you to capture all of the great family memories, but we also recommend a waterproof camera or GoPro. They’re great for the beach and pool. We have gotten a ton of use out of ours.

Conclusion

Those are our tips for what to pack when traveling to Costa Rica with a baby. We try to be as minimalist as possible, but have found these to be the essentials for having a fun, stress-free, and safe vacation.