Costa Rica Packing List - Family Vacation Edition
Packing for Costa Rica felt completely different than packing for our girls’ trip to Cancun. Instead of themed dinners and resort dresses, I found myself planning for rainforest hikes, beach days, wildlife excursions, and afternoons spent exploring with family. The goal wasn’t to pack more—it was to pack smarter.
We’re spending a week in Guanacaste, Costa Rica for family vacation. What started as a group of six quickly turned into a large group of 33 joining us on this trip.
Before I ever opened a suitcase, I looked at our itinerary day by day. We have pool days, a golf outing, a sloth sanctuary excursion, deep-sea fishing, and several dinners at the resort. Once I knew what each day looked like, packing became much simpler. Instead of wondering, “What if I need this?” I packed for the experiences we already had planned.
At a Glance
Packing with a purpose became even more important because this trip meant packing for four people instead of just myself. A detailed packing list helped make sure everyone had exactly what they needed for a week away from home.
Travel Essentials
Passport
Driver’s license
Boarding pass
Phone charger
Portable charger
Headphones
Kindle
Reusable water bottle
Snacks for the airport
Beach tote
Mini steamer
Packing for Four
Things I always make sure everyone has:
Passports
Chargers
Medications
Entertainment for flights
Reusable water bottles
Extra snacks
This trip centers around pool days and adventure. We have a golf day, sloth sanctuary excursion, and a deep sea fishing trip planned and they each have very different clothing requirements.
Rainforest Essentials
Lightweight rain jacket
Small backpack/ dry bag
Bug spray
Binoculars
Portable fan
Cooling towel
Extra socks
Resort Outfits
Airport outfit
Comfortable lounge outfits
Swimsuits and cover-ups
Hats and sunglasses
Excursion outfits
Dinner dresses
Travel home outfit
Shoes
Sandals for the pool and resort
Dress shoes for dinner and evenings out
Water shoes for excursions
Toiletries
Reef-safe sunscreen
After-sun lotion
Insect repellent
Aloe vera
Lip balm
Hair products
Shampoo bars (optional)
Motion sickness medicine
Beach Bag Essentials
Sunscreen
Kindle
Waterproof speaker
Portable charger
Towel clips
Sunglasses
Lip balm
Water bottle
Boogie boards, sand sifters and shell bags for the kids
What I Packed for Flights
Cozy sweatshirt
Kindle
Downloaded movies for the kids
Snacks
I’m most excited for my kids to see the beach for the first time. My favorite part of being a parent is seeing new experiences through their eyes. Costa Rica is a new destination for all 33 of us so I’m excited to experience this journey with my extended family.
Traveling with a group this large means a little extra planning, but it also means we’ll be making memories with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends all week long.
What started as a small family vacation quickly turned into a reunion. It isn’t often that this many people can get away together, which makes this trip feel even more special.
Because our resort hosts nightly entertainment and themed events—including an all-white party—I made sure to leave room in my suitcase for one special outfit. Looking at the resort schedule before packing helped me avoid bringing clothes I wouldn’t actually wear while still making sure I had everything I needed.
One of my favorite parts of traveling is that every destination teaches you something new. This time, we’re trading busy schedules for beach days, rainforest adventures, and quality time with family. Our suitcases are packed, our itinerary is planned, and now all that’s left to do is make the memories.
I’ll be sharing our full Costa Rica travel journal and resort review after we get home, so stay tuned for all the adventures.
