Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Costa Rica Rainforest Packing List: Bags, Quick-Dry Layers & Water Shoes
23
items Planning a Costa Rica rainforest trip with ziplines, volcano hikes and waterfall swims? This jungle-ready packing list pairs Away, Béis and Calpak bags and organizers with Nike and Athleta quick-dry layers, trail shoes, sandals and sun protection, al...
Our pre-dawn shuttle to the Arenal ziplines meant wrestling a bag over wet cobblestones, and this one rolled through it without a wobble. The 360 wheels and the laundry bag for muddy clothes are what I'd pay for twice.
Away The Bigger Carry-On
Slick volcano paths and mossy waterfall steps are where cheap sneakers fall apart, and the lugs on these grab hard. I'd trust them on a rainforest hike with a heavy daypack and not think about my footing.
Nike Wildhorse 10 Women's Trail Running Shoes
Picture me at the Liberia airport at 6 a.m., laptop, snacks and a rain shell all in one pack that tucks under the seat. The full-zip opening makes security lines painless, and the water bottle pockets stretch for jungle humidity.
Béis The Travel Backpack in Beige
Rainforest showers come out of nowhere at two in the afternoon, and I zipped this on mid-trail at Monteverde and stayed dry. It packs small enough to live in a daypack pocket, which is exactly where mine stayed all week.
Athleta RainOut Traverse Jacket
I carried this on a bumpy shuttle from La Fortuna and loved that it flips from backpack straps to a duffel handle when you reach the lodge. The ripstop fabric shrugged off a surprise downpour on the dock.
CALPAK Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack
Water shoes are a must for the waterfall pools, and these dry fast while the sticky outsole holds on wet rock. I left the dock in them, hiked the path to the swimming hole, and walked back without a blister.
Nike ACG Air Deschutz+ Sandals
Humid jungle days mean I change shirts twice, so I keep a cube for clean tops and one for damp, stinky ones. The mesh panel lets me spot what I need without unpacking the entire suitcase in a tiny cabin.
Away Insider Packing Cubes (Set of 6)
Mosquito and sun coverage without suffering through the heat is the whole point of these pants. I wore mine on a canopy walk and they felt breezy, and they were bone dry again before dinner.
Athleta Trekkie Pant
Zipline lines move fast and I wanted phone, passport copy and lip balm on my body, not in a locker. The hidden back pocket kept my documents safe and the strap sat comfortably under a harness.
Béis The Pro Travel Sling
The water-repellent finish matters more than you'd expect when you brush wet leaves for three hours. Sun protection and splash resistance in one pair means I pack fewer layers, which my carry-on appreciates.
Nike ACG UV Protection Repel Hiking Pants
For a three-night eco-lodge stay this bag swallowed boots, rain gear and a change of clothes, and it still fit overhead. The trolley sleeve slid right over my suitcase handle in the airport, so I was never juggling.
Away Active Duffle 40L in Forest Green
Jungle bathrooms rarely have counter space, so a bag that hangs from the towel hook is genius. Mine caught splashes from the outdoor shower and kept sunscreen and bug spray tidy and separate.
CALPAK Terra Hanging Toiletry Bag
Hot springs and river tubing both mean hours in direct sun, and this high-neck rashguard let me skip reapplying sunscreen every twenty minutes. It dries fast enough to put on under a rain jacket afterward.
Athleta Sun Shield One Piece Rashguard
The wraparound brim shaded my neck during a long volcano crater walk, and the water-repellent fabric handled a sudden shower. It squashes flat in a bag pocket, which I do every single morning.
Nike ACG Apex Bucket Hat
This tiny sling carried my phone, cash for roadside fruit stands and a lip balm all day. The water-resistant ripstop meant no panic at all when the mist rolled in at the cloud forest viewpoint.
CALPAK Terra Small Sling Bag
I stuffed this into my suitcase flat as a pancake, then unfolded it for a waterfall hike with snacks and a towel. At 19 liters it's the daypack that never takes up space until you want it.
Away The Packable Backpack
Between sunscreen, bug spray and after-sun gel, my toiletries multiplied for this kind of trip. The wipeable interior was a lifesaver when a repellent bottle leaked, and a quick rinse cleaned it right up.
Béis The Dopp Kit in Beige
If your itinerary mixes pavement, boardwalks and muddy trails like ours did, a cushioned all-rounder saves your feet. I wore these from a coffee farm tour straight onto a hanging bridge without changing shoes.
Nike ACG Pegasus Trail Women's Trail Running Shoes
For evenings at the lodge, I want something lighter than hiking pants but still bug-friendly. These stretch, breathe and have zip slits for airflow, and they look good enough for dinner in town too.
Athleta Trekkie High Rise Parachute Pant
The laundry pouch earns its place when everything you own is slightly damp from humidity. I packed clean items in the water-resistant cubes and sealed wet gear separately, so nothing smelled like rainforest.
CALPAK Terra 5-Piece Packing Cube Set
Hydration is nonnegotiable on a hot trail, and this sling kept my bottle on my hip and phone in the zip pocket. It stayed put while I climbed over roots, so both hands were free for the railings.
Béis The Magnetic Water Bottle Sling
I use the large pouch for wet swimsuits and the small one for chargers, and they stayed separate all trip. When our bus ride got bumpy, nothing spilled into my bag, which I'd never say about a plastic baggie.
Away Pouch Duo in Sea Green
For a quick overnight at a cloud forest lodge, I left the big suitcase at the hotel and carried only this. It held a rain jacket, boots-free outfits and a book, and the water bottle pocket was a nice touch.
Béis The Mini Weekender in Beige