A packing list for Monteverde may sound relatively easy. The place is in the mountains, and it is a cloud forest. How hard can it be? Well, there is more to it than you may think.
Except for a few weeks in March and April, Monteverde can be quite chilly in the evenings, but then bright and warm during the day. It drizzles frequently and depends on which part of town you are in. It may be rainier or dryer. It is better to come well prepared!
As a local, I know a few secrets that you may want to know. That’s why, to make things easier for you, we at Ocotea Hotel decided to compile a list of what you'll need to enjoy our beautiful region fully.
We talked about personal items like clothes and shoes in the last post. And in this one, we will get into what you may need to enjoy this experience fully, from the gadgets to the toiletries.
You may not "need" everything on this list and the one before it, like a good digital camera or casual shoes for a fancy date at a particular restaurant. But if you have the space in your luggage, some of these items can certainly help you enjoy Monteverde much more.
Another note — from your home office, some things may seem unnecessary, but sometimes that can change once you’re out on the trail. We don’t make these recommendations without knowing they’re helpful!
General Items
The Hiking Backpack
As a hiker, I cannot even think of going out on one of our great trails without getting ready for it in my nice, comfy backpack.
Fresh fruits, granola bars, and water are some things that I would throw in it. It is a rain jacket and poncho (both, as it depends on how rainy it gets to use one over the other – see our first article on Monteverde packing list), along with bug repellent and sunscreen.
A good backpack for a hike in Monteverde can make all the difference. If it fits right, you don't even notice it's there!
And like everything, make it lightweight, waterproof, and easy to carry, with body-hugging straps as a nice bonus.
A Dry Bag
A dry bag is indispensable to keep your electronic devices safe from the water when you come to the tropics. Of course, if you are going rafting or waterfall rappelling, this makes a lot of sense, but you might think that a dry bag may not be as necessary if you are going in the sunny season.
Still, a surprise downpour in the tropics is a typical event, whichever time of the year it is. So if you are thinking about hiking, find a lightweight, small (5 L is enough) dry bag with a double seal and bring it over. Telephones, cameras, wallets, chargers, batteries, and all you want to keep dry will fit in it.
Trust us, knowing your valuables are safe and protected is a game-changer.
A Bottle of Water
Hard plastic, glass, or stainless steel.
Not only does Costa Rica have drinkable water in 97% of its territory, but we also do not want to pollute our planet and region. A good, sturdy water bottle is an indispensable item to enjoy hikes and activities (and a sipping nozzle is a nice plus!). Think about lightweight, but also about bottle capacity.
With sizes ranging from 16 to 32 ounces (or 600 ml to 1.2 liters), it’s helpful to plan for your outing, knowing that there are no replenishment stations on some of our hiking trails.
Material selection also matters.
Plastic water bottles are both long-lasting and lightweight. Please avoid the potentially risky chemical BPA (Bisphenol A). A visible stamp or label on the bottle generally indicates a BPA-free product.
Stainless steel bottles are also extremely robust and can be used as insulation. But they can be heavier and tend to dent easily. You should also consider the bottle mouth and nozzle design.
As you already know, there are wide and narrow mouth bottles.
My personal preference for hiking in Monteverde is a wide-mouth bottle. Two reasons: if you can refill them, it's easier, and you can make fresh fruit smoothies in them!
As a last note, in the tropics, you want to wash your bottle thoroughly to keep out any pollen or pests that might try to sneak in!
Useful Gadgets
Binoculars for Birdwatching and Wildlife Sightings
Let's face it! Humans don't have the best sight in nature! We are actually quite limited, to say the least. And when you are hiking in Monteverde, you will find that the fog can make it even worse.
And this is when a good pair of binoculars makes all the difference.
Never mind if you are sitting in your room watching the birds through the enormous windows or in the middle of a hanging bridge in the forest, there is a unique feeling in watching something, raising the binoculars, nailing your eyes to the target, putting the lenses in front of your eyes, and adjusting to get that circular perfect enlightened image of... whatever! A resplendent quetzal or a glorious orchid up above or below! A good pair of binoculars enhance the Monteverde experience! By far!
Some features to look for in binoculars while in Monteverde include 10x42** magnification and good light, as the forest can be pretty dark at times. Weather-resistant or waterproof binoculars are much better for the region too, and no matter which you pick, I recommend finding a pair that isn’t heavier than 600 gr. (1.4 lbs.). Unless you’re out for some serious bird watching!
I actually recommend to my birdwatching friends to try to get a back-strap for your binoculars. Something like this:
**10x42 means that the binoculars have 10x magnification (compared to the naked eye) and an objective diameter of 42mm.
Reference: What does 10x42 mean? How far can I see clearly? How do these compare to 8x42, 10x50, or 12x binoculars? (2022). (Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://www.kentfaith.com/faq_8551#::%20text%20=%2010x42%20means%20the%20binoculars%20are%20still%20easy%20to%20hold%20steadily.)
A Digital Camera
Ah, photography! The privilege of the beauty-filled eye!
Photography is a gift to the eye of the photographer. And when you are in nature, it is like everything enhances and gets better in all its details. I'm going to tell you a story and why I bought my first real camera.
As a naturalist tour guide, I had several photography groups in my life, but once, something memorable happened that allowed me to see what lies behind the eye that takes the picture.
This group of photographers came from various world areas, and we were walking in the Tortuguero National Park. We were going very slowly as our primary attention was focused on taking the perfect photos. And, well… the tropics happened! It started pouring. We had to open the dry bags, and all the passengers put the cameras and lenses in.
We continued the hike. However, they were almost as slow even without their gear, much to my surprise.
The reason? They kept on finding beauty everywhere! They were finding pictures with their eyes, sharing the dry red leaf in the middle of the contrasting green, the texture of the bark, or the fantastic shapes of the tree edges in the canopy.
Photography does that to you. You learn to recognize the details and take time, somehow, to drink them in. It is one of the most enlightening activities that a nature lover can have.
And yes, we all carry fantastic, intelligent phones that may take magnificent pictures, but in my opinion, there is something truly special about a device designed specifically for photography and nothing else.
When you are holding a hybrid AF-SLR camera with a heavy lens and turning the lens to find the perfect angle, the proper movement, and the most favorable light to get the most stunning angle of what you are taking, it is like playing a homage to life itself.
And when you are back at the hotel and see the pictures on the bigger screen, Your spirit is somehow there. It is hard to explain but easily lived.
My Camera Recommendations
What do I recommend? First and foremost, a fast, customizable, and responsive autofocus (AF) system. You will also want your camera to be able to take fast-action photographs and have a continuous shooting speed. Among the needed lenses for the Monteverde cloud forest, you may want to bring:
A Macro Lens. Other than the "usual suspects" in nature, the amazing insects, and the stunning textures, the number of species of tiny orchids in Monteverde is quite impressive, and taking them with a macro is an adventure!
70-300 Telephoto: From Howler monkeys to the Resplendent Quetzal, this is the minimal telephoto lens you ought to have to enjoy wildlife photography in the cloud forest. And indeed, it is a pleasure when you can catch the perfect and free life expression with a click.
Wide-Angle Lens: You want to have a wide-angle lens when you can see the Pacific Ocean glittering in the sunset from the mountains' cloud forest.
A last word on the camera, and one of my favorite sayings from my photography group: Don't turn your camera into your eyes. Allow your eyes to turn into your most-used camera.
1-2 TB Memory Cards (depending on your image size)
A rule of thumb is to have enough memory for all the pictures without having to upload them during the trip.
Silica Gel to Mitigate Humidity
Because Costa Rica is quite humid wherever you are, the silica gel will protect your electronics and camera.
You will want to have these in Monteverde. Even in the sunny season, it drizzles pretty often, and even if we keep on protecting everything, electronics get the humidity and may get mold afterward.
So, it's best to have these at hand and in a reasonable amount so that they can be replaced every time they fill up. The best are the "indicating" types, which will change color when they are full.
A Flashlight or Headlamp
For night hikes and tours.
This is a great gadget to have if you are going on one of the numerous night hikes in the region.
First of all, it's important to say that you will be provided with a flashlight on all regular night hikes in Monteverde.
Then why am I recommending a headlamp?
The main reasons: safety and, yes, comfort! It is easier to free your hands and balance your body on irregular terrain. But also because you will have certain perks with a good headlamp.
There are countless headlamps on the market. The features I recommend the most in yours are:
Flood/Spot/Red adjustable. This is quite an essential feature for these hikes. And being able to dim the light is just as important, as you do not want to harm the big sensitive eyes of the nocturnal animals.
And this is where the red light comes in to be quite significant.
Check that it is easy to operate, either in the lamp itself or even more accessible through remote bluetooth controls. It is good to have fluorescent reflectors on its strap and a strobe mode in case you get a bit lost.
Plastic Sealable Bags
If you don’t have waterproof backpacks, this can be a quick fix. From small Ziploc-style bags to put your toiletries or medicines in, to big ones to protect your clothes while in the bags, Ziplocs are a versatile, easy-to-use drybag solution.
Toiletries and medical supplies
First-aid Kit
A first aid kit with supplies for minor accidents or illnesses, scrapes, cuts, or stings.
The best way to find out what to bring in your first aid kit is to ask your family physician, and you can find one at most supermarkets or drug stores.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is essential on any trip, but here SPF 50 or higher is definitely recommended. Costa Rica is situated only 9 degrees above the equator, so your skin is likely more vulnerable to sun exposure here than back at home.
Even under the trees or on rainy days, you will need a good sunscreen with a broad spectrum for balanced protection against UVA and UVB rays. Make it water-resistant.
Repellent for Insects
Although Monteverde doesn't have many mosquitoes in some periods of the year and during the day, it is still a tropical forest, so repellent will be needed in certain sections of the trails.
The CDC recommends at least 20% DEET. However, most repellents sold in Costa Rica only have up to 15% DEET. So we advise you to bring your own.
Picaridin-based repellents are also very effective.
And as always, look for waterproof repellent, available in either spray or cream forms.
Ponytail Holders
If your hair is long, bring as many holders as possible. For activities like ziplining, having your hair well tied up is indispensable for safety reasons, and outside of these activities it can be great for extra comfort.
Ready to Go?
These guidelines are based on years of experience traveling around the World while based and hiking in Monteverde, and should leave you prepared for any adventure Monteverde has to offer!
As we stated previously, they are our recommendations for your trip to be stress-free and your hiking and adventures to be the best, but that doesn’t mean you can’t check off multiple boxes with certain items. Waterproof backpack has a dry bag inside? Go for it! Have comfortable hiking shoes that you’re happy strolling through town in? ¡Excelente!
And if you have any questions about your packing list, feel free to reach out to us at Ocotea Boutique Hotel.
