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Heading to Costa Rica is exciting, but figuring out what to give someone before they leave can be a little trickier. You want something they’ll actually enjoy having on the trip, not another item that gets left behind. Luckily, there are plenty of fun options that can make their adventure even better.
In this guide, you’ll find gift ideas for someone going to Costa Rica that they’ll be happy to receive.
Gifts for Someone Going to Costa Rica
1. Seekway Water Shoes
Snag these water shoes for anyone heading to Costa Rica with plans to explore beyond the beach. The thick rubber soles and protective toe caps help shield feet from sharp rocks, while the non-slip tread provides extra grip on wet surfaces. They’re especially handy for snorkeling, rafting, waterfall hikes, and other Costa Rica adventures where dry land and water tend to blur together.
2. Eicolorte Sarong Cover Up
There’s nothing like having one beach essential that can do several jobs on a Costa Rica trip. This lightweight sarong can be wrapped around swimwear as a skirt, draped over the shoulders as a shawl, or styled as a simple dress. Its generous size gives them plenty of coverage, while the soft, breathable fabric folds easily into a suitcase or beach bag.
3. SaphiRose Hooded Rain Poncho
If they’re traveling to Costa Rica during the rainy season, this hooded poncho is the kind of thing they’ll be glad they packed. The waterproof polyester, sealed seams, and below-the-knee coverage help keep them dry when tropical showers roll in. It weighs just 8.5 ounces and folds into its pouch, making it easy to keep in a backpack for hikes, sightseeing, or unexpected downpours.
4. Lepro LED Headlamp
At some point on a Costa Rica trip, they may find themselves wishing they had both hands free and a reliable light. This rechargeable LED headlamp makes that easy, with bright illumination reaching up to 500 feet and five light modes, including red light. It’s lightweight, water-resistant, and adjustable, making it useful for early hikes, nighttime walks, camping, or exploring after sunset.
5. Occer Compact Binoculars
You’d be surprised how much there is to spot in Costa Rica, especially for someone who loves wildlife and nature. These compact binoculars give them 12x magnification and a wide field of view for getting a closer look at birds, monkeys, sloths, and distant scenery. They’re lightweight enough to carry on hikes, boat trips, or jungle excursions without taking up much room in their bag.
6. Earth Pak Dry Bag
There’s a lot to love about having a dry bag when Costa Rica plans include rivers, beaches, or boat trips. Made from abrasion-resistant PVC with a roll-top seal, this bag helps keep clothes, electronics, and other essentials protected from water. It also comes with a waterproof phone case, while the range of sizes makes it easy for them to choose one that fits their adventure.
7. Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector
Your traveler may not think about carbon monoxide when packing for Costa Rica, but this little detector can be reassuring to have along. Its compact, lightweight design fits easily into luggage and works on two AA batteries, so there’s no wiring involved. They can take it to a hotel or vacation rental and use the loud 85 dB alarm and warning light for added awareness during their stay.
8. Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
If they’re planning to spend time hiking, exploring, or relaxing outdoors in Costa Rica, these mosquito repellent bracelets are an easy addition to their travel bag. The stretchy bands are adjustable and individually wrapped, so they can grab one whenever they head outside. They’re DEET-free and use plant-derived essential oils, with a citronella scent that makes them convenient for outdoor adventures.
9. Brita Filtering Water Bottle
A reusable water bottle can be one of those travel essentials they end up reaching for all day in Costa Rica. This 36-ounce Brita bottle has a built-in activated carbon filter that reduces chlorine taste and odor as they drink. The leakproof design, easy-sip straw, carrying loop, and one-handed lid make it handy for sightseeing, road trips, hikes, and keeping hydrated between adventures.
10. DJI Osmo Action Camera
Take their Costa Rica adventures up a notch with an action camera that can keep up with all the excitement. The DJI Osmo Action 4 captures 4K video with a wide 155° field of view, while stabilization helps keep footage smooth during hikes, rafting trips, snorkeling, and other outdoor activities. It’s also waterproof to 18 meters, so they can record plenty of memorable moments in and around the water.
11. Happy Ocean Reef Safe Mineral Sunscreen
When they’re going to Costa Rica, sunscreen is one thing they definitely won’t want to forget. This SPF 45 mineral sunscreen uses non-nano zinc oxide to provide broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, while staying lightweight and non-greasy. The water-resistant formula lasts up to 80 minutes, making it especially useful for beach days, snorkeling, hiking, and other sunny adventures.
12. Lonely Planet Costa Rican Spanish Phrasebook & Dictionary
Perhaps they’ll pick up a few Spanish phrases before their Costa Rica trip, and this pocket-sized guide makes that much easier. It covers useful expressions for ordering food, getting directions, meeting locals, handling emergencies, and navigating everyday travel situations. The quick-reference dictionary and pronunciation guides are especially handy when they need the right words on the spot, whether they’re exploring cities, beaches, or small towns.
13. Kunitsa Travel Journal
Give their Costa Rica trip a place to live beyond the camera roll with this linen-covered travel journal. It includes prompts for planning, things to see and do, favorite moments, and plenty of blank pages for their own stories. A pocket in the back also gives them somewhere to tuck away ticket stubs, postcards, or other little souvenirs from their Costa Rica adventures.
14. Wise Owl Outfitters Quick Dry Towel
At the beach, after a waterfall hike, or following a quick swim, they’ll appreciate having a towel that doesn’t stay wet forever. This microfiber towel is lightweight, highly absorbent, and designed to dry quickly between adventures. It folds neatly into its included mesh bag, taking up little space in a Costa Rica travel bag, while the bonus washcloth is handy for smaller cleanups on the go.
15. Goodr Polarized Sunglasses
You can never have too many pairs of sunglasses on a Costa Rica getaway, especially when so much of the fun happens outside. These polarized shades reduce glare and provide UV400 protection, while the snug, lightweight frame helps keep them comfortably in place during hikes and active days. Silicone nose inserts and a grip coating also help prevent slipping when they’re sweating or moving around.
16. Bagail Compact Digital Luggage Scale
Your Costa Rica traveler may come home with a few more things than they left with, making this compact luggage scale especially handy. It lets them check their suitcase weight before heading to the airport, with readings up to 110 pounds and an easy kg-to-lb switch. The small size takes barely any room in their bag, so they can keep it handy throughout the trip.
17. Sewanta Hammock
I love the idea of giving a Costa Rica traveler a hammock for those slower moments between adventures. This lightweight nylon hammock packs into its attached pouch, making it easy to carry along on camping trips, hikes, or road trips. Once they find a suitable spot, the included straps and carabiners make setup quick, giving them a comfortable place to relax, read, or simply enjoy the tropical surroundings.
18. The Wildlife of Costa Rica Field Guide
Who doesn’t love the idea of spotting Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife up close? This field guide gives them an easy way to identify the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and other creatures they encounter along the way. With more than 600 illustrations, species details, and tips for finding animals in the wild, it’s a useful companion for rainforest hikes, national parks, and wildlife-watching excursions.
19. O’Neill Rashguard
If they’re planning plenty of time in the Costa Rican sun, this long-sleeve rashguard is an easy layer to have along. Made from a stretchy polyester and spandex blend, it moves comfortably with them while providing UPF 50+ sun protection. The fitted design feels like a second skin, and the lightweight, quick-drying fabric makes it especially useful for surfing, swimming, snorkeling, or spending the day around the water.
20. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm
It’s easy to remember sunscreen for the rest of the body and forget about their lips, which can be just as exposed during a Costa Rica getaway. This lip balm provides SPF 25 broad-spectrum protection while shea butter and avocado oil help soothe and soften dry lips. The compact tube is easy to slip into a daypack or pocket for beach days, hikes, and sightseeing.
21. Quitch Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Patches
Save them from carrying an itchy reminder of every mosquito they meet in Costa Rica with these bite-relief patches. The hydrocolloid stickers are infused with aloe and witch hazel and simply peel and stick onto the affected area. Their compact pouch is easy to pack for hiking, camping, or beach trips, giving them a convenient way to deal with occasional mosquito bite discomfort while traveling.
22. Zomake Foldable Day Pack
A packable day bag is handy when they want to explore Costa Rica without carrying their main luggage around. This lightweight nylon backpack weighs just half a pound but offers 20 liters of space for water, snacks, a camera, sunscreen, and other daily essentials. It folds into a small pouch when not needed, making it easy to stash in their suitcase until they’re ready to explore.
23. Vynix Sleep Mask
On a Costa Rica trip, they may have early mornings, long flights, and plenty of nights in unfamiliar places. This 3D sleep mask creates a comfortable blackout environment to help block out unwanted light when they need to rest. The memory foam design sits gently around the eyes without pressing on them, while the adjustable strap helps keep it comfortably in place for naps or overnight sleep.
24. Tripa Trips Scratch Off World Map
Before they leave for Costa Rica, give them a fun way to mark the trip as part of their bigger travel story. This oversized scratch-off world map lets them reveal countries, islands, cities, and other destinations they’ve visited, with plenty of detail to explore. After their Costa Rica adventure, they can scratch off the country and keep adding new destinations as future travels take them around the world.
25. Canbox Compression Laundry Bag
When they’re bouncing between beaches, rainforests, and different places to stay in Costa Rica, laundry can quickly become a packing headache. This compression laundry bag gives dirty or damp clothes their own space while helping reduce their volume. The lightweight nylon construction is waterproof and odor-resistant, and the roll-top closure keeps everything contained. It also packs down small when they’re not using it.
26. Einskey Wide Brim Sun Bucket Hat
On sunny Costa Rica days, this wide-brim bucket hat gives them some welcome coverage without feeling bulky. The 3.9-inch brim helps shade the face and neck, while breathable mesh panels and a sweat-wicking band keep things more comfortable in the heat. The water-repellent fabric can handle light rain, and the foldable design makes it easy to tuck into their suitcase or daypack.
27. FYY Electronic Organizer
There are a handful of little things that can make traveling around Costa Rica much easier, and keeping electronics organized is one of them. This compact tech pouch has eight compartments for charging cables, power banks, USB drives, chargers, and other small accessories. Its water-resistant Oxford fabric offers some protection from splashes, while the double-layer design helps prevent everything from becoming one tangled mess.
28. Miracase Car Phone Mount
If they’re renting a car to explore Costa Rica, a reliable phone mount can make following directions much less distracting. This suction mount attaches to the dashboard or windshield and lets them rotate their phone between portrait and landscape views. The flexible arm and 360-degree rotation make it easy to position the screen for navigation, while the strong magnetic hold helps keep their phone secure on winding roads.
29. Legnowit Pocket Blanket
It’s hard to beat having a little patch of dry ground when they’re enjoying the outdoors in Costa Rica. This pocket blanket gives them a comfortable spot to sit at the beach, park, campsite, or during a picnic without adding much bulk to their luggage. It weighs just over four ounces and folds into a tiny pouch, while the water-resistant, sandproof fabric is easy to shake clean.
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