What to bring to Costa Rica

Below is some information on what to bring to Costa Rica. I received this from the YWAM staff in San Jose and thought you might find it helpful as well.

CLOTHING

Dress on the base and in San José is fairly casual. Most people wear jeans, shorts and t-shirts on the base. During the rainy season it is sunny in the morning, but it can be quite cool at night and during the afternoon, so bring clothing you can wear in layers - t-shirts, over-shirts with long sleeves, and light sweaters. You should also bring a light jacket and a good, strong umbrella to cope with the rain!

Bring a mixture of clothing that will allow you enough variety, but won't weigh your bags down too much. We suggest bringing at least 2 pairs of jeans, along with light cotton trousers or sweatpants, shorts if you wear them, and several t-shirts. You should also bring one set of old clothes that can be used for construction work and one set of formal clothes that is dressy enough to wear to church or to a restaurant. You will also need at least one pair of walking shoes/sneakers, and a pair of sandals to wear inside the house.

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

The base will provide pillows, but you should bring you own sleeping bag, sheets, pillow cases and towels. A mosquito net is not needed in the city as we have but a few mosquitos, but if you want to be extra cautious, feel free to bring one.

Other household items you may want to bring include a hair-dryer, & a flashlight. Remember that the voltage here is 110 watts, so you may need an adaptor for some of your appliances. However, we do have limited power plugs available in the bedrooms, so bring a battery-operated alarm clock. We recommend bringing 1 or 2 hairdryers that you can share among yourselves, to cut down on space needed in your luggage.

Don’t forget to bring a camera if you have one and a generous amount of film (or memory for your digital camera) since film is expensive here.

DAY TRIPS

It will be helpful if you bring a small backpack. The backpack may also be useful for day trips or for other projects in the city of San José or nearby towns.

STUDY ITEMS

Bring a pen, a notebook and don’t forget your Bible!

COSMETICS/TOILETRIES

Come prepared with your own shampoo, toothpaste, soap etc ... sunscreen is recommended. A small first-aid kit is also a good idea, but keep it simple. Aspirin, band-aids and a small tube of antiseptic cream will cover most situations; most other things can be bought here in San José.

HEALTH

No specific immunizations are required before coming to Costa Rica, but we advise you to check with your doctor on any suggestions he has for any kind of vaccinations for your time in Costa Rica. If you are taking any specific medication we advise you to get enough of it to last you during your time with us, as it may be possible that you will not be able to get your medication here. The pharmacies do sell a variety of medications, but might not sell the one you need.

MISCELLANEOUS

Please be aware that you'll be sharing a dormitory-style room with several others, and there won't be too much room for personal belongings. We do have a few limited rooms available for a couple or family, but space is limited and there is no guarantee they will be available during your trip. If you require this type of housing, please inform us so we can make the proper arrangements, if at all possible.

CONTACT INFO

YWAM San Jose

PO Box 252 Sabanilla

San Jose, 2070

Costa Rica

Telephone: 506-227-4435

Telephone/Fax: 506-227-4486

Email: missionadventures@ywamsj.org

Contact person: Bryan Wolfe

BASE INFORMATION

We believe in the potential that God has placed in the youth of today, and it is our heart’s desire to see them become relevant leaders who are able to impact their generation and society. (1 Timothy 4:12)

YWAM San Jose was established in August of 2004. God has blessed the ministry as we have seen 100% growth over the last 2 years. Our goal is to impact communities through a biblical worldview, enabling God to transform the hearts of the people and thus transforming their communities. We work in some of the poorest communities of the capital city of San Jose.