Is It Really That Hot in Costa Rica? (Answer: Yes. But These Tips Will SAVE YOUR ACTUAL LIFE.)

So there’s the kind of heat that you experience when, say, you go trekking through the desert of Arizona and it’s hot as hell and you’re all, “WHY AM I DOING THIS, WHAT HAVE I DONE?” And then there’s Costa Rica Hot.

Costa Rica Hot is a whole new beast. While not technically any hotter, it’s definitely thicker. By which I mean wetter. By which I mean more humid. (You know, silly rainforest and all.) This is not necessarily a bad thing. Your skin will glow like a teenager’s. Your lungs will sing. You won’t get sick, not even once. And you definitely don’t have to worry about annoying things like sweatshirts. (Seriously. I know you think it’s going to “get cool at night,” like every person who’s ever been to The Jersey Shore thinks, but I promise you: it does not get cool at night. You do not need a sweatshirt. Resist the urge, I tell you! Resist the urge!)

However, you will want to be a little prepared, because ain’t nothing like chafed thighs and raging B.O. to make your day ~real~ special.

Alas, here are my top tips for taking on Costa Rica’s weather like a CHAMP:

Protip #1: Diaper Cream. Swear to vodka.
My favorite is called Butt Paste. I know, this couldn’t get any better! It’s actually called Butt Paste, and it’s designed to keep wetness away. It’s basically a tube full of zinc oxide, and if you rub this on the inside of your legs, you will be the happiest person on the planet. Hooray, no chafe! And trust me: chafe happens when you’re hanging out on the beach all day, popping in and out of the water, and then walking around with wet swim trunks. Alternatively, if you’re a chica like me, you will want this just to walk around normally—because our shorts are naturally way shorter, and that means that your thighs will probably rub, and with the humidity in the air? You will hate everyone and everything. So Butt Paste for the win! You can’t get this in Costa Rica, though, so grab some before you depart. I’m pretty sure any diaper rash cream will do. Or, you could be conventional and buy some actual chafe guard. That works, too!
Protip #2: Carry a tiny gym towel.
I know. This sounds disgusting. But it’s actually kind of awesome, because sometimes, you’re going to sweat. And sometimes, you’re going to want to wipe your neck. I mean, right? Who wants a sweaty neck? I’ve found that if you can find a small little gym towel designed to wick sweat? These are awesome. They’re tiny and they fit in your pants or your bag, but they can absorb a lot—and then dry quickly. You probably don’t want to be like me, stealing paper towels from restaurant bathrooms and making all sorts of messes.
Protip #3: Come down during rainy season.
Do not fear rainy season! Rainy season happens between the months of June – October, but it’s not as rainy as you might think. Yes, it might rain often, but it doesn’t rain for long. An hour in the afternoon, perhaps. So you can still get up, put in a half-day fishing or hanging out at the beach, get lunch, and then enjoy a few afternoon showers—which will quickly dry up just as fast. (Of course, there are exceptions: it could rain in the morning, and it could rain for several hours, but that’s not the norm.) The benefit of coming to Costa Rica during rainy season? It’s cooler. And that’s definitely a bonus for anyone who hates the hot.
Protip #4: Manuel Antonio beach!
There are plenty of places you might be considering visiting in Costa Rica: Jacó and Guanacaste being two fan-favorites. But, surprise! While both of those beaches have their advantages, they are both completely out in the open, with the sun beating down on your head, and no where to take refuge. However—and I know we’re biased, since this is where we’re based—Manuel Antonio is one of the few beaches that’s lined from top to bottom with gorgeous almond trees, creating all sorts of mini alcoves where you can set up camp and beat the heat. Bonus? The monkeys and sloths will visit you, too! It’s not unusual to see troops of monkeys playing on the beach—but only in Manuel Antonio, ya’ll. Only in Manuel Antonio.
Protip #5: Bring the right type of clothes.
Clothes that do not work well in humidity: POLYESTER. Clothes that do work well in humidity: COTTON. You’ll also want to stick to light-colored clothing—because black will attract heat. But most importantly? Remember that you do not need jeans. You do not need jackets. You do not need long sleeves (unless they’re a fishing shirt). You do not need a sweatshirt. And you certainly don’t need boots. You will be lugging this along, using up your precious suitcase weight, only to discover you will never take these things out of your suitcase once. The only exception to this is if you’re planning to go visit any of the volcanoes: because of their altitude, it’ll be a little cooler up there, but unless you’re planning on sticking around, I wouldn’t worry about it too much!

And there you have it: five ways to outsmart the heat here in Costa Rica. We recently visited Scotland, this year, and because of all of the rain they get, they have a saying: “There’s no bad weather, only the wrong clothes.” And I think we might just have to adopt it for Costa Rica.