The varied climates and situations we experience require you to have all items on the first day of your trip. Forgotten items will be purchased with your pocket money. Do not pack more than what is on the list. Fit everything in your soft-sided roller duffel and daypack. Remember to leave space for items you buy in Costa Rica!
____Duffel: Wheels are preferable! We suggest a tough bag approximately 34” x 16” x 16” or smaller. You must be able to pick up this bag and carry it by yourself!
____Sleep Sheet (optional): This is different from a sleeping bag. It is your own sleep sheet to use as a liner for your hotel or hostel bed. It is for your comfort and is very lightweight. GREAT TO HAVE! You can purchase this at an outdoor store or online. (Please do not bring a sleeping bag!) Sleep sheet example.
____Daypack: Bring one large “school type” daypack. To be used during the day to carry personal items.
Weather: Temperatures will vary between 60°F-100°F. Be prepared to deal with sun, humidity and daily rain showers.
***Gifts: Before the trip, we suggest you spend $10-$15 dollars on a gift for each of your two host families. Lotions, picture frames, small towels, candies, something unique from where you live, are all welcomed. A picture of your family, pet, school, etc. is also nice to share. ***Donations: We recommend CRA participants bring items to donate to local children, teenagers and/or adults during the service projects. Books, school supplies, clothes, soccer balls, etc.
TRAVEL GEAR
____Passport
____ $26.00 exit tax paid in airport upon departure
____2 sets of photocopies of your passport and flight tickets one to hand to your Trip Leader upon arrival and one to keep with you.
____2 backpacking type water bottles
____A gift for each host family (2 families)
CLOTHING
You need a week supply of clothing. If you bring too much it gets in the way. We do laundry once a week during the trip. Do not bring any jewelry or expensive, showy things.
Inner layer
____Ten pairs of underwear
____Pajamas: boxers and a t-shirt
Middle layer
____4 pairs of lightweight shorts, 2 pair should be athletic shorts
____6 short sleeve/sleeveless shirts
____2 long sleeve shirt
____2 pairs of lightweight pants
____2 swimsuits
____1 pair of biking shorts (optional)
____1 pair of surf shorts (optional)
____Old clothes to wear for your service project
Outer layers
____Lightweight rain proof jacket. Breathable (Gortex or similar material) is best
____Lightweight rain proof pants
____1 polar fleece jacket
ACADEMIC SUPPLIES
____Notebook and pens
____Spanish-English dictionary and phrase book
FOOTWEAR
____3 pairs of lightweight, athletic socks
____2 pairs of hiking socks; wool-synthetic blend is preferred
____Water sandals that secure around your ankles (Chacos,Tevas, Nike)
____Sneakers/running shoes (good for hiking)
____Flip flops
TOILETRIES
____SPF 30+ sunscreen, chapstick with SPF
____Personal toiletries, medications, prescriptions
____Two towels (beach and bath)
____Laundry bag and small pillow (optional)
____2-3 packages of Wet Naps - personal cleaning towelettes
____Deet Insect repellent
____Anti-itch cream or Calamine lotion for insect bites.
MISCELLANEOUS
____Baseball style cap or sun visor
____Travel umbrella
____Cheap watch
____Headlamp or lightweight flashlight
____Camera (Phone & camera must be separate devices!), batteries/charger
____Stationary and journal
____ If you wear contacts or glasses, please bring a spare pair of glasses with protective case. Yes, wearing contacts is okay!
____Sunglasses with secure strap (Chums or Croakies)
____Small travel alarm clock or alarm watch
Important Information Regarding Your Trip - PLEASE READ THIS!
Expectations: CRA are physically, mentally and culturally demanding trips. You stay in simple homes and native hotels; no “camping”. We will expect you to be open to the Costa Rican culture and food (rice & beans). It is essential that we have a flexible attitude and behave with cultural sensitivity in order to make no impression or a good impression as guests.
Passport: Passport valid 6 months beyond intended stay is required. Passports will be held for you by your Trip Leader. A Travel Permission Slip is MANDATORY (available online 3 weeks before your trip).
Health: Intestinal illnesses are common when traveling. If after the summer you are ill, inform your doctor that you traveled in Costa Rica. Special vaccines or medications are not required for travel to Costa Rica in the areas we visit. Check with your doctor for specific recommendations (e.g. to take or not take malaria pills). We travel in the provinces of Guanacaste, Flamingo, Heredia, San Jose and Limon. Hepatitis A & B and Tetanus are recommended for most international travel.
Time: Costa Rican time is the same as Mountain Standard Time in North America.
Emails: We will have access to an email about once a week for personal use.
Spending Money: EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED. Cash plus an ATM or Credit Card is best! We suggest bringing approximately $75 per week. This is for personal expenses and gifts. If you run out of money, you have spent too much. Unless there is an emergency, Bold Earth will not advance money.
Laundry: Laundry will be done at hotels and usually at your host families. This is included in your tuition. Many participants have identical jeans, socks, hiking boots, etc. A good practice is to put your name on items which are not unique to you.
Trip Journal: Bring along a notebook to record the "Challenge, Pride and Success" of your adventure.
Reading List: The people, places and activities you will encounter on your trip are diverse and incredible. These are a few books offering background information. We suggest you consider reading these books before, during or after your adventure. Also, you might like to read Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine or Trilogy Magazine, available everywhere. For more adventurous reading, check out Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time.
Central America: A Natural And Cultural History, by Anthony Coates. This book brings together a complete range of information on the cultural and natural history of Central America, the slim geographical bridge that separates two continents and two vast tropical oceans. Chapters by leading authorities discuss geological origins, differences between the surrounding oceans, the importance of natural corridors, the history of native people and colonizers from pre-Columbian to modern times, and crucial current conservation issues.
Breakfast of Biodiversity, by John Vandermeer, Ivette Perfecto, Vandana Shiva. The authors insightfully describe the ways in which such disparate factors as the international banking system, modern agricultural techniques, rain forest ecology, and the struggles of the poor interact to bring down the forest. They weave an alternative vision in which democracy, sustainable agriculture, and land security for the poor are at the center of the movement to save the tropical environment.
The Ticos: Culture and Social Change in Costa Rica, by Mavis Biesanz, Richard Biesanz, Karen Biesanz. Costa Rica is unique among Latin American cultures. Ticos, as Costa Ricans call themselves, have a higher standard of living than their neighbors, with a higher literacy rate, a well-developed social security system, widespread access to electrical power, and a traditional system of education. Much more than a land of coffee and bananas, Costa Rica boasts more teachers than soldiers. It has even abolished it’s army.The authors draw on their experiences in the country, interviews with people from all walks of Costa Rican life, and secondary sources.
LEARNING • SERVICE • LEADERSHIP
